Taipan sailnumbers are now just below 300. I don't know exactly what the latest is right now.

Oh wait, I can give a better estimate, the second newest Taipan in the USA has sailnumber 264. The newest has just gotten in about 3 weeks ago I haven't received that number yet. With some new sales in Australia and South East Asia the salinumber should be around 270.

Some of these sailnumbers are assigned to plans for home build boats. Some of these boats are build and some aren't so the total amount of Taipans build is a little lower than 270. However all the plans sold to people I know (enclosing USA, EU and Aus) have resulted in a boat.

I count 17 Taipan 4.9's in the USA at this moment. These are the ones that have identified themselfs to the Formula 16 class. I'm not involved in the US Taipan sales so there may be a Taipan somewhere that I'm not aware off.

Europe has a similar number of Taipan 4.9's

South East Asia (Thailand and Singapore) has grown by some 11 boats in the last 18 months and will have a fleet of something like 11 to 15 boats. Most of them have spinnakers too there = F16 setup.

But the very Bulk of the Taipans are still to be found in Australia and they have nationals consisting of some 50 boats.

With respect to the trumpet design, mail me and I will relay some info about that to you.

I saw Matt Millers post, I always keep an eye on the H16 forum although i very seldom post anything there.

And hey simple boats are alot of fun too ! Have fun with your new bravo.

Wouter