Last year I asked the same question to a long time A-cats sailor who sails F16's as well now.

His reply was that the difference in righting is not that big and that both can be hard to right in no wind when you are a lightweight sailor. But in general both were fine.

I have yet to fail righting my F16 singlehandedly in ANY conditions and I have been foolish enough to flip her in drifter conditions. I not a lightweight sailor but I have failed to right other brands in similar conditions with the exception of the A-cat.

I think there is no cat design out there that say a 55 kg sailor can right in absolutely no wind and no waves. It all ends somewhere. I do believe there is ample evidence that A-cats and F16's are the two most easily righted singlehanders on the market today with possibly the Swell Shadow thereabouts as well. I find the Hobie 14 to be harder to right then my F16 for example.

I think the lightweight F16 skippers (below 70 kg) and the guys just above the threshold (70-75 kg)are currently using pillow cases as a small waterbag when they have an alu masted F16 and that seems sufficient for the most challenging conditions (no wind, no waves). F16's can be ordered with carbon masts and quite a few have done so. An F16 owner at my club weighting 72 kg (measured at the F16 GC event of 2007) doesn't and have righted his boat singlehandedly unaided in all times he flipped it. He is now a 3rd season owner and sails reasonably often and quite on the edge (solo trapping under spi etc).

Personally I challenge anyone to righting a Hobie 16 or even Hobie 14 in no wind and no waves. I at 88 kg (194 lbs) have a mixed record in these conditions. In some wind and waves the whole procedure comes increasingly easier. But then again so to does righting the F16's. In a blow I only hang leasurely from the F16 D-striker or righting line, somewhere halveway between upright and flat on the horizontal.

Wouter