JJ,
I am responding to your original post regarding recreational sailing of Blade F 16. Although I had hoped to race my Blade there just aren't enough other boats in the neighborhood. (Maybe I've not looked hard enough). I sail in conditions where the wind shifts and gusts, always, and sandy beaches are 200 miles away. Hull fragility became an issue. I had major problems with one hull and ultimately I ground off 0.030 inch of gel coat and applied 6 oz s-glass over the entire bottom with premium no blush epoxy. I painted that with Brightside white polyurethane. So far it is one tough son of a gun and I don't think I added more than 5 pounds.
When I look back on my purchase I realize I was thinking recreationally as I believe the boat to be strong, can be effectively de powered in strong wind and sail fast rather than the survival sailing I use to do on the H16. I bought the Blade without jib because I sail alone and the gusty conditions are more negotiable if I only have one sail to dump air out of. As Gilo mentioned earlier, get the spin, it is so much fun. You'll find yourself sailing up so as to set the spinnaker and sail down. I think the spin is probably more fun recreationally than competitively?
Regards,