Thanks Jeff, that explains the tearing out of inside aft section of the centreboard trunk and also the forces involved at the front end. If you measure the difference between the hulls at the bow when unloaded and then when rigged and sheeted in hard most people would be surprised at the deflection (boats with bow foils or compression beams excepted), and that is without the side load when piling through the waves.
I hate to disappoint you but the Spitfire is not an F16 boat either. I think it falls outside the rule on beam (by 3cm) and each sail by a marginal amount. It would still be my 16ft boat of choice.

Cheshirecatman