I am in favor of a measurement type rating, and Texel gives the F16 the least favor of all those rating systems, so I am not trying to win a race based on a slower rating, just pointing out that the F18's have gotten faster in the last couple years, yet not adjusted their numbers. How many guys are still racing Tigers? Didn't Hobie just come out with a new F18? Why?
So Tim, How many times in the last five years has the F18 rating changed according to Texel? I'll answer that. NONE. So the boats getting faster and the rating isn't changing. Oh the horror.
Fact is all of the systems have problems. Measurement systems in my opinion are a bigger problem because of many factors. The builder can build a boat that is a rule beater. It's not that hard. Take a look at Monohull classes as a case in point of boats that built to a rating system. Ask them how well that worked for them? It didn't. It became an arms race for designers and a big money drain for boat owners.
The other bigger problem with measurement systems is that they don't take windspeed into account. A Cat vs F18 in 5 knots vs 15 knots. I know there is a huge difference in the speed of these boats in different wind conditions.
Fact is I like the PN system even with all it's flaws it is much better than a measurement system. We can use the Measurement systems for guidence when setting up initial numbers for like boats and then use the PN system to adjust as time goes on.
A Cats have a gift number because nobody ever sails against them in open fleets. If they do the scores probably aren't turned in. However if they never sail against other boats in open fleets is the number really a problem?
