Considering I have a TheMightyHobie18 AND a P19MX (Squaretop), I do have a little experience w/ this issue.

First, Do you understand the IHCA and HCA-NA's position on "One-Design" .... the only sail I can race my TheMightyHobie18 w/ is a horitontial paneled Dacron Pinhead sail .... that is a sail-design from the late 60's!!!!!! But they WILL NOT change it!!!!!

So that is one of the reasons I purchased the P19 in 1991 .... I wanted to race a boat w/ a newwer, better sail-plan ... and when Smythe designed in 1998-99 the MX sailplan for the P19 I purchased a set immediately ....

So what you are reading is a "marketing" editorial to sell you on purchasing a new Hobie Tiger/F18. Now while what they are saying is true, you will never see a squaretop on a H16/17/18 at any official "Hobie Points Regatta"... Because they would have to re-think and publicly change their "One-Design" philosophy. Please note that while there have been some "major" changes/upgrades to the H16 over the years (IMHO), most notable the re-designed front crossbar, the IHCA still claims it is operating a "One-Design" class. This is a "pet peeve" of mine as the TheMightyHobie18 and H17 have basically had no changes/upgrades since the day those models where first produced.

For example the three changes to the TheMightyHobie18 have been to allow pigtails for the jib, increased downhaul ratio from 3X to 6X and the use of a "over-rotation" system instead of a boom vang. That's it ... 30 years and only 3 changes ....

I would love to have a vertical cut, squaretop, constructed of Pentex mainsail .... of course I have a comptip so that limits the squaretop.

Harry