I did not think the designer of the Tool or any of the other AHPC boats was the same - ?????

Pete Melvin is likely one of the few that has had both. The I18 was not a success but that has to do more with Nacras messing with it in the early days of the F18 class in the US.

The A2 was very fast in light air and by changing the beams location the A3 was much better. Note no changes to the hull lines.

Pete also has the Infusion, which was after his A class boats and follows a lot of the percentages for distribution used in the A class. Quite a few people racing the Infusion have commented that it is much smoother and easier to drive than the Cap.

I agree an A will not just scale, but especialy with respect to the F16 which is light and can run uni there are a lot of concepts with ballance and developed lift that the A class has tapped that will carry over. Based on what I have experienced with the first few months of testing the Falcon I feel pretty confident they work.