Yes the top guys are on the latest and greatest boats, and of course winning.
But in Singapore we have found the heavier Viper isn't winning or dominating against the Taipan when average club warriors are on both types of platforms to the same extent you would expect from a much more modern design. When the rigs are the same (mast/ jib/ main/ spin), then next area to point at is weight and design. 20kg is a major difference.
Wind conditions were 10-15 over 2 days. 8 Taipans and 3 Vipers. When Macca decided to turn up on the second day he won 3 of the 4 races easily, but the rest of the fleet rather close.
Could the addition of weight to the Taipan mean we would see the superiority of the Viper design? Or vice versa, if the Viper came down to a normal weight for a 16 ft boat. Or is it close due to the fundamentals of the F16 rule working? This last bit is hard to argue by anyone for me when a platform is at a "disadvantageous" 20kg overweight.
