[quote If they succeed in building a clearly faster 8'6 20 foot boat... who would bring an I20 or Nacra 6.0 to race against it with out using some sort of rating system?] [/end quote]

Hi Mark -

Tybee racing was per class which seemed to work well -
Did like all the comparisons of scoring and rating systems applied to it by various catsailors on the web.

Formula 18 s seem to finally be off and running this year ,
16s are starting to make inroads .
Both fill a niche in the marketplace and provide the potential for a lasting class of cat design by numerous builders that should eventually have a large class to race in anywhere geographically .
20s in N A continue to be all over the board with regards to specs , each builder wanting to build a faster cat than its competitors ,---Thats great and the way it should be .

P rating is based on buoys racing using average times of current winning skipper in class.
Applying it to distance racing which it was never intended for does not seem to work well ,-older boat problem revealed in last falls distance races --the spin non spin issues --all downwind or upwind distance courses ,-
The page of Modification factors P rating uses are also problematic.

To make P-ratings work it seems that BOATS MUST BE SEPERATED into spin -non spin categories ,--then similar board non board types ,-then also hi med and low performance levels generally by length ,the mod factors need to be more defined and specific based on actual sail areas of spin and main-jib -
These are all real problems -

Is the seperation into Length weight sail area categories really that far apart from what P rating needs to accomplish ,--seems very similar in final goals and analysis by the time boats are seperated into various category .
Would elements of the Texel based combination system outlined that factors sail area and spin area ,and also provides 2 windspeeds that factor in beam -boards -and other design factors ,-then also adds P-rating as applied to older designs be helpfull to P rating or a better option to work towards or allow P-rating to evolve into over time.

Seems like the good intentions and goal of providing better forms of racing should allow for this continueous change and development in the sport .

Hope the C-100 plans are going well -
race info-- http://www.sailcrac.com
Think Gale plans to race the Jav also .
Great event Mark -keep up the great work ,
Hope some consider attending the CF 4 AND MI 200 also.
INFO ON THE cram site ---http://www.websitemagic.com/cram/

All the best
Carl