Carl,

How about this for the Tybee if we cannot get a straight-out F-20 approach...

Allow any rudder mods, dagger board mods, or mast mods you want as long as it does not exceed the OEM's envelope for those components. Guys are already building up the gudgeons on the I-20 for strength as well as reinforcing the rudder heads, why not allow improved castings or machined parts for that matter to improve safety and survivabilty. I know some 6.0 guys that want to run a carbon stick and some I-20 guys that would not mind going back to an aluminum stick for cost and durability. If it is the same height...who cares other than the weight delta or a preference for feel. I like the Carbon stick, but I've not broke three masts like some our friends.

Limit the length on the spinnaker pole to stock length, but allow a little more choice on the I-20 pole than just the full-on buoy racing snuffer/sock and the somewhat anemic alloy distance racing stick. I'd like to put a mid-pole Tornado style snuffer on a carbon pole on Soul Surfer myself.

Keep the sails stock for now...that seemed to work well and I think the length of the race and the unavoidable varied conditions kept the 6.0 and I-20 pretty close this year although I do think the 6.0 may have had a slight advantage with the bigger chute and jib, but you and most of the Rock Stars were on I-20's this year...not to take anything away from the 6.0 guys who were all great sailors and kicked my butt. However, Rick Bliss would have been real tough to stay wity out there on his 6.0. Rob and I chased him around in St. Thomas this year and he and Brandy really Rock on the new NE 6.0 set up. Real fast...that Yellow 6.0

It was a great race and thanks again to Chuck, Judi, Rick, Brandy, Sean, Scott, Sandy, Frank, Jamie, et al for the hard work and sacrafice it took to put on such a cool race.

See you on Tybee or in Texas...

Jim Stone
I-20 #509 Soul Surfer
I-17R
Hobie Wave