A bit like me buying an F16 in FNQ.....It would be a waste of time. There isn't an F16 at any of our local clubs, i'm not sure if you would find any north of Bundy (BTW we are 1700klms north of brisbane) , plenty of nacras though........ I suppose the local dealer looks after everyone very well otherwise we'd all be sailing something else, possibly F16's. Briscat come to our regattas 3400klms return trip for them, Nacra mini regatta P. Douglas, May Day Regatta Tinaroo, Mission Beach Regatta mission beach. They are willing to support us, so we are happy to support them. Darryl came up to demo his F14, one of two, the only other to my knowledge that supports us is Hobie. Mal Gray from Hobie is coming to Cairns for a Hobie 16 training camp. No F16 support, Where are they???? No demos, nothing. Why would we get into a class that couldn't care less if we exist or not. It's easy for all you southerners to slag us off, you get all the support you need.
Slag Nacra all you like, I suppose you'd do the same to Hobie. Put your F16 up on your pedestal, we are all different and have different wants/needs from our boats. If they update old boats, that's great, guys can still buy a cheap one and update to suit their budget, and as the 5.8s have shown, it is successful to do so and cost effective.
If they want to develop the F17 and combine the inters, all the better.
Why do you and Wouter even come here? you have the F16 forum, do you have to chip at us to make yourselves feel better?
I stretch an invitation to all F16 sailors to join us for our May day Regatta, we had an 18 foot skiff last year, the F18's came, Tornados. Come up and show us your stuff. You can even race Devon on the Inter 17 to see which is faster. We have State, National and World Champion sailors, Angus Macgregor won Junoir Male athlete of the year with the sporting wheelies.
It is on 1st-3rd of May
http://tinaroo.yachting.org.au/
Enjoy,
FNQ Engineer