Division 9 which is where Jake and Tad fit into has always had a great class of 17's and the REAL Serious racers actually buy NEW 17s from time to time. It may not be the fastest or techie, but who cares when you can go to almost ANY Div9 regatta and sail against other 17s ALL the time, so the fastest and techie doesn't matter since your one design, except for Tad and his future rocket. Even if he showed up with a non stock configuration the 17 sailors would probably let him in the class anyway, because they don't tend to take themselves that seriously...unless he starts kicking butt which might change things