Mr Chip Zenke,

"My speciality is building the largest catamaran fleets in the country"-what are you smoking? 4 Taipans (two of which are shared between your girlfriend, Lee Mullins, and yourself) does not make a fleet! Besides, how many times have all of these Taipans raced together as F-16s in any real regattas? Did they all race at Gunpowder? NO, only one. Did they show at the Delaware State Championships? Only one. Did any show for the Chesapeake 100? NO, none. Are any coming to the Summer Sizzler, after Oliver made a special invitation to the class? Don't know, but guess not. In fact, have you raced a F-16 in any real regattas (not beer can races)? No fleet in the Chesapeake, that is for sure.

Why not start racing in this "Fleet"? The Taipan is a great boat, but the F-16 class has yet to show any tendency to build fleet participation in regattas in the Mid-Atlantic or anywhere else in the USA. Suggest that the F-16 class take Rick Whites advise and go sailing (racing)! Outside of Hobie Cats, only the I-20 and F-18HTs have fleets of note in the mid-Atalantic. Even, there the F-18HTs only muster about 10 boats at their regattas. In the Mid-Atlantic,he I-20s only attend distance races as a class and rarely, if ever, show as a class in bouy races. We need some other class to step forward-There is plenty of room for the F-16 class, but someone has to make the first big step-go to major regattas as a class! Good luck to the class, but let's keep the claims real.