>>I am probably going with a Formula class and the F-16HP class make sense for my wife and myself. We weigh about 250 lbs comnbined, so the 18 footer are probably too big. We want to race.


You combined weight is even on the low end of the Taipan/F16 class. With a combined weight of this I would strongly advice against the other formula classes. I'm sure you won't even be allowed to race in the F18 class, they have a minimum crewweight of 115 kg = 254 lbs. The F20, if it makes it to NA, has a minimum of 130 kg = 287 lbs. The F18HT class has no minimum crewweight but even the US importer himself mailed me that the boat likes some weight on the wire comparable to the I-20. I still have the mail if people don't beleive me. I know the F18 goes best with about 150 kg = 330 lbs and I'll be very suprised if the HT class would have a optimum lower than that. Our optimum lies between 130 - 140 kg = 287 lbs - 310 lbs. Normally a crew can get away by being still 10 kilogram ligher or heavier than that. The Taipan class showed a very flat dependency. But like I said at 113 kg = 250 lbs you're even at the light end of the Taipan/F16 class.

With this data your choices are pretty much Taipan/F16, which admittely sees alot of handicap racing as of yet. If you really want to do alot of one-design or class races than the only option for you will be the Hobie 16. They other 18 and 20 foot classes will just not let you be competitive in anything but (very) light winds.

One point I would like to underline in favour of the F16 class is that it's speed potential is very very comparable to that of the F18's and other oldeer 18-20 footers. This means that handicap racing becomes alot more enjoyable and fair. The time differences have now become very small and often in the order of only 0 to 90 seconds for the whole range.

Dying winds or building winds will have much much less effect on the overall results as the time to take effect has become to small. How much can a wind die in 0 to 90 seconds ?

For comparison I recommend reading the following webpage : http://www.geocities.com/f16hpclass/F16HP_public_history.html

Especially http://www.geocities.com/f16hpclass/Report_2002_29_sept_Round_The_Island_distance.html

http://www.geocities.com/f16hpclass/Report_2003_april_27_USA_Icebreaker_Galesville.html


Some try to paint a picture where only one type of boat will move along in light winds but this is a skewed picture. The reports given illustrate this.

Of course in extremely light winds below 5 knots at 10 mtr altitude (30 feet) the tall masted boat will go faster. But these winds feel like a slight cooling of the skin at eyelevel and really these races are not called drifters for nothing. These light winds are something else than normal light winds which typically are between 5-10 knots.


>>I see that Jennifer posted the question to the effect-who would come to a North Americans? The fact that there have been no answers is not good.


Indeed, that is not good, no doubt about that.

>>Jeff and Jennifer mentioned the possiblity of combining their North Americans with the F18ht class

Was a one-time deal.

>>Any more going on with this class with regards to racing in the SE USA?


We're not giving up on NA if that is what you mean. We do need some more volunteer enthousiasme that is true. Something like is happening in other parts of the world. I still think that the boat numbers are there and that the sailors want to be but are eyeballing eachother.

We'll just have to see I think.

Wouter