Some of us prefer and sail 14 ft cats ,-some would prefer sailing the 120ft Playstation ,--most of us for many practical reasons are somewhere in between ,-categorized into typical beachcats that is generally a 16 18 or 20 ft length, with a few {super } exceptions .

What would be your ideal dream cat design and what features would it have ,-{other than auto refill refrigerated Labatt,s keg and tapper lead to camelpack or sippy helmet } .
In general specs of Length -Beam -W -Sail area and general features or improvements as standards you would like to see or hope to see developed for future cat design.

Here are my current thoughts on a dream cat design ,Prefer the 20 Length for its ability in seas to be pushed hard without pitchpoling but would also race an 18 or singlehand a 16 as a matter of practicality being physically larger.. Like the 8.5 beam for trailerability , but also did enjoy owning and sailing a cat with wings to extend crew weight and beam .-would like the design-construction aspects of the cat to be as light as possible consistant with strength of all componants ,-rig boards rudders hardware also able to handle surf and extreme conditions ,
Hulls should have positive floatation , crossbeams should be oval shaped with no flat sides to slam and pound waves -

Mast -C F and light ,-sections are really getting good --see some A-masts ,-spin-s are great with a snuff system -mid pole ,-sailplan could be larger than current 20s ,-larger wings would allow crew to handle the added main area and spin ,the added power would more than offset added wing weight -
Hulls and bows would then have to have more volume to handle the added sailarea ,-a planing shape becomes possible in a more canted configuration and more power to get on plane. Larger spin should be set further forward on a longer pole to help lift bows ,-the more luff angle the more lift ,-this potentially causes a lee helm problem with the spin up evan with raked aft mast ,--The solution to balance and planning may be a small molded in skeg or mini foil near the bows that may also help lift and increase area for planning aspects ,-the rudders may be larger than current practise and idealy be adjustable to assist CLR and helm balance also somewhat offsetting the forard molded in forward foils .

recap -more sail >more volume >planning capabilty >spin forward >more lift >forward molded foils >evan more lift and balance under forward spin .---{worth experimenting with}

Out on larger wings the crew requires a good -J line -or safety line system to keep them in place but easily releasable .
A good readable digital compass location molded in for the crew with countdown features and combined with a GPS ,-
{Garmin needs to work on this one }--
A storage cooler area would be nice and place for spares and tools .
Athetically on fast cats I like some color -slick graphics ,-and artwork on the sails .

This is my {wish list } for consideration of future cat design ,-We have so many good cat design types out there now ,-but one thing for certain is that they will continue to change .

-added note on future classes and the sport -
The A class developed to its hi tech state is a great one and has again experienced an increase in class and will continue well into the future mainly because it is allowed limited development.-B Class eventually became the Tornado selected for the Olympics with similar longevity due to excellent design and development over the years ,- Formula classes seem to be some of the largest currently with the most potential for similar longevity that create great interest and partisipation and have great appeal to a wide variety of sailors .A good single handed spin F-Class group is also needed beyond the 16 -18s and 20s in i-F and HT classsification in each Length category ,- Would like to see all cats fall within these basic categories for racing groups and an improved rating system to allow equal rating classification by equalizing in design formula the basics of sail area length weight and beam.-Current cats that require periodic refitting and new sails could then target the ideal size and configuration with mods and updates to race equally in each L category -with spin and non spin and also single handled handed spin and non in sub categories .Very important also are entry level cat design like waves -14s etc for new and experienced sailors alike to help them along and into the sport .
All cats have a rating ,and race ,-the concept is to target a max in L W SA category for preferred equal class racing ,-those over equal rating move up to the next level for start sequences.

Hope to see it all in the near future and know we will see many more than the 1000 to 2000 currently estimated racing
catsailors.
Really believe setting up a more desirable L W SA RATING class racing structure will help along with great new designs that are sure to keep being developed.-The numbers could easily be ten times current est. within the decade if set up promoted and marketed in the media and existing sailing organizations and with new events for all catsailing and future catsailing enthusiasts.
New cat design with -colorfull graphics and team artwork on sails flying off wave tops airborn with crews trapped out is a very appealing image , very marketable in this sports crazed country ,and just waiting for the right combination of good folks to make it happen .

Carl -
I-20
H-18 +spare platform
SC -15
sailboard
cayak w sail {sippy helmet optional}