One of the challenges with the F16 is that it seems to have a very large 'optimal' crew weight range. The optimal weight greatly depends on the conditions. The lighter the crew the sooner they're trapping and able to sail much higher and faster than the heavier teams. On the flip side, when the wind gets over 10kts the '260 teams' become at a disadvantage which only grows as the wind picks up. To some extent this applies to most cats, but it really seems magnified on the F16 due to the variations in speed it is capable of producing.
World Class helms like Carolijn Brewer can sail light and minimize the disadvantage as the wind builds (see last years Euro results).
You also see this effect when single handers are sailing in that 6 to 10 knot range. They are just fast.
Should it make it through the ISAF trials... I predict the Olympic fleet will settle on light ... (set the boat up for the lulls)
Mark, It doesn't matter who the sailor is. All the Olympic tornado teams were extremely close in terms of boat speed and maneuvers. Interestingly, even on the Tornado the crew weight differences we're obvious from light to heavy weather conditions. On the F16 that weight sensitivity is magnified.
Sailing at 260lbs in 12kts is a definite disadvantage against a team at 310lbs and a huge advantage in 6-8kts. But if all teams are around 260-280 then it really doesn't matter.
Problem arises when teams try to optimize their weight for the anticipated wind conditions (look at the things teams did for China). The racing becomes more about guessing the correct weight instead of the sailing.
