For years now, the room for developement in the F18 rule has meant that each new generation of F18 designs has got faster and faster until they outperform supposedly faster boats like iF20s and Tornados.
The time has now come when the F18 rule is holding their developement back when compared to newer designs like this N17. This isn't a problem, its just that we need to accept that F18s aren't going to be getting so far up in the long distance races any more.
The F18 rule works - its the best racing across the world.
Having been an early adopter F18 sailor...let's not forget that sail development played a large role early on with the performance increase of the F18. The platforms evolve regularly but I think the biggest performance gains on the F18 from beginning to now are simply mast and sail configurations.
