Sorry guys, 107lbs is a misprint, it should read 165lbs or 75kg. Yes that's true, an 'A' min. wt. is 75kg and they are very light for an 18 but also a bit delicate or were when I did the 430 in 97/98. They also cost a shirtload more than $11,000. They can all be made lighter but the exercise of reducing weight has an accompanying exponential increase in cost. The 430/F14 was designed for the average decent sailor to replace the very tough (and very heavy) 120kg/260lb+ Hobies, Maricats, and Windrushs etc. and in that regard it was/is a giant step forward for a production boat. The second boat was sub. 70kg and the class rules could easily be changed to accommodate a 60kg min but the cost factor has to be considered.
Bottom line is, no one was prepared to pay the $$$$ for the boat @ 75kg and a 60kg boat would have been significantly more expensive. I think what cat people want here in Oz is a technically superior boat, weighing 50kg, which beats current 14's by half and hour over two hours, doesn't pitchpole forwards and backwards, points like a mono, tacks easily, looks great, would comfortably carry a kite and is completely bullet proof but costs $1500/$2000 on a trailer. Not possible.
Bern