The builders of the F18 class; made a balance between what they want, the customer wants and with what they could get away with.

It is just like video players : VHS or Phillips 2000. The latter is still be beter one even after 15 years of no development and 15 years of VHS development. However Sony played the better PR-customer game and achieve critical mass much sooner. Customer wanted availability of films more than they wanted quality.

In some respects boats are different but still the F18 is big and the Taipan 5.7 is, well, on its way out. I think the F18 achieved 3 times the number of Taipan 5.7 in the short 2001-2003 timeframe. Especially on the T5.7 home turf of AUS. Something went terribly wrong with the Taipan 5.7 class setup as indeed the boat is fine.

I say learn from it and make sure that the F14 doesn't fall in the same trap.

Wouter