I will definately get flamed for this but so be it :

By the way no bad comments from me about getting to YC events and showing of the Cats.

However :

There is still an attitude that you guys are breaking new ground with your development. This while several classes have went ahead of you.

To be trend setters you'll need to be a bit more creative yourself.

Examples :

>>The evolution of the class continues. This is a development class.

So you keep telling us.

>>All competitors in the US are still racing the Bimare Javelin 2 platform.

Proofs my point to begin with.

>>Last year, nearly everyone was using the stock Bimare mainsail and a Smyth spinnaker. At this regatta, the top competitors were using either an Ullman or Ashby mainsail.

So which two classes were using Ashby sails in the US before you guys ? And the same regarding Ullmans sails. Besides I don't know many other classes allow sails to be sourced from anyone. Some development guys at best you are middle of the pack.


>>Spinnakers are now being hoisted higher and further forward resulting in a higher aspect chute that improves the downwind helm of the boat, stability, visibility, and speed.

Like we didn't already know this from other classes. Wasn't your hoist height a little less than the F18's ? 'Bout time you moved it up.


>>Two competitors have changed out the stock rudders with those used on the Marstrom M-20

Changing rudder setup by gear comming of other designs. Well, if you had designed your own new and superior setup then maybe you could call that development work. Janking it off the M20 and then walking tall with the Marstrom feathers stuck in you butt is not really something that will impress the REAL development guys in say the Moth class or A-cat class or even the F18 class. Even the last developped their rudder system into a good working one about 6 years ago.


>>Critics of the class will argue that it is not healthy to have an “arms race” but everyone in the class seems committed to finding the fastest rig/platform setup and sail combinations.

Yep, so again no different than many other classes. Hell, what do you think F18 crews are doing ? Finding the slowest rig/platform/sail combo's ?


>>This continued development should lead to a stable class structure married to sensible evolution as demonstrated by the A-class.

Yeah ! I'm sure the A-cat guys are anxious to find out about the next go fast trick being developped in the F18 HT class.

Maybe we'll see the A-cats sourcing sails from Ashby in the future ? (Gee, they have already done that several years now)
Or maybe they will be fitting M20 rudderstock to their boats ? (They have superior custom made stocks already, darn)
Else the F18 , F20 and Tornado classes will use higher spi gates as a result of this F18HT development ! (Their spi gates were already higher, so no luck there.)


I really like to see some cool stuff happening overthere with you guys but, with all the teasing and sarcasme aside, you've got to do better than sourcing some sails of Ashby, ripping the stocks of Marstrom or correcting on old mistake in your class rules.

If you want to be a development class than you must really go out there and try something new. Foils, planing hulls, or wave piercer hulls that WORK. Hell even THAT has now been introduced in the rival F18 class with succes before you are getting to it. Or at least the Capricorn F18 is making an impression now. Otherwise you are just a convenional catamaran class JUST like the rest of us.

Again no bad words about you growing cat participation, just about the grandized self image.

Have you decided on the longer pole length yet ? Your current one is the shortest of the line-up F16, F18, F20, Tornado. Although it must be said that the F16 appears to not need the full length pole so that a longer pole may not help you very much.

Wouter