One other point on the pitch pole topic; I said earlier that ALL catamarans can pitchpole. I also want to point out that when the rounded top deck (i.e. pitch pole resistant cats) pitchpole, they do so at higher speeds with higher loads and higher deceleration. If I were starting all over again (I started sailing 5 years ago on a Nacra 5.2, also a great boat) I wouldn't hesitate to start on a H16.