Hi Matt, I disagree. There is lots of discussion over what can be modified on older designs to be considered legal in Formula racing, especially by adding sail area to heavier, older designs. There is a considerably lower weight level in the Formula 16 rule. There are many new designs in the Formua 18 class with lots of "buzz" being generated about artificially "new ideas" like wave piercing hulls (as if all beach cat hulls do NOT pierce waves). So clearly there is at least an attempt in the Formula classs to win with a better design. Meanwhile, some say that the A class is so refined that the design changes are quite small and any speed differences in the boats are either very condition specific or so small as to make racing success completely driver determinant. <br> <br>If there are no modifications allowed to boats like the Hobie 18 to race in the Formual 18 class then there will be far fewer boats racing in that group in the U.S., especially initially. The easiest, most effective, and least expensive change is to put a bigger mainsail on the boat. That alone gives it a chance to keep up with the new Formula 18 boat upwind. The spinnaker gear can then be any off-the-shelf gear from a purpose built Formula design so that it is readily available and already meets the class rules. <br> <br>I just can't see spending all that money to switch from a Hobie 18, for example, to a Formula 18 just to race in Formula when the boat is not much different. It is the same reason many did not sell there Nacra 6.0s to buy Inter 20s. They are still arguing over which one is faster but there is no doubt which one is more expensive. It just seems to me like if you are going to spend all that money then you ought to get something more advanced; like the Marstrom 18 for example or at least like the Taipan (older design but MUCH lighter and as fast as a 20 footer). Except for the Formula 16 class, the Formula minimum boat weights are set so high as to be an impediment to better boats and weight is becoming a major issue as we all go into and beyond middle age! <br><br>Mystere 6.0. , Mystere 4.3 , 2 Hobie Waves
