Hi Wouter, I appreciate your explanations and the reasoning that went into the various formula classes minimum weights. Not only that, I understand why they went with those weights and agree that it will help get the classes started over here in the U.S., especially. The "trick" will be in knowing when to switch over to a lighter minimum weight so that manufacturers have another incentive to design and build lighter boats. The A class did that and it is a difficult decision but critical to continuing to develop faster designs and keep the class healthy. Obviously the main attribute to speed potential on the A cats is their light weight compared to other 18 foot designs.
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<br>The main reason that I am so interested in light weight in a new boat now is that I just turned 48 and while I am quite fit, very active in racing many different kinds of boats, and am committed to sailing for the rest of my life, I recognize that I can best extend that active sailing age range by putting less strain on my body, especially my back, by getting lighter equipment. The beauty of this reality is that it will also translates directly to higher boat speed as well! Also, I am a much better care taker for my boats after all this experience so I can expect my boat to last a long time.
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<br>So given all that, I am naturally more attracted to the Formula 16 class because I am also one of the few guys left who still races with his wife after all these years and neither one of us weighs much more than we did 25 years ago. Even though we struggled to meet the Hobie 18 minimum crew weight of 295 # and usually carried five pounds in the boat just in case, we also never complained about carrying 20# to race the Mystere 6.0 because we figured that helped in light air and forced us to get better in heavy air to be competitive. So we like sailing the 20 footers but not the manhandling associated with maintenance, rigging, transporting, etc.
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<br>This all boils down to personal preference which is determined by so many things like crew size and weight, discretionary income (M20 is over 20K U.S.), age, experience, level of sailing fanaticism, etc., etc. So I understand the Formula concept, the development boat concept, the reasons for the decisions made, and most of everything else discussed here on the forum. I was only pointing out my preferences in the hope that people would consider boat weights in regards to the Formula classes. If they establish the high minimum weights to get started, that's cool. I just hope they also realize that they should consider that they can (and should) be lowered in the future and that if that change is planned and managed well it could not only be accepted well but also add to the future success of the formula concept. I am just glad that the circumstances allowed the Formula 16 class to do that at the start so that I have a place to start with a new boat!<br><br>Mystere 6.0. , Mystere 4.3 , 2 Hobie Waves