Mike, <br> <br>Your taking this the wrong direction. I'm not looking to make any existing boat add weight. Well, maybe I am in the form of crew. I believe that with open formula rules you can take a H20 and change the mast and main to make the boat more than competitive. Basically, the H20 is a Tornado hull and we all know how competitve the T is. <br> <br>As for H20 weight my '97' weighs 384 lbs all up. <br> <br>This is part of the problem overall -- no two production boats weigh the same, couple that with the differences in crews and you have a nightmare. <br> <br>Basically, if we take a page from the monodullers and weigh both boat and crew for a static minimum it closes the gap some. Do heavier crews have an advantage in heavy air (18-20+ knots) you bet they do. Is it an unfair advantage -- No, not if the lower weight crew learn how to depower. Look at Randy Smyth. He is not a big guy, but he knows how to work the rig. Is it beyond anyone elses knowledge of how to do it. NO! Hell, just ask the man he'll tell you what to do. God knows he's the best person at spreading knowledge and also if he was asked he probably support what I'm saying here for a few reasons <br> <br>A. you can make any boat competitive with the right training and sail plan. <br> <br>B. Anyone can be fast in larger air if they know how to depower <br> <br>C. open sail plans give alot of sailmakers the opportunity to make a living and expand the envelope of design. <br> <br>D. Minor changes that we have discussed can be readily reversed for one design class racing. <br> <br>Anyone who thinks that we are all going to recut our stock sails is niave. You,I and the rest of us know that we are going to get new sails and keep the old ones for numerous reasons. <br> <br>Did you get your main recut? Most of us did. Is that recut class legal for Hobie? NO its not. <br> <br>We all just need to throw off the yoke of manufacturers self interests and work together as catsailors to broaden our sport. If we as a group stand up the manufacturers will support us. They have to if they want our money! Its one of the basic prinicples of a free market economy. <br> <br>I am all for one design racing but it is sadly dying. We can all enjoy it while its still here and start by planting seeds that enables other future sailors options in what they want to do. The sixties are over! Let's just let the thought processes of that eras sailors go that way also. <br> <br>My humble two cents worth <br>Steve<br><br>
