Weight on a cat does have an effect, there is no doubt about that. The effects are different in different conditions. If the wind is steady and the water flat, the light weight guy who can tune his sail will have an advantage. In gusty conditions (especially prevalent where I sail) the heavier crews gain a significant advantage. In short chop and boat wake, the heavier crews drive much easier also. Either way weight placement is critical to how the boat really performs. Having a light crew fix dead weight adjustments to their boat is somewhat double jepardy. Not very many people live where the wind and wave patterns are the same every time we race. Who has the advantage over the season is still outweighed by skill of those driving. The argument over weight has become the cat sailors crutch and I see this as being the biggest hurdle to overcome on choosing the formula.
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<br>I disaagree that it can be changed in the future. If the formula class is truly viable then maybe when there are sufficient people to intriduce a new "higher performance" class the parameters can change. The short term goal is to just get it started.
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<br>The other issue here is Mikes discussion about the H20. Most Hobie sailrs race Hobies not because it is the best boat but it is an active one design class. The H20 is fast but putting it on an even keel with the I20 will take more than just a recut main. The boat was not designed for spin racing. You can put one on, but the boards and ballance are not right. Race down wind on the I20 with out the chute. The boat doesnt drive nearly as smoothly.
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<br>I am 100% in favor of having a development or formula class started in the US for the 20 foot boats. I just see too many hurdles to overcome by creating a class around the I20 and expecting everyone else to change their boats. As I said the goal has to be just get it started. Look at the formuls sucess in Europe. They did not create their formula around 1 boat. It was a compromise to include the most people. Formula racing is an attempt to create a one design atmosphere while including many builders. Hobie and NAHCA are the only current long term organizations in the US. They have to be a pretty good model for what the new formula class need to do.<br><br>