I just wondered about the following things :

>>In my opinion, they do not feel that the C-Class is viable and the extreme costs to build/campaign the C-Cats could reduce and discourage participation in the LAC by top teams.


Has the solid wingsail been banned from the F18HT yet ? If not than I predict we'll see the same cost development in the ICCT challenge as we did with the C-class catamarans. Those 7 foot of extra hull length are not really why these boat are so expensive. It is all about the development and building costs of the wingsail.



>>>(Comment from Mary: So there are three brands of F-18HT in this year's ICCT event. Mitch Booth is sailing a Marstrom, and British team is sailing a Stealth, and the rest of the sailors will be on Bimare Jav 2's. And if you want to build an F-18HT in your garage, it would be welcome, too.)


Did marstrom build a F18HT ?

For about 10 years now I've read and heared rumours claiming Marstrom would build a F18HT but he never did. HE did make the M18 (a widened A-cat that would not measure in as a F18HT) and the M20 (also wouldn't measure in). Are you sure Mary that it is a Marstrom and not a Ventilo or Eagle F18HT ? I think it really hard to believe that Booth would order a custom boat with Marstrom just for this event or that Marstrom would build and design a boat that is a direct competitor to its M20 after not having done so for 10 years.

I also wonder if there are any other Top teams to this event besides the Olympic training group of Lovel, Booth and McMillan. I think here is the reason why these 3 are attending. This is not a put down, I'm just wondering if the ICCT committee could not have attracted about 15 international top teams if they had decided to go for the Tornado class over the relatively new class of the F18HT. If the event is far more about the sailors then the boats then a decision for the F18 class would have garanteed some 30+ participants with a factory teams from each brand. I just wonder why the ICCT decided on the F18HT class if the design of the boats is not that important, if they want good international participation and when wingsails are likely to be disallowed anyway.

Wouter