John,

You are absolutely correct, PRW is NACRA's North American Championships. In 2002, NACRA specifically invited the North American F18 Class Association to conduct the NAF18 North American Championships at Performance Race Week, and did so again in 2003. They had no need to invite the NAF18 Class to PRW 2004 because the NAF18 North American Championships were already held in Quebec in July. HCA's Hobie-only policy had nothing to do with it. NACRA was helping the NAF18 Class Association by hosting their North American Championships when it was apparent that the class needed someone to host the NA's. That is no longer the case.

It is interesting about your and Tom's comment about variation in Tigers and trying to stay up to date with the IF18 Class and be "one design" at the same time. I think that NACRA's approach to their NACRA F18 Class rules might be the correct approach, that from the beginning they have said they would follow the IF18 Rules and the boat would continue to be developed within the IF18 rules. Owners and potential owners were asked their view of this approach and were overwhelmingly in favor of the "Formula Rule" approach rather than "one design". The evolutionary changes are expected and most feel this is good for the class. Again, you are correct (as is Wouter) that the most improvement in performance will come from sailing the boat to it's potential, not in increased potential due to design changes within the Formula Rule.

Again, I think you are correct in advising people to compete in World Championships when possible, and anyone who passes up a chance to compete in the NACRA F18 World Championships in Traverse City, Michigan next September would be foolish.