This may interest various parties c.q. sailors.

The Formula 16 class is looking to consolidate its structure during 2005.

This means that we will move towards bringing as much as we can into compliance with F16 rules.

If things continue as they do than the class will consider revoking the dispensations of inactive boats/classes. These international dispensations are not needed to cover local problematic situations. The freedom of the local class heads and the grandfather clauses are enough to solve local issues. Not that there are any such situations present at this time.

It is my personal opinion that both the Mosquito and Spitfire designs should continue their dispensations. The others like Mystere F16, Bim 16, Jav 16 and Cirrus Energy will, at some time in the future, be put up for termination. If any of these ever show up at our events than the grandfather clause should be enough to handle the situation. Personally I don't expect any to show up ever.

Also with reaching the key point of having three commerical available fully optimized F16's (Stealth F16, Blade F16 and Taipan F16) we need to reward the builders that have supported the class in the past over the ones that did not. This means that we will tighten the enforcement of the F16 class rules. Also we must reward the allied classes that have supported us like the Mosquito F16's. So they will retain their dispensation. Spitfire is in principle full compliant except for 3 rather small violations, comparable to those of the foundation boats (Taipan 4.9 and Stealth R) so as the chairman I will move to keep them included. The foundation boats are of course permanently dispensated.

With regard to the foundation boats Stealth and Stealth R; It has been expressed to me by the Stealth builder that many of these have been brought in over the last years to be upgraded to the F16 version. I think the orginal Stealth is no longer around anymore as all have been upgraded in the past to either the Stealth R verion or Stealth F16 version. If this continues than in time we can drop the foundation status of the both older versions as none of these will then exist anymore.

I do expect the standard Taipan 4.9 to continue for much longer so its need for the foundation status will probably stay in effect for many years to come. Currently the Taipan only violates the F16 rules due to its larger jib size.

All new boats and new applications to be included to the F16 format will be forced to be compliant with the current F16 rules. This includes any homebuilds. Stewarts homebuild in Western Australian is dispensated for its mast but that is the only one. All others are already full compliant, like Gary's Altered and John's Murka. So too are Harry's and mr Boyd's. Also the Ventilo Zipo is full compliant as it is. I think the Mattia Dynacat 16 has been discontinued together with its larger Mattia Dynacat F18. So many non compliance issues have solved themselfs.

Any builder currently considering to build a 16 footer that is not part of the Formula 16 class is arguably making a errornous choice. The F16 class will from now on be extremely unwilling to issue dispensations to non fully compliant boats. As the chairman I will refer all requests to local class heads and the grandfather rule; neither of which will have effect outside the bounderies of the local region. So, as a rule of thumb, no new international dispensations, only less.

Like I said it is consolidation time. We are attracting more and more sailors and need to present a clear class setup and be strickt on non-compliance. And as already said, we need to reward the parties that have supported us in our time of need over late commers. So all new boats must be Full Compliant, thus protecting the designs of the first hour parties.

I do stress that we will continue to be welcoming to other sailors under the grandfather rules. We will preserve our 'relaxed and welcoming' feel. We will still race everybody and anybody at any time at any place on the local level. We just won't garantee their inclusion in larger F16 class events like championships anymore. Think nationals or internationals.

All class heads, take note of this !

With kind regards,

Wouter