Hi Matt <br> <br>With reguard to the rating differences... I would not minimize them.... Acknowledge that they are real BUT.... at the regional level the skill factor on the tiller is probably a 5 % difference. I think people choose their boats for lots of reasons other then rating number. For instance, The I20 is fast, carries weight well but I don't like the look of the hulls ....purely irrational choice on my part. This choice factor is why we have so many designs to choose from. <br> <br>With reguard to sailing in the largest class... I think that ignores the changes that are occuring in the market place. Why are Hobie 18's not popular any longer? P19's... N 5.8's. We must manage carefully or we will drop people out of the sport. (unless you are serious... you will not keep up with the hot class boat type) Consider that Spin's have cut the performance big boat fleet into two halves. H20's and N6.0's and Tornado's and I20's. What fleet would you join right now, if the rule is that you hold onto your boat for 5 years. UhOh... the F18 class seems to offer a lot of advantages over these classes. Will it grow or flounder.... Hmmm. <br> <br>These are the issues facing a sailboat racer from another non cat class... . Thow in local differences... they survey the cat scene and go. Nah.. Melges 24's look good.. <br> <br>How about the guy on a budget buying your old 5.8, They may turn into a race nut but without a competitive venue for them you have no chance. <br> <br>Seems to me we need to get ahead of the curve here. We need a sustainable racing structure that allows new sailors and new racers a clear entry into the sport. Design a racing scene that is rooted in the Hobie /CRAM one design regatta system but is more inclusive... <br> <br>1) Race the 5 H20's with the 5 N 6.0's on portsmouth... Also score one design. <br> 2) Race the F18's and F20's together until you get to start lines with over 20 boats and then reevaluate. Also score one design. <br> <br>With respect to weight.... Well it looks like you can probably race an F18 over a 70 lb weight range from 280 to 350 with their equalization scheme I think you MUST ddress the weight issue up front. The F18's have a min of 330 for the big sails. Everyone who is close will add weight to get the big sails. They have a scheme that appears fair for a huge weight range... <br>This is clearly different then one design sailing and something we should keep. <br> <br>Seems to me that the 20 niche is going to be 330 to 420. Set a min of 350 and allow them to add weight. I think the formula class should go with two chute sizes to equalize down wind performnance and have the option to get sails from any vendor and measure them in. <br> <br>I think we should move the f20 fleet to a minimum of 350 with an expected range to 420. Peg the rating at 95 and let designers build future boats to that rating <br> <br>With respect to your point of leveling what is not level. <br>Well of course this depends on your point of view... The only level playing field is teams of the same weight on the same boat with the same sails.. Give this criteriia no class is truly level... they are always compromises. . I would not choose to define the current 20 scene as impossible to level... <br> <br> We need to consider all aspects. <br>Racing structure <br>Builder supprt <br>Racer bias's prejudices support. <br>Design constraints. <br> <br>The rank order that i listed are the order that I think we need to address. <br> <br>My proposal: Formula 18 and 20 boats in one start scored overall, formula, and one design within the hobie/Cram one design structure. Championships could be more restrictive. <br> <br>Builders already build to a texel of 95/96... lock the rule in and declare it the defacto if20 rule. <br> <br>Define a minimum of 350 correctable with dead weight. Implement two spin sizes for weight correction. Maintain one design scoring as well as formula scoring. <br> <br>Design constraints... The texel formula was updated for 2002 The rule has general acceptance in Europe.... Get builder feedback on what it means to lock in a texel rating of 95... Will there be a rule beater to emerge? <br> <br>Allow Marstrom and other High tech craft to race in open untill they are a significant racing subset. <br> <br> <br><br>
