Mark,

The ARC had a chute, I saw it in a picture on I think boatpics.biz (or something) Actually I wonder what course the nacra 6.0's sailed ?

I fear that again the tradewinds race data will be thrown out in the USPN analysis as it is undependable. I mean the boats didn't race the expected course on sunday and on saterday the course was apparently to short to have the F16 boats perform at their opimal level. Handling will have played an very big role. Like this the USPN F16 rating never comes down to a realistic level.

Best part is that at the next event the RC looks at our high handicap again and will go "Tssss, I don't know. Looking at your ratings, I don't want the 18 footers waiting around for you guys, I think I'll put you on the short course again"

This is a viscious circle !

Like this it will be hard getting F16 sailors out to larger events.

I'm glad that I walked up to RC during the Westland cup at the DCC and personally made sure we started in the big league (22 boats) before the racing started. Daniel and Anna-liese won that fleet sailing at an F18 handicap with large margin. If that doesn't show that a lower handicap is appropriete then I don't know what is. Under UPSN the F16 rating is at least 5 % off or 3 minutes per hour !

So who ever gets beaten by F16's in the USA please note that part is due to us having a peachy handicap and we know it. Maybe I should give another try at lowering it because this is simply not fair to fellow cat sailors on other designs. This is like I-20's racing F18's on equal handicaps (F18/I-20 = 62.5 / 59.2 = 1.055 %)

Wouter