The F16 class as an education

This may sound like a weird phrase to begin a post but it is true.

One of the things that make me very proud of this class is that it is so much based on engineering experience. It is not apparent from the class rules but they a fully written on these experiences. Their working core to garantee equality is based on them.

We and most I personally gether data from other classes and the F16 class and re-evaluate the rule set on these. I've done this for 4 years now and we are still very much at the orginal rules set. The rules have not change in any significant way since 2002 and even back then the adjustments (limiting mast height for example) we rather tame.

This class and it class rule do really demand of the sailors that they open their eyes and minds and learn. They will learn that choice of design or cut of sail rather equalizes things than give rise to inequality. That choice of material is only an excuss to mask poor design skills. That a well designed alu mast will beat to crap out of any standard carbon mast. That Carbon hulls are COOL but not any faster on the water. That well designed 12.000 alu platforms put red on the cheeks 13.000 to 20.000 a boat big names in cat business. That sailing skills will overcome any inequality in designs or crewweights. That a competitive spirit is the garanteed way to true competitiveness. That an obsessive focus on equality in design is just another form of unfounded fair as walking in the woods at dark is. The creatures of evil are the make of our own fearful mind much rather can creations of the universe. We'll learn that the enjoyment of sailing comes from being inclusive and welcoming and the joy of improving ones own skills rather than winning 1st spot and excluding everybody who doesn't think the exact same way as you do. We'll learn that high tech boats have weak spots and that when these are exploited to the fullest that their advantages are much much reduced. I hope that a few of you will learn of the discussions that are had on this forum and the data that I and others give.

And I hope or rather trust that the fact that all major components in this class are F16 sailors themselfs will make the class all she can be. Matt doesn't want to race a bad mannered boat himself, his wife simply won't have it. Phill will not design a boat that doesn't sail well in both doublehanded and singlehanded setup, it will not suit his way of sailing it. I won't allow any unacceptable inequality in racing these boats, coz I'm not about to my own Taipan F16 alu beamed and alu masted platform I worked at for over 2 years obsolete ! Tony McKenzie, AHPC and Stealth Marine will not make their carbon components any more expensive than they need to be, it is driving their sales. And so on and so on. He all have very much invested interest in this class and non of us will do anything to upset the balance or to cause any other end result than a large international class with level first in winds racing. In doing so we cover a large area of optimimal designing AND the true importance of sailing skill in relation to design factors.

That in itself is very educational.


Wouter