Hi Marc
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<br>First point. your comments to Wouter were WAY out of line and were a personal attack. I hope you will apologize!
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<br>I understood him to mean that a 400 lb team on a 295 min boat like a H20 would be at a bigger disadvantage then on a H20 with a 350 lb minimum. That is it.
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<br>You may agree / disagree or ask him to clarify his point. The attack by ridicule and insult was pointless.
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<br>Second point
<br>your point about light teams, Women and teenagers racing on 20 foot boats misses the general point.
<br>1) I also know mixed teams that kick my butt. Greg and Casey Scace come to mind. Can Casey out grind my crew on the boat doubtful does she outgrind other crews perhaps. Is it the critical factor... no. Does this debate have any relevance no.. Attacking the general argument with an example is trivial.
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<br>I am pointing out the observation that MOST couple teams are not racing 20 foot boats with spinnakers. Apparently, most couple teams are not looking to race 20 foot boats with chutes in the future based on conversations with the local dealer AND by observing the Euro I20 racing at texel. Are some couple teams looking to race 20 footers?. Probably. I pointed out one. You note Alan and Karen Ann. Carl and Sandra raced. The exceptions are not disproving the general point.
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<br>I pointed out one reason that couple teams might not want to race a 20 footer. Sheet loads as one being relevant to racing the boat around triangles where doublers are too slow to jibe and on a closed course crash jibes are possible.
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<br>You suggested
<br>Boat weight.... No... the F18 is heavier by rule then a 390lb I20.
<br>Trailer width. No. 8 feet 6 inches versus 8 feet 3 inches ... Both legal in North America.
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<br>Potential for class growth.... Hmm... Well that is the big issue now isn't it.
<br>Why would they think that the new F18 would be MORE POPULAR then staying in an existing 20 foot type class.
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<br>Perhaps they conclude.
<br>1) their team weight is close to optimum for the class.
<br>2) they can do more then "handle the boat"... they could be competitive at the elite level.
<br>3) Why not on an F20 boat??? Perhaps they will not be limited by some physical factor. weight, strength, endurance, height.. rather they will be limited by their sailing skill. (which is the point after all)
<br>4) perhaps they judge that the Fun Factor is higher on less powerful boat.
<br>5) Perhaps, all their competitors are moving down. so.. they want to join them.
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<br>All are quite plausible reasons.
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<br>My take home point is an obvious one in that the sailors are choosing an optimal design for them. Crew weight is one of several parameters in their decision.
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<br>AND…Most importantly... CREW WEIGHT is one of the things that a class can control easily.
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<br>The idea… is that just as in Hobie 16 one design racing.. you can set a floor on weight and Enhance competitive fairness. As wouter cleverly noted… why go shoot at the F18’s pigeons. Why not target a different segment of the market.
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<br>Finally, What is to stop Alan and Karen Ann from adding weight to their cross bar and racing at 350… are they more or less at a competitive disadvantage as a team at 400 lbs in the proposed if20 class with a minimum at 350.
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<br>Fairness is in the eye of the beholder I guess.
<br>There are options of grandfathering in teams, boats etc etc. Right now the debate is over the general philosophy.
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<br>Obviously we disagree. I suggest that we take a measure of the possible f20 sailors and see where we stand.
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<br>Take Care
<br>Mark
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