I'm truly sorry to inform you that the FOX is dead in Europe. I don't even think that Hobie France has produced any in the last 2 years.

It failed in direct comparison to the EU I-20 as well. And here the sailarea's are the same. You point about its trouble in the USA is however correct the US I-20's have more sailarea and are lighter.

I also need to inform you that the FOX isn't doing "quite well" in Europe. Most sailors now feel that a FOX is at a disadvantage to the EU F20's. No big names are sailing it anymore and as a result there hasn't been some good results for some time. Actually today a FOX being raced is a rare sight. In the Netherlands you are more likely to see a FX-one at the events and event that boat is relatively rare. It is truly not going well.

I agree that the FOX moves well in rought conditions. I found that too, but it overall speed is inferiour to the I-20's (both in EU and USA) and it is most likely the large hull length - width ratio that keeps its dive behaviour acceptable. For example if we had used its hulls shape for the F16 than it would be a dive-nightmere. Sorry, we know as we, well, have quite a few experimental data pointing to this.

Regards,

Wouter