While I agree that the AO F14's performance looks very promising, there is another practical consideration when attempting to make direct performance comparison between dissimilar classes in only 1 or 2 races. I sailed my taipan in one of the races that Darryl refers to. The AO was the only 14 ft boat in a fleet of 16 and 18 fters. The course was quite short, probably only 1 km windward and return, I think it only took about 35 minutes to do 3 laps. There was a bunch of about 8 to 12 boats all within a minute or so of each other, and clean air was at a premium. On such a short windward leg, tacking off before the layline was not an option. Meanwhile, the AO F14 was 2 or 3 minutes behind the main fleet enjoying lovely clean air.

I am sure this factor improved the F14's time relative to the rest of the fleet. To what degree, I cannot say.


Phil