As a new F16 member, I am perhaps not particularly qualified to comment on the rules for membership. However, if my view is of interest, I believe that any class that is just starting out (and 4 years on that is where F16 still is) needs to foster members and friends wherever it can. To generate an air of discrimination or exclusivity by limiting membership to only those who race in largish fleets is counterproductive. This is for all the reasons outlined above by others plus it will discriminate against those who view the boat for what it really is; an easily sailed, lightweight, exciting, speed machine.

Although a racer at heart myself, since getting my Stealth I have been more than impressed with how easy the boat is to sail with a light, novice crew (my wife on one occasion, and my 12 year old son 3 times) and above all how much FUN just going for a blast was.

In just two weeks we have already generated a lot of interest at our club amongst family sailors and if I was to honour every request I have had for a trial sail "when you've got a chance", I'd never get any sailing or racing done for myself.

These people are unlikely to be the sort to go big fleet or regatta racing but would be solid club sailors - as the rules stand they could be excluded from membership. Perhaps two classes of membership -voting and non-voting? Whatever the majority decide to be the criteria for membership is OK by me, but I know from past experience that many people just like to feel that they 'belong' to the association of the class of boat they sail without being activists. To get their regular newsletters, ballots or special 'exclusive' offers etc.

Here's looking forward to the all-inclusive F16 class!