****. As if the A-cats are all identical. Hell, you'll be hard pressed to find identical F18's even when only looking at Hobie Tiger F18's. First thing F18 sailors do when buying a Tiger is spend an additional 3000 Euro's on modifying the boat to full F18 competitiveness. With respect to F16's, the bulk of the class is Taipan 4.9 based, a design that has been raced hard for over 15 years now and ample tuning help is available. I'm sure that are differences between the classes in this respect but you make it sound like we are a freak class without history or past development in tuning.

Here, Wouter, I am sure you will admit your error. Imagine for a moment that there are an equal amount of F16s to a number of F17s. The F16s will have different masts, sails, rigs, and platforms. The F17s will have identical masts, sails, rigs and platforms. Getting the most out of the F17 will be significantly easier than getting the most out of the F16. In the seven years I raced the 18 Square (Formula boat), I found that those with unique designs had a very difficult time getting the most out of their boats, where my experience in H16 racing (4 years), N5.5 Uni (9 years), and I-17R (5 years), the ability of the whole fleet to improve their speed and in getting the most out of their boats was significantly better than in the 18 Square. In your vast experience sailing in various one design and Formula Fleets, you know this to be true. At least with the Tigers, they all use the same mast. They all use the same platform, and they don't have to change the platform width to get the most out of the platform as a Taipan would have to. Although the stock Taipan 4.9 is grandfathered in to F16, I think that to meet the Rules, sail area would need to be changed (I got this from reading prior posts on F16 forum, so if this is wrong, please forgive my error.) In addition, I never said the F16 was a freak class or lacked development in tuning. Please read what I wrote. I meant what I wrote and nothing more.
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Well, I'm very influenced by the European catamaran scene. One-design is pretty much the much smaller brother to formula racing overhere. Anybody who is anybody sails a formula type boat. (F18, F20, A-cat, Tornado). If you want to develop your skills than you have to sail a formula boat as well, simply because the competition is there and not in any OD fleet. My point, sailing in a OD class is not always best to reach your potential. I can learn alot more in a 30 boat formula fleet than in a 6 boat OD fleet.

Yes, your are influenced by your local fleet, as am I. I think that Sarah should be influenced by her local fleet. Certainly she can learn a lot more sailing in a 30 boat one design fleet than sailing in a 6 boat Formula fleet. In fact, she would learn a lot more about getting the most from her boat in a 12 boat I-17 one design fleet than a 12 boat F16 fleet with different masts, rigs, sails and platforms, some sailing 2-up and some one-up. This you cannot rationally disagree with.

Sarah, please assess your situation based on all the good advice you have read in this thread. There is alot here that fits that category. If you can, sail the alternatives and pick what you want. Then go have fun!
Les Gallagher