Well you are obviously trying to start a pissing contest. What gets me though is your use of falsehoods.
You talk about some small splinter in our hand while ignoring the 2x4 in your own hand.
Just one example; You look at the : I-17 (aus version = orginal), I-17 (EU version), I-17R (american version), I-17 F17 version, I-17 XL version (EU again), than I-17 sloop (Aus/Asia version) compared to the I17 sloop as launched in USA and EU and then you decide to talk about "differences" between F16 boats ? For example the difference between I-17 (EU version) and I-17R is 3 sq. mtr (30 sq ft) and 0.5 mast length. Difference between I-17 EU and Aus I-17 with respect to overall weight is over 20 kg's. The largest significant difference between any Taipan 4.9 and fully optimized F16 boat is 0.05 sq. mtr ( 1/2 sq ft) in overal sailarea and in favour of the older Taipan, that and 0.16 mtr width (7 inches).
And don't put words in my mouth. I know full well the "OD racing selling argument" ; next regatta I'll welcome both the FX-one's and I-17's to our common open class again as they don't have the numbers for OD racing. At least in North-West Europe. Don't pretend that some 15+ boats (let alone 30) of either I-17 or FX-one are racing anywhere as OD class except on lake Michigan USA.
I think you can guess now what I think of your following statement :
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.
Just plain BS, and I fully and utterly disagree with it. I also notice you use I-17 again in this statement and not F17, which one it is. Of course the statement :"getting the most from her boat in a 12 boat F17 than a 12 boat F16 fleet" would backfire a little bit.
In answering Sarahs question I repeat what I said in my other pasts. Narrow down the choice to A-cat, FX-one, F16. And One-design is dying why else would nacra replace the I-17 with the F17 (Formula 17) ?
Wouter
