I thought a few days about your following statement :




Having sailed both F18's and F16's quite considerably I can't find myself in agreement with that statement. If you had said "more nervous" than yes I could see where you are coming from , but not "more demanding". Besides the difference in beam between F16 and F18 is a mere 100 mm (or 4 inches, 0.1 mtr) so that can hardly be the difference. Also I find the superwing rig to be alot more responsive, especially to gusts, which makes it largely depower itself automatically. I really do feel more in control on a F16 than on a F18, although I agree that it can be more "demanding" (if you will) mentally. Maybe that is what you were trying to say. I don't agree that the F16 is fysically more demanding, but if you meant more demanding in concentration and careful steerage than yes I understand what you mean. The F16's do react more sharply and quicker to changes in trim and steerage. But this has more to do with the feel of a boat than with being fysically more demanding or with being out of control. It means you must have steady hand, but if you have that then she is rather docile and very predictable. If your hand is trained well enough than you have excellent and sharp control, I would even say more control than alot of the F18 competition. NO stalling rudders, rooster tales or what not. If you say "turn", she will turn. If you say "turn hard" then she will turn hard and then it is your responsibility to be prepared for that.

The F16 sailplan does not feel as powerful to me as an F18 one. Actually I find that I double trapeze noticeably later than the F18's (when doublehanding), even though I'm doing the same speed as they do. Sure, it is a race boat so you can tip it if you make a big mistake in sail handling but I'm not riding the edge as much as I did on the F18's. On the F18's you were always looking to maximize power to get the best drive. On the F16's I find that I trim the other way. I trim for smoothness and speed (low drag) rather than power. As a result you are not feeling like riding a Lion at full speed. Mind you, you can drive a F16 like an F18 and than you will get what you asked for; lots of power. My point is that after a short while everybody will learn that that is simply not the way to sail F16's. You sail more comfortably as well as faster when trimming for medium power and low drag. Like this you'll be sailing along side F18's with a more behaved boat.

I also much rather do a dive on a F16 than on a F18. The lightweight F16's masts certainly allow recovery from more serious dives.

I certainly find the rig more forgiving than all alternatives I ever sailed with the exception of the A-cat.

Seriously, I can't quite agree with your statements.

But than again, I don't have a standard Taipan 4.9, with which I assume you are familiar with, but an optimized F16. That means wider, improved mainsail design, better rudder boards, and other little goodies like improved downhaul design and added spinnaker. For I'll say one thing about Taipans they are a wild ride on a beam reach and broad reaches without a spinnaker. On the other hand I hear very much the same thing about the nacra F18 for example. Under spinnaker it is much more docile. And of course more modern hull shapes like the Capricorn F18 and the Blade F16 are alot more docile on a beam reach as well.


Wouter