Well I appreciate eveyone's input but you all are looking at things strictly from a racing perspective which I specifically excluded from my more recent comments. I (and many others I suspect) would like wings only for recreational sailing to add to the verstatility of these boats. My desire is not to convince you that you should sail with wings if you don't like them or that they should be mandatory or used in racing. I certainly never suggested reducing the beam of a boat just to add wings! If it's a recreational OPTION then if you you don't like them simply don't buy them and it's no skin off your nose. To each his/her own.

With the added leverage of wings I've never lost control and over heeled thereby dragging a leward wing. The wings typically run from the main beam all the way back past the rear beam and this gives a wide range of hull trim options (and there's no reason to use wings in the light stuff - even leave them off the boat if you want). If they're an option then the additional cost would only apply to those who really wanted them. With wings that insert into the beams there's no issue with water wells, added water, and freezing. Like everything else in sailing, weight can be minimized - sport wings weigh much less than the larger wings. Wings are sold as recreational options for the Tiger and FX1 yet no one seems upset that these options are available for use when not racing these boats; they wouldn't be offered (in three versions no less) if they were'nt useful and in demand by many sailors.

My main question remains unanswered - will singlehanding with wings stress the hulls/structure less than doublehanding without them?

Thanks,

Jerry