The National Class Association argument is spurious in the context of a new class isn't it? If the INTERNATIONAL Class Association and therefore its members believe that 'an F16 is an F16 is an F16' whether one or two-up and can race on a first-in-wins basis, then is it not a simple matter to inform RC's and handicapping authorities that that is the case?

I too did not know that there was a problem and have been racing at my club on the same handicap in either config. Before I bought my boat I was aware that the two setups were minorly different on handicap but read the info on the class as meaning that sloop could race uni boat-for-boat in F16 races.

As Mary points out, in a regatta the RC can do whatever they want as regards overall position in a handicap fleet, but if they are in formed that F16's race each other without h'cap and there are enough of them to constitute a class under the rules of the regatta, then a separate set of results for just F16's can be generated with no time correction. I have found RC's to always be very helpful in these situations - after all, they sail boats too you know

I guess I'm totally in agreement with Eric - the more the merrier as far as I'm concerned, and if the ratings are only 1-2% apart, then skill and ability will come to the front!