Hello Berthos,
Welcome to this F16 class forum ( to which the Taipan 4.9 design functions as the foundation boat ), from your comments I gether that you are new to the F16 concept. For more info go to
www.geocities.com/F16HPclass/ Indeed the Taipan 4.9 is a 1-up and 2-up design as is the Stealth F16 or the Bim F16. But isn't the min weight of the T sloop 102 kg's now ? Anyways, these three boats (including the Taipan) are the foundation to which the lightweight F16 is being build.
I just sailed the Taipan design, with spi ofcourse, in the USA last weekend and I liked it alot especially in 1-up mode with spi.
Micheal did so too as was hooked immediately. To bad he can only afford second hand boats. He is looking really hard for a second hander in AUS. A few second handers from the AUS would really help the USA Taipan / F16 class; maybe you can help us out.
I would redesign the jib setup when a T with spi is chosen when sailed 2-up. OR opt for the Guck snuffer system and leave everything standard per T4.9 rules.
I do think however that it may be difficult to get a Taipan to Huw or Huw to a Taipan for a testdrive. As you said, Gebhard is in Germany and my own homebuild F16 which is actually a Taipan 4.9 with a modified mainsail and different beams is not ready yet. I will help in any way I can but I don't have a clear direction as of yet of how to proceed.
I will probably also be more convenient for Huw than Gebhard as I am much nearer to the UK. I suspect that Huw can also better contact Helen and Greg directly and arrange his stuff from the Dutch Taipan agent which is Pieter Saarberg. Pieter has been very helpfull to me.
The picture you've attached is of James Sage. And a nice picture it is too.
I hope you think this F16 concept to be interesting enought to stick around as we all would like to see more Australian participation as the T4.9 was very instrumental in the foundation of the F16 class rules. ANd you guys have alot more experience on these 16 footers as we have. Hopefully can we return the favour with respect to genakers / asymmetric spis.
With kind regards,
Wouter
