At this stage the name of the event doesn't matter, we would have to call it something other than the European championships, but for the sake of simplicity I used Euros so we all know what we are talking about.

We have some momentum over here, there are about 45 boats in the UK and we finally have a core of boats that are willing to travel and race, I believe that an event like this can only help to build momentum in the other countries as well.

What we need to know is the numbers.

I have done quick poll and we have 16 boats interested in the UK, to be honest they will come to a 'Nationals' just as well as a 'Euros', so the event will go ahead in one way or another, but if we can get some European participation with some Taipans or Blades then the class will be much healthier for it, we will have a Champion, we can move from a cyberspace class where we discuss potentials to a 'real' class where the boats and opinions can develope on the water.


I really believe that our boats offer significantly more than any other class, but it appears to me that people want more than just a great boat, they want to be part of something.

Most sailors don't travel to events but they still buy into the fleets that offer the opportunity to do it, of the ones that travel, most will only do 3 or 4 events a year, this event could be 1/4 of that. I really believe that the UK will have a credible TT series next year, and with a push I'm sure that Holland could follow.


The fact is that to have a decent race you need about half a dozen boats, that is all we got at the Nationals in August, and it was hard work to get that many, but once there everyone had a good race, (even in big fleet racing you only end up actually racing ammongst a handfull of the boats anyway) as long as there is one boat on the racecourse of similar speed to you then the racing is good and there is always the next little group up the fleet to aspire to.

But the effect of this little weekend was far bigger, we now have a core of boats that will race next year and as many again that having seen the first race will attend some of next years.

This event could offer a focal point to the class, potential F16 sailors will be able to see that they are investing in a boat that offers them some racing, the class will move from a potential one where we talk about how well or badly we do in handicap races to one where we have the beginnings of a racing community.

I don't know what representation we have as a class in mainland Europe, Wouter?, but is seems to me that Holland has almost enough boats to start a small series, if you Dutch can pull 6 boats together to commit to go racing 4 times a year you will have a class, and with the size of the market you have that will quickly become 30 or 40.

Piggy back onto our little fleet and even if you only get 3 or 4 over here you will have started the ball rolling.

We will do eveything we can to make it easier for you to attend, if the event is in Pembrokeshire we can offer free camping, entry fee at cost, food and drink at cost. If we go to the East coast we can latch onto a cat event to keep costs down. I will approach the ferry companies for discount tickets(they are usually quite good about this sort of thing).

But the important thing is how many will or even might come?

Surely there are 3 or 4 out there who would like to test themselves in a fleet.

After all is said and done, there is a lot more said than done, is this a time to do something, or do we wait another year?