Hey Cary, check out the first day results from the Area D qualifier. Jenifer and Seth on a Tai Pan 4.9 are finishing ahead of some F18's....boat for boat! I don't know what the wind was, it's way up north, in Pensacola. I've sailed them both, the Nacra F18 and the Blade F16, I would rather own a Blade. It's lighter, you can race it solo and with the right crew it's not at all slower than the F18's. I think if you put a heavy F18 crew on the F16, it may be slower, it is two feet shorter after all. But when I sailed the Blade with Matt, we were about 345lbs. and in 18-23kts. it felt good, not slow at all. (my 185+ his 160? = 345)

I wish I could have been on board last weekend for Hiram's Haul, when it was gusting to 30+. Both Matt and Chuck had their wives on board and both of the ladies are petite, so I think they could have used a fat-butt like me out on the wire!

Pictures of Hirams are also on:

http://www.1design.net the forum has Hiram's pictures/story and the Area D results posted.