Dear All,
Thank you very much for all your comments and memories. It was a real pleasure to read you all. I'm also pleased to read that 18HT is dead for some of you. Interesting point of view. Internationnally speaking possibly on standby, dead certainly not.
My understanding of the 18HT situation WW is mainly due to over communication on a small product that did not had time to evolve. Too much pressure was on it, no enought money to develop it and that's it. Who's falt, the Class, the boat it self? Is their even a falt?
Having Bimare selected for the worrel, looks more like a "financial choice" then a "best product selection choice". Well, this is my understanding of above comments. Once again, it is the 18HT boat type falt? Bimare is a little company, no possible comparison with HC or Nacra power, but Bimare is exploring (like few others) segment of the market that HC/Nacra does not for the moment.
Who believe that Bimare on it own, would have been able to bit Nacra or HC. Take the example of Apple and Windows, which is the best??? Is their a best or simply different products with different quality. Up to you to take the one that suits you the best. Isn't it?
How would you like to have an international boat distribution without manufacturer able to product enough boat. Marketing well enough, ensure distribution, promotions, having paid teams to develop products. Manufacture able to product many boats a day.
I'm new in the 18HT class and I can tell you that they are absolutelly great boats. Fast and exciting, like the A-Class. A little movement on the boat have an effect (which is absolutelly not the case on the F18. Each class has problems, F18 for instance need to be dismounted. You are not allowed to drive your car with a mounted F18 on a trailer, that is not the case of the 18HT. Class rules that are really strick and not so "Fun". I'm windsurfing since 20years and I've to say that 18HT/A-Class are the funniest cats I'll sailed on.
If you want your boat to be number one, you first need to have a good team on it. Today, to have the best team on it you have to pay for them... I'll be curious to see what if a great team would race " Texcel, Carnac or any other" on a 18HT? Who would bet that F18 would arrive first???
Having been at Duc d'albe this year and having saw Mitch on the HC Prototype... he was incredible. Like it they were coming from Mars... incredible guys.
Now guys, lets be fair, the F18 are great boats in tuff condition not in low one. 18HT are a greats boat in light/medium condition not in tuff one. Are all the places like European Northern See or American Atlantic?
18HT are not only European Alps boats... they are just unknown boats that had too much pressure on it, too much expectation from too many people.
I've often heard that A-Class is the "Technology place" of the catamaran, should be correct if Nacra as launched the A2 and HC is working on a new boat too.
What if you have a "A-Class" for two??? Why should it be a bad boat?
I have learned many things in reading all your statement ,and I can say that it is quite impossible for any class to become international without "big" manufacturer, with great dealer network and the best sailors.
I also strongly believe that if the 18HT are able to be the best boat in the Alps they could also become popular else were... But words are words and nothing can replace a real test. I have proposed to a friend of mine who is about 50th at the F18 world championship (golden fleet), certainly not the best sailor in the world... but I have to say that much better than most of us. The first time he tested my Mattiasport prototype after 15minutes he asked me were was the breaks... He will finish this seasons with F18 (10 years in the circuit) and will start the 2007 season on 18HT. For what reason do you believe?
If one of you come in Geneva - Switzerland area and would like to test a 18HT (Bimare, Ventilo or Mattiasport), I'll be gald to organise a test for him/her.
Again thanks to all of you that took time to answer my question and thanks for the 18HT video.
Hope seeing you soon,
Regards,
Jr
http://www.h2o-sensations.com 
