Geezus Bill, you do remember who I am and what I sail, don't you ?
Do I really need to remind you that I have been linked to the Texel committee and that both the Texel measurers as the SCHRS (ISAF) measurers NEVER measured the 18HT to be below 130 kgs ! Texel actually never measured one below 132 kg. Then of course Andreas Lutz publiced the weighting results on the 18HT's at the European Championships at Rimini and surprise, suprise all the weights were a bit higher then claimed by the builders. Sadly the 18HT forum is gone so we can't look up that post anymore. No I don't see being overweight by a few kg as a problem, it is not going to hurt much at all. HOWEVER, claiming to be many kg underweight while being several kg's overweight is another matter. And yes I think it is save to say that a bunch of other people feel the same about that.
Also do I need to remember that I was there at the US springfever 2002 regatta ?
Of course I had to check out what the competition was doing. So :
*** Have you lifted them at regatta's [color:"red"] YES ! at springfever 2002 exactly [/color]
My point was that Bimare should be able to build a strong boat at 180kg
"... Should be able ..." = yes
"... will build ..." = to be determined - Sadly, some are skeptical due to past experiences.
Besides I never wrote down or said that Bim shouldn't be able to produce a strong 180kg F18. I do think that Bim regulary makes questionable decisions in the way of build and laminates but indeed I'm giving them the benefit of the doubt in this area when it comes down to the (weight is not a problem) F18.
... then lets discuss the subtle differences between the experience of sailing a light weight boat and a heavier one. Until then I don’t think you have a true point of reference. ...
Have you lost your mind totally ?
I'm actually sailing in the lightest spinnaker doublehander class in the world today (F16 = 107 kg min. when fully fitted ready to sail). My homebuild boat is probably a few kg overweight, 110-112 kg, but still any other production doublehander out there is (seriously) heavier from my perspective. No M20, No 18HT, no "Bull [censored] boat" XX is lighter. The only exception to this that I will consider is the South African Mosquito+spi (= grandfathered F16 = 103 - 105 kg)
So are you telling me to go out and do some more lightweight sailing before I can argue with you and your 20 kg (if not more) heavier HT ?
You must be joking.
I went from a Dart 16 to an HT and was blown away.
Bloody hell mate, a Dart 16 ? No wonder you were blown away. That dart 16 does not register very high in the picking order of catamarans. It is like a moped among roadbikes. You could have jumped on about any other catamaran out there and have felt equally blown away.
All the other comments are personal feelings and you have every right to have those. I certainly won't deny you those.
And I remember our conversations in the past very well. There is not a day that goes by that I rejoyce in knowing that all the vocal 18HT sailors of then have sold off their HT's in favour of another boat type.
You can say about me what you will, pain in the neck or whatever, at least I stayed true to my word and stuck with my boat and class.
Wouter
