Prediction of the extinction of the taipan in Oz is somewhat exaggerated. One just has to look at the recent national title entries: T4.9 (cat + sloop)= 43 boats; Mosquito (cat +sloop)=29. The taipan had the second biggest entry of all cat classes after the A class (48 entries).
Phil
H16 had 43 entries and their nationals were in Perth W.A. - the other side of the continent!
Michael