Bob: Since you mention heavy air, I'd like to add my two cents about performance. I've sailed the H 17 in some fairly heavy air and never noticed any attempt by the boat to pitch-pole or even submerge. The few times I did stuff the bow, it came right back up, almost of it's own accord. Of course my weight was 210! I'm a little leary of the small volume I'm seeing on the new A cat bows.