We are have seen several sailors switch. In both directions actually and in equal numbers too.

Often because they wanted to take their kids along or do spinnaker sailing (going for F16), or because they wanted to get into A-cat racing.

Personally I expect to both win sailors from the A-cat class as loose sailors to the A-cat class. It is a natural thing for people to transition from one class to another when their personal circumstances change. It is the same in catamaran sailing and there is nothing bad about it, although some people seem to make alot of fuss about that.

I don't know many people at all that keep both a F16 and an A-cat. I know of 2 persons who do but they are both boat collectors. Mostly; the owners gravitate to one boat over the other. The two boats seem to cater to different wish lists and that seperates them enough to eventually favour the one over the other (either way)

Personally I love to see both classes co-exist. I love the upcoming GYC A-cat/F16 invitation regatta. It will be the 3rd in the series (2004, 2005, now 2006) and shows both classes getting along quite well. (as well as proving that an US F16 class exists !)

Good luck

Wouter