There actually over 30 F16 boats in the USA now and soon we add the 12 boats for the 2007 Alter Cup to that. I say the future is looking pretty rosy. The fact that F16 boats are "making class" at recent events like Tradewinds and showing up in race results regulary proofs that we have passed the 18HT class by considerable margins. Haven't seen any of those in any listing lately (as in last few years)

F16 class overhyped ? Lets first see when we'll have an Alter Cup event on supplied A-cats, shall we ?

Now call me rude, but would Vectorworks Marine have taken on building affordable Bim A-cats if it hadn't first started on Blade F16's ?

F16 is on its second season as a Florida Harken bouy race class, still waiting on the A-cat equivalent. That 35 boat A-cat regatta sure was impressive, but are you catching my drift here ?

It seems to me that the A-cat class and F16 class are pretty symbiotic. If not similar in many ways.

Hell, our 3rd Gulfport Yacht club A-cat/F16 invitational event is coming up in 4 weeks time. Previous editions were in 2004 and 2005. As always some sailors are switching class for this event because their personal situation is favouring that. We'll see one F16 sailor do this event on an A-cat this time and 2 A-cat sailors do it on a F16. It looks to become another fun event this year; sailors were very positive about the earlier versions.

I do see the humour in a little smack talking between the A-cat and F16 classes, but the humour seems to have left the discussion lately and a feeling of resentment and fear seems to surface. I don't really understand exactly why and I don't want to stimulate it.

So let me be the one to say that I'm thrilled to have the A-cats and to see their excellent growth in the USA. I'm confident that they will give alot of enjoyment to their owners and provide an excellent extention of the cat sailing scene in general. I'm thankful for the existance and succes of this class.

Now, I think it is time to let this F16 thread slide into history. Time for new topics.

Wouter