Bill,

Why don't we let this thread slide into the archieve ?

We are now just repeating ourselfs.



In reference to your questions I say :

I'm not fearful of the Alter Cup 2007 at all. I don't expect the participants to suddenly all love the F16 at all (as you put it). Why would I ? F16 is not for everybody and I always said that. I'm actually expecting both more of the "midget discount" comments as well as positive ones. The biggest advantage of the Alter cup event is that it puts another 12 boats into the US market together with the related promotion. And if the boat is extremely well received by entrenched I-20 and F18 sailors then that is just extra. Our main target are the other sailors anyway. In addition the HT example is flawed as it failed on other factors then its Alter Cup event. Now please no more straw man arguments anymore.

With respect to big names in the various classes I would like to say that I don't feel the need to engage you (or any other A-cat sailor) each time in a name-calling contest; knowing that I can. Example ; Daniel v. Kerckhof is 2 times F16 event winner from Australia who loves his Taipan boat and scored 6th in 2004 F18 worlds and 10th in 2005 F18 worlds.

See here a picture of Micheal Cook sailing his Taipan as F16 at Port Kembla regatta 2005, he was sailing with Daniel when they finished 10th at the 2005 F18 worlds. So both of them Taipan sailors with F16 results





In addition I call Ogleetree a Tornado sailor and not an A-cat sailor. He races internationally as a Tornado sailor NOT as an A-cat sailor. I don't know Phil Kinder at all (international results ?). And I'll raise you a John Pierce or John Alani (former UK olympic tornado campaigners) for every Ben Hall and Lars Guck. And as far as I know Rick White owns a Taipan and not an A-cat.

Are you catching my drift now ?

Now I'm sure you will start limiting the field to only US based sailors, then I will say lets limit it to only Florida sailors, Where will this end ? So lets not get into that spiral. It is pointless.

I'm thrilled to see such great names participate in the A-cat class regulary, I really do, but don't expect the other classes like F16 to drop to their knees and chant ;"we're not worthy" because some A-cat sailors think that they are truly something else as a result. Actually I think this to be a little embarassing too. Neither of us are of the same level as these great names and so too the bulk of sailors in both our classes. So lets stop flaunting other peoples feathers here and rather look for common ground.

You know what, you may have the last word on this one. Make it memorable !

Wouter