Hello Bill-



I agree with you. There is one factor that was pointed out to me on a demo ride I gave on my boat about a month ago. This guy had sailed nothing wider than 8.5' beam. When we started off he commented "its a long way over there isn't it"? I said you get used to it really fast. Then the wind picked up and the acceleration factor set in and you know the rest of the drill. When we returned he said "Its as if I had never been sailing before. Its really that different." Having gone from a Tornado to the SC20 then to the ARC22 [which is going to finally be sailed regularly this summer] it was a gradual change but the differnce between 8.5 and 12" in speed and acceleration and stability really overwhelmed this guy. He loved every minute but really couldn't describe it in words.



That said to your point about about goals. I think you have to experience these boats before you can begin to recognize their potential. I know you wrote the book on 12' beams and am I ever glad you did. But you didn't stop with the SC20. I remember you telling me about extending a hull to about 24' on a SC20 and afterward sailing around to determine the speed difference. Its that innovation process which motivates others to try to excel. I remember when the Tornado first came out and when I finally got one in 1973 I thought no one could ever make a faster boat. Well the SC20 was my next boat.



I personally don't think that the new designs will stay with the SC/ARC22s because there has been too much R&D by you and Tom on this boat but let them build their boats and we will see who wins and who doesn't. If someone builds a boat that weighs 300lbs with all the exotic materials . I don't care who sails the boat the laws of physics still apply.



One design is to determine the best sailor but this Formula 22 concept may bring both the best baot and best sailor to the top over the next few years.



thom