My bad on missing the name change. Is the design part of a box rule class now open to other manufacturers ("F" usually means formula, the exception would be Farrier Tri's)? or is it a name change only (same rig, sail area, weight, etc.)? Maybe they changed the name to differentiate it from the Austrailian version of the I-17 or the European version of the I-17 or the old American version of the I-17.

They are fine boats - there is one at my club (2005 model, I believe). He was really looking forward to the Performance Mid-Winters a few months ago and racing in OD class.

I get the Worlds thing now. Perfect sense that they'd hold them together, I just read it wrong. Must have been a very good sailor b/c Portsmouth has the F18 (62.4) a good bit quicker than the F17 (66.7), plus the 5 minutes (or more if not rolling starts) lag in starting time. That is a lot of ground to make up in World-class competition. Kudos to the effort. MI has always produced a lot of good sailors.

I personally won't make Catfight, but it looks to be another banner year. Best of luck.