Hi Feg



the 18 ht looks like a good cat , imagine it is very similar to an A class cat in characteristics of sailing ,just add 126 lbs a crew and 20 sq mtr shute,- looking forward to trying one .



Should be carefull about making claims over other boats , any good skipper can sail by a mediocre one on any similar boat .--When these boat claims of superiority are found to be unproven or disproved on the race course by equal skippers on each type ,-then your , and your boats credability suffer.



-The problem I see with the 18 ht design beyong current rudders is the high mast hgt and center of effort on the sailplan combined with additional weight and crew mentioned and forces on the spin., though less sq ft in sail plan the 18ht with its much shorter length and narrow bows without much volume to keep them from doing exactly what is pictured in Marks i d pic , a violent pitchpole in larger waves and higher wind conditions , I,m very concerned that it will suffer numerous breakdowns and have more potential crew injuries--Ask any that sailed the last two legs of the Worrell 1000 this year what they honestly think will happen with this boat 18ht ,in those conditions ,-it is not going to be pretty ,--If the 18ht has numerous breakdowns ,violent pitchpoles and the majority of charter sailors can not finish the race it may be the worst thing possible for the boat and class.



This boat really needs to be sailed extensively in ocean type conditions before catsailors set out 1000 miles on it . I hope I am wrong in my opinion , have any sailed this in similar Worrell ,Hatteras leg type conditions . ?



thanks , again hope to sail one soon.

and hope I,m wrong

Carl