Because most of the time the catsailors fail to make class and have to race open class. And yes even the F18 class is know to fail class often outside of Europe. So F16 class aimed at getting the boat right in both modes. Both in F16 fleet racing (equal performance between different F16 makes) and relatively good equality with the dominant other classes like F18's and A-cats. That way we can eat the cake and have it too !

You will notice that we'll switch from either role to another quite easily. When fleet racing we concentrate on that, when open class racing we compare ourselfs to others. Neither role is subservent to another and no one is less important.

This is all the more valuable in club races where typically there is only one start and that is the open class. It is just much much much more fun to race again 2 other F16's and 6 F18's/2 A-cats then ONLY race against the 2 other F16's.

The challenge presented by the added F18's will make you a better sailor as it is always more difficult to win over 8 other boats (F18/F16) then over just 2 other F16's. And one of the goals of the F16 class was to better your sailing skills in any way or form. Open class racing is definately a valuable method to achieve this.


But I must also add that it personally gives me a lot of enjoyment to underdog the F18's while sailing a F16. And the F18 sailors at my club know that. Keeps them sharp and it keeps myself sharp.


Wouter