Actually the right answer to that question is yes.

The optimal weight for the boats seem to be around 140 kg = 310 lbs, with a competive weight span extending 30 lbs to eiher side of this number. This in fact means that an underweight crew at 280 lbs is about as much disadvantaged as an overweight 340 lbs crew. It is my personal experience that the weight sensitivity of the boats is rather flat indeed in this 280-340 lbs range. And like Eric Anderson I've seen both a 255 lbs and a 360 lbs crews do very well indeed in a mixed fleet with well sailed F18's and F20's, I'm sure they were disadvantaged but not to such an extend that it really prevented them from doing well.

Having said all this I think the Taipan F16 is the most weight sensitive of all F16's beyond 320 lbs, the newer F16's all tend to handle the upper weight ranges better.

But this bickering is best stopped, I think.

Wouter