Guys, I'm really puzzled.... is this F16/F18/A N Other boat bickering purely a US thing? (and only made international via this forum)

In the UK we just don't get any of this "my boat's faster/better/lighter/cheaper/more expensive than yours" stuff. I've also not experienced it in Europe.

On this side of the pond we all seem to rub along really well and take a GENUINE interest in each others boats. I've had F18, Hurricane and Tornado sails ask for a ride on the Stealth. I, in turn, have begged a blast on a T. At combined class opens we all give each other a hand and don't give a monkey's */$^ what someone else is sailing.

Don't get me wrong, it's not idyllic, we're not all holding hands and be extremely polite to each other. But, we're not bickering or slating each others choice of boat.

The F16s in the UK have been INVITED to join the A's for their Nationals and our 2005 combined meeting with the FX1s is to become a regular fixture.

There just doesn't seem to be room for any inter class animosity over here. Rivalry? Yes. Animosity? No.