No boat ever beats another boat.
Skippers beat skippers.
I find it amusing when guys talk about what boat they beat across the line. Who was the driver?
Lets all assume the F16 is the best built, most technically advanced wonder machine on any planet.
Put a newbie on it and it won't beat anything.
The same is true for all boats.

It seems that there is the competive OD/Formula racing crowd and the go sailing at a competition crowd.
Both are fine and will never agree on what is best.
I like to see great skippers sail against each other on the same boat. Doesn't matter what it is.
We go to Canandaigua where the Sharks have an open event every year. Each year a good skipper wins.
John Perrin has been winning races on his Shark before most of us were born.
The problem is that the winner is usually determined by the wind conditions. The Shark has a window. The Tiger,16,I20, A etc.. also have their window.
I have a hard time with the top 5 finishers all being on differant boats and rarely being near each other on the course.
It takes away so much of what I believe racing should be. A good skipper still wins, but it's not the same.

As long as this is about bickering, we all do realize the Hobie 16 is the best, right? <img src="http://www.catsailor.com/forums/images/graemlins/grin.gif" alt="" />

I'll throw in an: "Oh Dear Lord" for Jake