Answering the question :




So max 5 classes that have to exist at this time already. I'm personally really favouring formula classes as they allow each builder to participate in it. Keeping all builders in business and unifying all their efforts to maintain the given class instead of competing eachother into extinction.



-1- Entry level and basic catamaran :

Dart 16 **** but then opened up to formula status.

Reason : Cheap, simple, fun, relatively fast and takes a beating (rotomolded) while still looking like a real catamaran. With sufficient volume produced this boat can be rather cheap indeed. Just as fast as a Hobie 16, so no loss there. I even think this boat forfills the original ISAF requirement better then the SL16 for the youth class as well. Additionally the rotomolded nature of the Dart 16 make it very attractive for rental purposes and for beach front resorts. It is just a full cat without the drawbacks of the true racers.



-2- Entry racer (next step up from Dart 16):

Formula 16

Reason : It is a nice step up from the Dart 16 (introducing the spinnaker) and it is still well suited to relatively young and small sailors like teenagers while not giving up real performance. Additionally it is a very versatile boat that also allows singlehanding by Dad for example. And lets not forget that "mom and dad" or "parent and kid" can race the boat very well too. It is just a very smart investment of money. Not too much risk involved in buying one. Additional junior can singlehand it or race it with parent and get maximum time on the water learning skills without worrying about the crew blues too much. At this time the boats are also noticeably cheaper then the performance oriented other designs.



-3- Full force racer

Formula 18

Reason : This seems a pretty obvious choice to me. At this time it is just the best attended, very highly contested class in the world and the boat are true sport boat requiring a fit crew. Note how quite a few Tornado crews are using this class as their training ground.



-4- Distance racer (big boy boat) :

Tornado basic design but then worded in a true formula class

Reason : 190 kg for a 20 footer is just too much. The 155-160 kg of the tornado is just better so why not form a Formula class around the Tornado design. The first entry will then already be available, the Tornado itself. Hobie can then take the Carbon Fox out of the mothballs and companies like AHPC have something to get their juices going because a 190 kg F20 really doesn't do it for them. The Eagle 20 carbon design will also be a quick addition to this class. This "opened up" Tornado class will also have enough sail power to carry the big boys and its 20 foot length and jib will make it a good distance racer for the Worrel 1000 etc. We just need to get the price down from Marstroms Royal price list. Making it a formula class will do that by adding competition.



We have still one choice left out of the 5 allowed. Even more so as I choose :


Singlehander :

Formula 16

Reason : At one time we are going to have spinnakers on our singlehanders. It is a more challenging test of sailing skill and more spectacular to spectators. Additionally if a singlehander doesn't have one in an open class race then he is pretty much destined to loose. World-wide alot of races are indeed open class. At this time there is only class that combines a spinnaker with the feel of an A and the choice is therefor obvious. For sailors who really don't like the spinnaker, leaving it off and race the F16 in a spi-less race series is a very practical solution. Much more then adding a spi to the A and race it as such.


However this last choice leaves open the 5th class to choose as the F16 has been chosen twice for different roles.

So now I'm thinking really hard about which sailor desire is not covered by the choices above. The only one I can think of now would be the desire to buy a really inexpensive "throw it on your car roof" and go sail boat. Something really easy to rig like the Laser 1 was to many people. The Dart 16 may still be to large to be sufficiently easy to handle and its price is low but not really low. So I choose :


-5- The fun to buy and rig class :

Hobie wave (but allowing other builders to build it under license)

Reason : stated above.



Wouter