thanks for the thorough reply wouter, having read this forum for the last month i'm fully aware of the f16 section and the discussions which have been taking place there.

i've checked out the f16 website many times in the last month or so, switching to cats is not a decision that you make without carrying out some extensive research first (it's even on my list of bookmarks <img src="http://www.catsailor.com/forums/images/graemlins/wink.gif" alt="" /> ). i've seen a blade in action actually. i'm in the process of switching from hayling island s.c. to weston s.c. and there is a blade already racing at weston. i know that it has been very popular since being launched and i can appreciate what it is trying to achieve (sawn-off flyer hull with kite) but the shape doesn't really do it for me. the hulls are too short for the reverse rake on the bow and it looks too stubby (as i said earlier, i'm a qualified naval architect so my comments are based on more than pure aesthetics).

the f16s are bound to be making greater strides in terms of development as their rule is newer and so designers are still finding their way around it. the A wont make any huge evolutionary leap unless the rule is altered or a new material is discovered. the A had it's big chance to make the leap in speed with the hydrofoil debate but this was turned down. this isn't necessarily a bad thing, it shows that the A is about more than outright speed, the A has chosen to become the ultimate distillation of simplicity and skill.

bugger... i knew this would happen! as soon as i posted a question about A classes i knew it would descend into an f16 debate <img src="http://www.catsailor.com/forums/images/graemlins/crazy.gif" alt="" />. oh well. anybody got any opinions on the A-class desings?