That would rather be B&Q with dame McArthur on it or Laurent Bourgnon on the singlehanded ORMA Tri Primagaz or one of the newly launched singlehanded maxis. And lets not forget about Longshot c.q. Hobie trifoiler ! But even closer to home we have some modern 18squares that will be a right challenge to A-cats.

Some A-cat sailors have a hard time accepting that the sailing world around them has changed in the last 15 years.

With respect to F16's getting faster with good crews on them ? Yeah I can confirm that now. Last weekend I was lucky to do some training for the F16 World Cup with 2 other F16 crews ; the 4th walking nervously about the beach waiting to get well soon. One of my sparring partner did a bloody horizon job on us sailing upwind, 3 TIMES IN A ROW ! The guy is a better sailor then the other crew and I am but boy this was a HUGE difference. And note that I'm already snatching at the heels of the better F18 sailors at our club. This other guy is wasting no time and is simply killing them on his F16. I haven't seen too many A-cat sailors do that to well sailed F18's, including "this guy" himself.

There is no doubt in my mind that the F16 is an over all faster boat then the A's when sailed with an equally skilled crew as the competition. I would love to see what a crew like Ashby or Heemskerk can pump out of this concept with a little training.

But I'll settle for Greg Goodall and Remco Kenbeek !

Wouter

Joanna,

Who is it that we may welcome as the new F16 crew in your neck of the woods ?

Is it another Alter Cup boat or a new order ? (I thought all Alter Cup boats were already sold)

Wouter

My point being the Taipans and Mossies have been around for almost as long as the H16 and so has the technology. So why do some builders want to change the weight rule? <img src="http://www.catsailor.com/forums/images/graemlins/wink.gif" alt="" />

Raising the weight of the F16 seems indeed a strange idea. I would also be in favour of lowering it, if possible.

I think the class should stay open for everyone, meaning it must be possible to achieve minimum weight with normal hulls, masts, ...
Switching to carbon only can only be an option when it stays affordable.

Gill

Wouter,
His name is Jody and he is picking up his brand new Blade this weekend!! We finally have someone in the area who wants to sail our lake and on the same boat-what luck. Division D-N watch out you all will have two of us to contend with. <img src="http://www.catsailor.com/forums/images/graemlins/smile.gif" alt="" />

Maybe I am just noticing it more but are the Blades selling pretty quickly these days?

Yes ... Keep in mind that the Alter Cup had a surplus of 10 boats to be sold. Obviously this helps ... but so does the fact the fleet is growing and more people get to see this cat (some for the first time).

Shouldn't we compare apples with apples when doing boat comparisions,Any boat on any given day could claim to be the fastest one man boat.And also when doing boat comparisons shouldn't you compare wind , wave other boats on courses etc and also courses sailed
Just my thoughts Richard

I got a better idea. Never claim of your own craft that it is the fastest singlehanded yacht in the world.

Solves all issues.

Wouter

............unless it's an F14 <img src="http://www.catsailor.com/forums/images/graemlins/cool.gif" alt="" />

The journey into understanding ourselves is interesting if done with an open mind.
Why do I look at foiling moths and think "no thanks". ...they are fast etc and obviously need great skill to sail but I have no attraction at all to it.
There are monos that I can really get the groove on for....but I just think that once the hull has no relation to the water it is no longer a boat. At that point it is just a seat on a stick. I certainly don't want to condem it or the sailors...it's just a feeling ...maybe just a fear of the unknown.

'Seat on a stick' <img src="http://www.catsailor.com/forums/images/graemlins/smile.gif" alt="" />
You just know I'm going to use that. <img src="http://www.catsailor.com/forums/images/graemlins/wink.gif" alt="" />

yes.. that is more fun!!

may I point out many A cats are not carbon skinned nomex! They are kevlar on foam!!
If you want to know more about light weigh boat development.. Read Bethwaites book...

which "big manufacturters" make T4.9s and or mossies?
I would have classified "big manufacturers" as Hobie, Performance and the ilk..

I'm with you.
In fact, I think foilers are kind of like a step backward in evolution.

If you want to see a really big foiler, check out the cover of this month's Sailing World Magazine! It's a picture of that L'Hydroptere French tri on foils. I'll try a link, maybe they have a picture on their web site.

http://www.sailingworld.com

Yup, it's there, look over on the far right of the web site and you will see the cover picture. It also says, "The Future Is Here" inside there is also a picture of a Moth foiling.

so wouter, who at your club is doing a horizon jobn then ?