I have been sailing all my life, though mostly recreationally - very little racing. I grew up sailing sunfish and lasers. I raced Albacores and also sailed a Flying Junior as a teenager. In my twenties I windsurfed alot. And when then kids came along, we bought a laser which has given us years of enjoyment. Along the way I had a chance to briefly sail a few catamarans - a Super 17, and older Dart, and a strange little thing called an Aquacat. But in total, my catamaran sailing experience might total 3 hours. I am a bit of a speed freak, and the Laser has never quite satisfied my appetite for speed the way that my windsurfer did.

Apart from speed, the real draw of the F-16 for me is its light weight, its flexibility (1-up or 2-up), and its moderate cost (compared to an A-class). My ususal sailing partner would likely be my wife or one of my kids, so total weight would be 260-340 lbs.

My questions are as follows:

1) Would my background make me a reasonable candidate for an F-16 sailor, or is this too much boat for me.


"I also spent lots of time sailboarding, I find sailing under spinnaker a similar experience, so I think you will like it, a big challenge like learning sailboarding. I sold my previous F16 "Altered" to a guy with similar experience, he is enjoying it and doesn't mind crashing and burning to learn."


2) My patience for a boat that requires endless setup time is limited. If you have a place to keep the boat close to the water with the mast up, how long would it take to rig an F-16 (mostly likely looking at the Blade), with or without the Spn. What if you were starting from scratch, rigging the boat from a trailer.


"Hard stand 10mins. From trailer 60 mins with yack time."


3) Some places I sail have shoals. How durable is are the hulls on the F-16, what would likely happen if you ran aground at a reasonable speed.


"Don't run aground! Damage to centreboards and centreboard cases is likely if you do."


4) Which options - Pentex sails, Kevlar hulls, carbon mast, etc. are most worthwhile.


"If sailing one up I would go with all options mentioned. make sure mast is above minimum weight and it is strong enough."


5) Safety and Pitchpoling. In my one experience on a Super 17, a near pitchpole sent me (out on the trapeze) flying forward. I ended up underneath the tramp (still on the wire) after whacking my head on the forward beam. Strikes me as it could have been a bad situation. This was in the late 1980s. Have trapezes evolved since that time to stop this kind of thing from happening?


"There are quick release trapeze harnesses available, but in my 40 years of sailing I have only seen one person caught in the situation you describe. After a while you become expert at crashing?"


6) Are there any F-16s in Canada or in Toronto. I realize the class is still new and I dont mind being the first, but company would be nice.


"Don't know, but if you have any other cats with spinnaker or A's around you have company at the front of the fleet."


7) Finally, it is a short season up here and Lake Ontario never really warms up. Compared to a laser, or other beach cats, how wet a ride is the F-16.


"I have found the F16 Blade dryer than other cats I have sailed."


Thanks for your help. Hope to be an owner within 6 months.

"If sailing one up I would go with all options mentioned. make sure mast is above minimum weight and it is strong enough."

My dad is 60 and has been sailing for 10 years on the 5.0 (mostly with me as skipper) and he didn't have any difficulties changing to the Blade also.
Regards,
Gill

60 - and he's still sailing cats <img src="http://www.catsailor.com/forums/images/graemlins/shocked.gif" alt="" />

Hmmm, I know people in their late 60's and early 70's who are still sailing cats. <img src="http://www.catsailor.com/forums/images/graemlins/grin.gif" alt="" />

Wow Dermot, I would never have guessed! Keep at it!

6) Are there any F-16s in Canada or in Toronto. I realize the class is still new and I dont mind being the first, but company would be nice.

I think I'm doing better thanks!