Going to the Scotland game today - And the Wales game on the 8th March - Are you coming over <img src="http://www.catsailor.com/forums/images/graemlins/grin.gif" alt="" />
I'll be at a wedding in Palo Alto at the end of July - and, like the Queen, If I'm not in Kerry for the first 2 weeks in August, the world, as we know it, will end <img src="http://www.catsailor.com/forums/images/graemlins/grin.gif" alt="" />

Tim, One of the sisters has been working in New York for the past year, but I think that she will be home soon.

Dermot, I'm in Bombay right now but in 5 hours we depart for New York (I heard it's snowing??), JFK airport. Tell her my flight arrives about 0705 Sunday morning, if she meets me then I can probably give her a lift to Orlando, then we can get the boat rigged up and start practicing!

She might have to quit that job, working is highly over-rated anyway! Oh, and there are jobs in Florida too, and it never snows! <img src="http://www.catsailor.com/forums/images/graemlins/grin.gif" alt="" />

I love my Blade! It's amazing having boats on the water comment (keel and even a motor boat) about how sharp the Blade looks! And its a great ride too, nothing like being singlehanded with the chute up and blasting by other boats.
Put me down for a yes to that one.

Hey Rick-Are you going to come down to Spring Fever again this year?? We have 6 F16's signed up so far!!! Great meeting you last year. The Blade IS a SWEEEEEEEEEEET boat!


So how many F16's are we looking at for Gulfport?

I count 10, if Tback can get a kithcen pass.

WOW ! 10 F16's crews at Gulfport invitational, with Belgian visitors ?

This is shaping up to be a really great event.

Have we made any progres on designating it the US F16 nationals for 2008 ?

Also, who are these ladies on the Taipan F16, doing some practising ?







Wouter

I'll be at:

March 7- 9 - Performance MidWinters, Pensacola Beach
March 21-23 - SpringFever, Lake Hartwell, GA

Can't make F16 Invitational...Mom's 75th and someone didn't check with my sailing calendar! I might make it over to check out the action on Sunday <img src="http://www.catsailor.com/forums/images/graemlins/smile.gif" alt="" />

Dr Michael Chia at Changi just upgraded to a Viper (from the Taipan) and he is 76 from what I last heard. And he is one of the most active sailors at the club!

I'd like to thank all of you for your comments and advice.

Looks like I was presumptious in thinking that I might be the first F-16 owner in Canada, perhaps I should have chosen Canuck004 as my name.

I think I am 99% there on this decision. It is just a matter of deciding where to sail it, (i.e. which club on Lake Ontario) and when to place the order - looks like I will be travelling for much of June/July, so an Aug 1 delivery date looks about right.

The enthusiasm and spirit on this forum is infectious. It is really hard to find F-16 owners (not visiting trolls) who have anything negative to say about these boats. Reading past threads is great marketing for the class and a terrific resource for anyone considering buying an F-16.

It is funny then, as a newcomer, that I feel a sense a degree of insecurity among some F-16 owners here on this forum. It is as though you fear that somehow the class could fail to reach critical mass despite all its unique and very positive attributes. Am I missing something here? Is this fear typical among owners of emerging boat classes? As an outsider my reaction is that time is on your (soon to be our)side. The F-16 seems like a clearly superior product that fills a specific need in the market(as do the F-18 and the A-class). It should continue to build momentum. Like everything, it may just take longer than it "should".

If there is any insecurity (I don't think there is) it may be due to the fact that Hobie and Nacra do not produce an F16 boat...yet.

People who are new to cat racing usually want a big brand name product to feel secure in their purchase. And the F18 class has been around for 10 years (or more) so there is some competition for new customers between the F16 and F18 class. Hobie and Nacra both produce F18's, and are they ever heavy!

We get a lot of criticism from the F18s, and a few others, because we are a definite threat to their growth! That has made us a little defensive.

The combination of performance, versatility and light weight makes the F16 tough to beat. That makes other classes nervous.

There is only one lady there in that pic "Beth"
I am afraid Stefan is a little to hairy to be considered a
lady

One issue about Kevlar...it's harder to repair since is doesn't like to be sanded. If you hit rocks that damage the hulls, even Kevlar will need repairing.

Does the F16 float & support crew if both hulls swamped? (That's a class rule for Tornado).

Yes; class rules state there must be a certain amount of stuff in the hulls such as foam for this reason.