A friend of ours is bent on buying a Spitfire catamaran. Does anyone know anything about these cats??
I've seen a video of an English or Irish Spitfire regatta, and I loved the elegant-looking cats and sails!!

They looked interesting to me!

When I was cat shopping I exchanged some emails with the designer (Reg White?) and builders. By all reports, great designs and great boats. Also, in the UK there seems to be a lot of very good sailors on the Spitfire--just check the Texel results from last year. Like some of the other 16 foot spinnaker cats, the Spitfires are supposed to be giant killers. Dermot from Ireland frequents this forum and is the Irish dealer for Spitfires--perhaps he can chime in.

Oops, I'm confused. These are F16s, NOT F18s?

Spitfire is definately a 16 foot design and certainly not a F18. It is a one-design class in the spirit of the H16's but the F16 class has dispensated this boat because it is just sooooo similar in setup, performance and ratings. So it is not a F16 design per se but it is definately a boat that F16's sailors should look out for. In width, length, mast height etc it has the same specs. The differences between these two classes are : Spitfire has more weight, a bigger jib and a slightly bigger spi than F16's.

Like Eric said there are some very fast UK crews on that Spitfire design.


Wouter

It's a 16 footer that's as fast as the F18s...

I'd love to upload the video I found on the net (I forgot the website where I found it).

Is there a way to do this so everyone can enjoy it?

Any techno geeks out there?

If you called me a techno geek you would be no more than half correct, but I guess I can suggest that you tell people to use the video links on this page.

click on

"What did you do this weekend?"

at

http://www.spitfiresailing.org.uk/photos.asp

Thanks!! That is the video I saw. Thanks for finding it!

I'm back !! It's like I've been shouting my head off in a soundproof room for the past few days I tried to reply to CatWoman on Monday night. I hit "Continue" NOTHING HAPPENED
I checked all my security setings, everything, but I could not post - I was logged in etc. I could write my post, but could not get past "Continue"
Suddenly, today all is well - I'm free
I see that Eric, Wouter and Gary passed on all the info.
We used that video recently at the Dublin Boat Show and I believe that the UK guys now have an even better one. The video is not a race it was a set up photo shoot near a bridge for the aerial shots. It was also very squally that day - hence the many pitchpoles.

Dermot.

Is is online anywhere? I'm collecting footage of F16 boats, so let me know if I can get a DVD of the footage.

Eric

Eric, It's not online. I'll see if it will be available. I heard that they had a new one for the London Dinghy show which was only last weekend - I'll check it out.
Dermot.

I believe I have it at home. I will check when I get home from work (08:00 EDT). If someone could host it I could FTP it up.

Lance,

I've sent you FTP username info to a spot at www.teamseacats.com in a PM

I was at the show and they were showing the old video every time I was at the stand.

Interestingly they were launching the SL16 (new youth boat) and it had many common parts with the Spitfire.

Gareth
www.fourhulls.com

I probably got it wrong I saw the following on the Spitfire site. I assumed that they had made another one.

"RYA Dinghy Show 5th and 6th of March Alexandra Palace. See the new Spitfire Video and come and help on the stand to promote your class!!"

I supose that it is logical that the SL 16 would have some of the same parts as the Spitfire when Yves designed it and Reg is building it.
Dermot.

I was at Alexandra Palace and the two videos being shown were "What did you do this weekend?" and an unnamed one about the Spitfires at Aruba in 2004. The first is on the website but not the Aruba one.

So, how much does one of the dang things (i.e. Spitfire) cost here in the U.S.?

I'm interested in a 16' ft cat, not wanting to buy another H16 (although I live mine for big waves!)

Where in the U.S. is a dealer?

No US dealer for the Spitfire, and they are quite expensive, especially with the current euro exchange rate. There are several alternative boats that would probably give you what you're looking for.

Inter/Nacra 17
Blade 16
Hobie Fx-1
Taipan F16
Stealth F16

The first four are available in the US and have dealer or manufacturer support. Which is best for you depends on whether you like lightweight or heavy boats, whether you will sail alone, with crew, or a little of both, cost, dealer support...

Wouter may have net space somewhere to host the video...he let me post mine.