Hi all,

many of you where amazed when I proceeded to cut up an A class to build an F16. At the time I said I was confident after meausuring beam positions etc. against Mosquito.

After putting a mossie on top of Altered to trail to Sydney this weekend, I know am amazed how close they are in position. The transoms are level on trailer and centre of back beams are 1/2" apart. Centreboards on Altered are about 4" further back than Mossie. Main beams line up exactly!!! Tip of Bows are about 4" ahead on Altered. I am sure Taipans are the same.

Of course one shouldn't be surprised, after all Goodall and Boyer sailed Mossies for years before improving? it into a Taipan and from the looks of thing only extended the ends for A class. When your on a good thing stick to it I guess. Amazing thing is they realy dont look much alike the shape of the bow realy changes the asthetics. But the things that work the structure is much the same, no wonder the Mossie is still such a competitive F16, by the way the Mossie is some 38 Years Old

Regards Gary.

Its a shame the growth of the Taipan stifled the Mosquito class for so long, you can confidently sail the Mozzy at the upper of limit of the wind ranges that Clubs will race in, The boat is easy to right singlehanded after a capsize, 55kg platform weight makes it fly in the light stuff and downwind and its easier to handle on the beach. Cheaper to own also with, for example, a front beam costing $50 compared to $600 for a Taipan. $13K for a new Mozzy compared to a $20K+ new Taipan.
Taipan looks like it carries weight better though, better option for larger sailors.

Nice to see the Mosquitos in resurgence, 9 new boats last year I think and some older boat coming out of the shed.

Isn't this the advantage of a formula class ?

It is chilling to see the mozzie doing so well despite their 38 years of age. Although they were continiously upgraded over time.

Wouter

"It is chilling to see the mozzie doing so well despite their 38 years of age. Although they were continiously upgraded over time."

Hi Wouter,
Agree - continuous refinement and small changes have kept the boat reasonably competitive. We had wanted to add a spinnaker long before we heard about F16 but had always met resistance from the One-design mindset folk. the advent of Formula sailing helped push us over the edge .
Now looking at ways to get the boat one step closer to F16 again, watch this space... Small improvements along the way, backed up by some bigger long-term ideas, and the Mozzie might have another 20year lifespan in it yet, after all, there`s not much faster than a Tornado in the 20ft fleet and the T is just a big Mozzie !!