Ten new SL 16's are being provided by Performance Catamaran for the U.S. Youth Multihull Championship at the end of March in southern California.

I don't know whether the boats have already been pre-purchased or what, but obviously they are going to be either sold or on the market, one way or the other.

According to what Wouter has told me in the past, the SL 16 will be accepted to race as a Formula 16. That means there will be 10 more potential Formula 16's, at least on the West Coast.

Allowing the SL 16 in as a Formula 16 will not only help to grow the Formula 16 class, but it will also give people more incentives to buy the SL 16 as a youth boat, because it will assure them of more venues to race boat for boat rather than on handicap. <img src="http://www.catsailor.com/forums/images/graemlins/smile.gif" alt="" />

I think Mary and I discussed this about 2 years ago and then I said that the SL16 CAN be made part of the F16 class. I don't think I used the word "will".

And I couldn't (shouldn't ?) have used "will" as that was not within my capacity as the F16 class chairman to garantee anything of this sort at the time. Also it is well outside of my position today to say such a thing now. I'm no longer a F16 class official.

But I do think Mary has a point. I think w must seriously consider welcoming the SL16's from the specs it looks like they are full compliant F16's

Wouter

Sorry, Wouter. I should not have said "will." I asked you if the SL 16 would fit within the Formula 16 class, and you said, "I would say that it does." There was just a very minor discrepancy in the size of the jib on the SL 16.

Anyway, I think we agree that it would be a great addition to the Formula 16 class.

On the other hand, maybe the SL 16 class does not even want to be part of the F16 class. You can lead a boat to formula, but you can't make it join.

If it fits under our box rules, I dont see why not. Can anyone post a link to the SL16 sizes and specs.

This is very cool.

Ok here is what I found:
Length: 4.80 m Beam: 2.32 m
Weight: 152.0 kg Crew: 3 <-hope this is a typo
Main sail area: 13.75 m² Jib area: 3.75 m²
Spi area: 17.00 m² Mast lenght: 8.0 m
SOURCE

Maybe a little heavy,..is there a maximum weight on the platform? <img src="http://www.catsailor.com/forums/images/graemlins/cool.gif" alt="" />

No max weight for the F16 class.

Hi

Saw one sailing a couple of times last year.

There nearer to a hobie 16 with kite performance then a f16.

I guess they will not want to race as f16.

Bye

I agree, they are smaller rigs, less sail area and weigh 45Kg more.

Bur kids are FAST. As Pete would ask, "You're not askeert of 'em, are you?" <img src="http://www.catsailor.com/forums/images/graemlins/grin.gif" alt="" />

It would just provide some additional venues in which they would get some practice without having to race on Portsmouth. And also maybe fill out the F16 fleet so you can have enough boats to be scored as a class and get trophies.

If it turns out that the SL16 is definitely slower, you could have one extra trophy to give to the first "youth boat" (meaning youth boat sailed by youths) in the final finish positions of the F16 class.

I forget now whether the F16 class also allows Hobie 16's with spinnaker, but that would be nice, too, since that is the other official youth boat.

Whether those boats fit exactly into the F16 formula or not, the United States F16 Class Association can certainly agree to allow the youth boats to race with them in most events.

Yes definatley. They fit under our box rule. I guess it would be up to the SL16 sailor if they want to race with us, first in wins. I dont think the USF16 class will have a problem. Now it is a matter of just finding anyone with a SL16 that will race with F16s. <img src="http://www.catsailor.com/forums/images/graemlins/cool.gif" alt="" />

I don't know if anybody even has an SL 16 YET. But I thought it would be nice if the F16 class would publicly extend a welcome to the SL16's, and also to the Hobie 16 with spinnaker.

The kids need to be able to practice tactics in a one-design or formula situation. And racing against the faster boats will just help to make them better and faster. (You usually get faster chasing a rabbit than BEING a rabbit.)

The youth sailors in Europe have had lots of experience on spinnaker boats, and our kids don't -- so they get trounced when they go to ISAF Youth Worlds.

It would be a really good gesture on the part of the F16 Class to welcome the two youth boats. It would be a good class to help them with their training. And it's not like there are a lot of them. You might be lucky to get one or two, now and then. But at least it would be a start. And if they know there is a class they can race in, the youth sailing might start to grow.

It will be a long time (if ever) before there are racing classes of youth catamarans around the United States. So the Formula 16 Class is a logical place for them to be able to race against somewhat similar boats.

We would welcome any SL 16 boats to join in at the California F16 event in June. Same goes for Hobie 16 w/spin, Prindle 16 w/spin or Nacra 5.0 w/spin--all are welcome to start and race boat for boat as "F16s" in that event. I do not know of any Inter/Nacra 17s in the region, but we would also strongly consider letting them and the Fx-1 join in.

Mary I think the best option is for the SL16 class/owners approach us same goes for the Hobie 16s.

Last time we invited folks to sail with us straight up, it was a big can of worms.

I do not have a problem welcoming the SL16s and or H16 with spinakers to sail against me straight up.

Robi,
As I said, there are no SL 16 owners yet. The idea is to make it more attractive to people to want to buy them after the U.S. Youth Nationals by letting them know in advance that there are going to be groups they can sail with.

The F16 class should make some sort of flyer that can be handed out at the Youth Nationals, inviting SL16's to participate in all the F16 events, and especially in that big California event you have all been talking about.

Why should the F16 class go through all the leg work? WHy not the future SL16 class/owners make the effort and put in a request to be grandfathered into our class? Seems like we the F16 class must always go out of our way to let other into our class. Why cant it be the other way around. TO be honest, I am quite happy with the class currently, yes it would be better to have more boats. But why should I go out of MY way to invite them? Let them be invited and let them ask for the invitation.

I think Eric already stated that the SL16s will be welcomed. The youth multihull championships is on the west coast. So I would assume that is where it will all start. I think this is a matter of the SL 16 class and NOT of the F16s

I don't know how to explain it any better. <img src="http://www.catsailor.com/forums/images/graemlins/frown.gif" alt="" /> But let me try.....

Even if you don't care about the youth sailing, helping out youth sailors on Hobie 16's and SL 16's is good, from a selfish perspective, in the long run, for the future of the F16 class.

It is up to you guys, as adults, to implement this invitation, not up to the kids to ask if they can participate in your races. It is not something that would even occur to them. They don't even know there is such a thing as a Formula 16 class.

Thanks for the suggestions, Mary. In that spirit, let me invite anyone who knows any SL16 buyers or anyone involved in the youth nations on the SL16 to please forward the attached flyer to them and let them know the SL16 can sail in the event as part of the F16 class.

Thanks

Mary, where did I say I did not care about the YOUTH program. Where does the youth program get involved? Why even mention the youth program. This is about the SL16 class/boat. Just because it was selected as a youth program does not make the boat only sailable by youths at any regatta. Look at the H16, how many adults sail that type of boat at any given regatta? So where did I say anything about the YOUTH program or even saying that I do not care about such program?

I dont get why must the F16 class do such a thing? The boat fits under our rules, but it is NOT an F16. Just like the F16 fits under alot of other class rules but we are not such boats. Just like the wave fits under the F16 class, but that does not make it a F16. Why should the F16 class invite a NON F16 boat to race straight up with us? Even if it is slower or faster. Heavier or lighter.

NOW

On the other hand, if any of those boats that fit under our rule want to play with us, by all means welcomed. The more the merrier. But seems like you are saying WE the F16 should do this or do that. I dont see why WE should. The SL 16 is not a F16.

Just a question - does the SL16 measure as a F16?? (A simple yes or no would be appreciated)

Cheers,
Tiger Mike