Inter 18

I run 200 lb., sail primarily solo and like a jib. I sail outside Dallas TX area, wide variety of wind, but mostly light 0-15 in the warmer, cat months.
<br>
<br>1. Can I right the I18 solo.
<br>
<br>2. Not much info on the I18, I17 and I20 seem to get all the attention. Is there a good reason for this, or is the I18 some sort of dark horse?
<br>
<br>3. Does the I18 sail OK with jib furled?
<br>
<br>4. I18 DPN=65.1 is for aluminum mast? Aluminum mast is sold on North American models?
<br>
<br>5. Anybody know what the lead time is on ordering a new one and is it possible to have one delivered to you unassembled from the factory?
<br>
<br> Thanks for any help!!
<br>
<br>
<br><br><br>

I have sailed the I-18 and it sailed really great. Sheet and go. Bob Klien has one up at College Station so you might track him down. <br><br>Mark
<br>Inter 20 no. 274
<br>Houston, TX

Question 1 : Don't know, but I expect not
<br>
<br>Q 2 : Dark Horse ? Hell no, I-18 is the original all boards etc were designed to be optimal with the I-18 platform. I-17 and I-20 use same parts and are therefor less optimal by definition. I-18 is the scurge of I-20 sailors in EU. I-20 is faster but not by much. In light air I-18 and i-20 come in at almost the same times. I-20 lose on measurement handicaps all the time. I-18 was designed by melvin en morelli the other by some unknown team.
<br>
<br>Q3 YEs, according to comments made by clubmembers at my club that sail it alone.
<br>
<br>Q4 probably with carbon mast and bigger sail. Both alu and carbon available in US
<br>
<br>q5 dunno.
<br>
<br>wouter<br><br>

You ought to call Capt. Kirk at Key Sailing in Pensacola and talk to him - he could probably give you all kinds of good info on the boat. He's got one in stock: "2001 Inter-18 - Demo boat with snuffer alum. mast and new galv. trailer $11,795 " at the www.keysailing.com web site. It's not that far from Dallas and you could make a nice weekend of it here at the beach!
<br>
<br>SC<br><br>

David;
<br>I have the Inter 18 with the aluminum mast down the road from you in College Station. I can't answer some of your questions since I have not sailed her solo. However, the Inter 18 is a very nice boat. We could hook up some weekend if you like. I am still learning how to sail this boat but the more I take it out, the more I like it. My frame of reference is to the Hobie 16 while Mark Meis can compare this boat to his Inter 20 (he has sailed my Inter 18).
<br>
<br>I would also encourage you to contact Kirk Newkirk at Key Sailing concerning the demo Inter 18 he has for sale. I have seen that particular Inter 18 while visiting Key Sailing and it is in great shape. Harry (his young son) has been sailing the boat with his young sailing buddy and has been kicking some butt. Harry might fight you for the boat but I bet Kirk would give you a good deal. I know young Harry has capsized the boat and he has had no problems righting her.
<br>
<br>Bob Klein
<br>Inter 18
<br><br><br>

I've seen that I-18 over in MS. I wish I had the resources that Harry has. Up wind the I-18 was typical, finishing right with the I-20. Off the wind, dang that thing took off.
<br>
<br>Thats my professional analysis.
<br>
<br>Clayton
<br>H20 Virtural Reality<br><br>

David
<br>
<br>Hi have an Inter 18 in sunny Holland and am very happy with the way she sails, upwind she rips along and in a strong wind the boat can keep up with the 20's whilst they are overpowered with the smaller crews. Light winds are a slightly different story in my opinion though.
<br>
<br>
<br>As far as I know the F18 has not really taken of in the states, don't know why maybe its a crew size thing, mind you the dutch are not small by any means.
<br>
<br>The boat sails Ok with the jib furled in, however you could have some interesting landings on the beach in an onshore blow.
<br><br><br>

Mark,
<br>
<br>As you may know, I like numbers and calculations. Your comment confirmed something I was suspecting about the I-20. Its rig is to high and big for a 2,5 mtr. wide platform in the stronger winds when going upwind.
<br>
<br>Is your experience that you can keep up with I-20 upwind in stronger winds the result of many of such instances ?
<br>
<br>And what are your experiences about light air (not medium) performance of the I-20 ? My calculations estimate the wetted surface of the I-18 to be 93 % of the wetted surface of the I-20. Their rated mainsail ratio = 14,73/15,98 = 92 %, their rated jib ratio = 3,89/4,63 = 84 %, genaker ratio = 21/25 = 84 %
<br>
<br>sailpower upwind est = (92% *3 + 84% *1) / 4 = 90 %
<br>sailpower downwind est. = (92%*1 + 84%*3)/4 = 86 %
<br>
<br>Given that today boats take longer to go upwind than downwind at about the minimal ratio 1,5 :1 will give the ratio of the I20 time to I18 time around a race course.
<br>
<br>0,6 * sq.rt (90%/93%) + 0,4 * sq.rt. (86%/93%) =
<br>
<br>0,6 * 0,967 + 0,4 * 0,962 = 0,965 or make the I-20 only 100% - 96,5 % = 3,5 % faster than the I-18 in light air and not the 6 % it gets from the Texel rating or even de USA D-PN.
<br>
<br>Does your expieriences support Texel or these estimates ?
<br>
<br>Wouter
<br>
<br>And it is really sunny here in the netherlands isn't it ? =) I'll be at the NK hobie this weekend I hope the weather improves.<br><br>

LaVida Starships in Lewisville, TX is a Performance Catamaran dealer. They should be able to get you lead times. He receives the boats unassembled, and I am sure he would be glad to let you put it together.<br><br>

Wouter
<br>
<br>My opinion is based upon race results and hands on sailing rather than Texel ratings in windy conditions and large surf, there is no denying that performance ratios based upon sail area to crew weight, to surface area, to weight etc. will give techinically the 20 the greater advantage from a a Force 1-4(and does also on the water) however the reality of the situation appears to be that in the harder winds ie 5- 6-7 then the boat is somewhat overpowered, unless you are built like a brick shithouse. I would personally like a 20 but I need the crew to weigh in with it to have any real advantage.
<br>
<br>With what you say about the beam being too narrow for the high aspect mast, I would probably agree, after all its not a wide boy like the tornado. However after some sailing on the Hurricane back home in Blighty the f18 appears a little tame in the handling upwind and halfwind bringing the 20 into similar realms of handling.
<br>
<br>But really at the end of the day it depends on who is sailing it to a great deal when you are playing with 2.5% speed differentials.
<br>
<br>PS The forecast is better for the weekend but they said a 4 for yesterday on Monday and what did we have an 8 if I remember.
<br>
<br>
<br>
<br>

Thank you Mark,
<br>
<br>actually on the numbers I'm moving more and more to the conviction that a longer boat isn't optimal as is often claimed. It makes it heavier and considerably adds wetted surface area. Actually in light air it is bad. Were it not for the fact that the I20 is overpowered than it would be a "slow" boat. Slow meaning here that it doesn't give the performance that you would expected by going maxed out like this. I'm beginning to believe more and more that a light weight 16 footer is capable of beating both boats of F18 and iF20 classes on elapsed time. The beam really is the limiting factor in heigher winds and less weight combined with high aspect determines light air performance. In light air having a wide beam is a definate drawback in manouvres, long length is a drawback here too. Wider and bigger created bigger loads and stresses making the craft heavier and everything is adding drag. Cats have now come to the point were smaller is becoming better.
<br>
<br>Ofcourse a big boy will have its optimal windstrength where it beats all others, but smaller and lighter is better over a far bigger range of windstrengths.
<br>
<br>Have you seen the 16 foot Stealth result in the Piers race (UK) I know that the crew of the Stealth is a very capable crew but
<br>
<br>Storm (with big rig)
<br>06:12:12
<br>Tornado
<br>06:38:42
<br>INter 20
<br>06:44:32
<br>Hurrican 5,9
<br>06:45:30
<br>Inter 20
<br>06:45:28
<br>Stealth R
<br>06:46:06
<br>Inter 20
<br>06:45:28
<br>Mystere F18
<br>06:52:46
<br>Hurrincan 5,9 special
<br>06:54:41
<br>Hurrican 5,9 sport
<br>06:59:24
<br>
<br>And several I20 , F20 , hurricanes 5,9 , Storm and another tornado in the 7 hours + range.
<br>
<br>Stealth was 5th across the line. And only 33 min / 372 min = 9 % slower than number 1 the storm with big rig and only 8 / 398 = 2 % slower than the 2nd fastest 20 footer the tornado. The fastest I- 20 only finished 88 seconds before the Stealth. And Stealth beat all F18's on elapsed time.
<br>
<br>Astonishing isnt it ?
<br>
<br>Okay, I allready said that the Stealth had a 'very good crew but some many of the F20's and F18's and Hurricanes (special this, sporty that) gotten equalled or beaten on elapsed time that this might well be a very strong indication that the smaller 16 footers like the Stealth have the potential to have the same speed potential as the bigger formula classes. I mean some of those big boats must have had very good crews on them too, right ? The 6 mtr. boats are rather packed together in time. Most of them came in in a 4 % time range.
<br>
<br>OKay this might have been just the one race. But the Stealth with an rating that is only 1% slower than the F18 has won all past three races on corrected time !!! Meaning that no F18 ever finished more than 1% ahead in time than the Stealth. I will say nothing with respect to the F20 for their rating is off, I'm sure about that.
<br>
<br>I think the 16 footers are at an optimal balance point and that they are on the rise. To name five 16 footers that have shown to be humbling fast wit respect to the big boys :
<br>
<br>Isotope (USA)
<br>Poison Oak (USA)
<br>Hardcore 16 (USA)
<br>Taipan 4.9 (Aus, forced to race with 18 footers in Aus for this reason)
<br>Stealth (UK, Europe)
<br>
<br>Check out their D-PN's or Texel ratings
<br>
<br>Its still raining here, it's going to be a long weekend.
<br>
<br>Wouter
<br><br><br>

Hi Wouter
<br>
<br>Its interesting that you mention the Stealth I was talking about it with a friend of mine the other day and its progress in being accepted into the mainstream clicky market. There is no doubt from the results so far that this smaller 16 foot framework has a lot of potential where weight may be crucial, but can it can only be tried and tested with more sailors and their input.
<br>
<br>When you mention weight of the boat, in light airs again, high aspect to a light platform is a sure winner take the A-Class (especially Auscat) as an example. It is heart rendering in light airs when you are sat there and this super trick piece of engineering passes you by like you were standing still. HOWEVER, I always thought that the A-Class would lose it in the strong winds with it's shear lack of weight however when watching a open multiclass race the other day and seeing the the boat in the hands of an expert I was amazed to see it cross the line before the Tornado Sport and take first place. Now I am not saying that this is the best boat since sliced bread it is purely an example of how the lightweightconcept with less surface area does have a lot of potential. In fact what prevents me from going out and buying one is largely the boat is extremely nervous and I am probably too clumbersome for it, I do like to sail with another person as well and the class is not that big so in most local regatta racing you are comparing your sailing ability to handicap which is always a topic of much debate.
<br>The outcome of this is "Does the Stealth have the same twitchiness, nervousness as the A-Class due to its weight and narrow beam or are there other factors that determine a more stable and sure sail with the Stealth such as hull shape.
<br>
<br>The comparison between all the different boat designs can be a fascinating subject and something that can be discussed on and on and on. I suppose thats the beauty of development in whatever field really it just depends on what is the closest to the heart.
<br><br><br>

mark,
<br>
<br>Indeed. (on all you said)
<br>
<br>(qoute)
<br>where weight may be crucial, but can it can only be tried and tested with more sailors and their input.
<br>(unquote)
<br>
<br>maybe you should look at this webpage :
<br>
<br>http://www.geocities.com/F16HP/
<br>
<br>and the F16HT (the old name) forum on this catsailors page.
<br>
<br>It's being tested in three continents as we speak. It has been truelly inspiring seeing how a Taipan spi and BIM 16 spi iin USA, Stealth in UK and Taipans in Aus are beating nacra 5,8's and F18 and even US I-18's on elapsed time. And these now fly small 17 sq.mt. genakers. Actually it is more a case of the theory lacking behind the implementations. Very rare but also very stimulating.
<br>
<br>I had been thining about an A-cat too, but just like you I wanted to have the option of sailing/racing with a crew. It's just alot of fun; even though solo sailing is sometimes like meditation.
<br>
<br>Was that "the other day" the westland cup by any change ?
<br>
<br>Greetings,
<br>
<br>Wouter<br><br>

Sorry I gace you the wrong link and I couldn't edit the first post<br><br>

Wouter
<br>
<br>It was the KerseBoom regatta at Muiderzands, my apologies he was not first over the line but just over 2 mins later, corrected time does seem to equate to the handicap though.
<br>
<br> Pos Stuurman/vrouw Boot Zeiltyd SW Na SW Punten
<br> ----------------------------------------------------------------------------
<br> 1 Brewin, Steven A-Cat (98) 01:56:28 98 01:58:51 1
<br> 2 Haas, Eric de Tornado SPI 01:54:16 96 01:59:02 2
<br> 3 Capelle, Eugene va Mystere Twister 02:05:47 103 02:02:07 3
<br> 4 Prins, Arend Dart 18 02:25:26 119 02:02:13 4
<br> 5 Pool, Dirk Hobie FX ONE 02:16:49 110 02:04:23 5
<br> 6 Putten, Willem va Dart 18 02:28:20 119 02:04:39 6
<br> 7 Veldhuisen, Rob Hobie FX ONE 02:17:17 110 02:04:48 7
<br> 8 Wijk, Thies van Nacra Inter 18 GF 02:09:10 103 02:05:24 8
<br> 9 Hermsen, Hans Tornado SPI 02:02:56 96 02:08:03 9
<br> 10 Rijpkema, John Nacra Inter 18 GF 02:12:53 103 02:09:01 10
<br> 11 Achtien, Fred Nacra Inter 18 GF 02:13:15 103 02:09:22 11
<br> 12 Dool, Ron van den Hobie Tiger GF SPI 02:14:02 103 02:10:08 12
<br> 13 Seijnen, Ronald Nacra Inter 18 GF 02:14:58 103 02:11:02 13
<br> 14 Osinga, Nanne Dart 18 02:37:08 119 02:12:03 14
<br> 15 Verberne, Fred Dart Hawk KF SPI 02:17:29 103 02:13:29 15
<br> 16 Doets, Dirk Hobie Tiger GF SPI 02:19:35 103 02:15:31 16
<br> 17 Bouwman, Pieter Hobie Fox 02:14:14 97 02:18:23 17
<br> 18 Smeets, Joost Nacra Inter 20 SPI 02:23:03 97 02:27:28 18
<br> 19 Venhuizen, Bas Hobie 16 02:57:28 116 02:32:59 19
<br> 20 Oorthuizen, Mick Nacra 5.5 02:41:22 105 02:33:41 20
<br> 21 Teunissen, Fred Nacra Inter 17 Spi 03:11:05 111 02:52:09 21
<br>
<br>In an ideal world 2 boats would be nice, one for as you say meditation and the other for some mutual feedback on the situation. But if the F16 can facilitate this then it opens up many doors.
<br>
<br>I will check out the site, but in the meantime whats the ideal crew weight for the f16 including the lower and upper limit as this is a major factor to race as competitively 10kilos either way is not that great a problem but 30 kilos over for a class can be a major problem, just take a fully loaded suitcase
<br>as an example of what is being carried extra.
<br>
<br>mark
<br>
<br>
<br>

Crew weight range is handled by Texel / ISAF handicap formula and boxrule.
<br>
<br>All crews sail the same boat in all conditions apart from the jib size. This jib size is dependend on the crewweight on board. In the start up phase the genaker is fixed at 17,5 sq. mtr. size to allow for easy swithcing between 2-up and 1-up sailing with the same hardware. This KISS principle is chosen to make a clean start. Later on the class may well adopt a scheme like the F18. The benefits of either system is still being discussed. However as you yourself say 10 kg's either way impacts often less than most people think and the ideal weight for the F16HP will be around 150 kg's making the competitive range from 140 to 160 kg's or
<br>
<br>Boy Girl team of 80 kg's + 60 kg's
<br>or
<br>Boy Boy team of 80 Kg;s + 80 kg's
<br>
<br>This range seems to contain most crews. And as said later on we ay well put the 17,5 sq.mtr. genaker boundery at 145 kg's and fly a 21 sq. mtr. genaker at 155 kg's and extend the range a bit. But then admittedly, crewweight equalisation is the most tricky part of a class rules framework
<br>
<br>(quote)
<br>In an ideal world 2 boats would be nice, one for as you say meditation and the other for some mutual feedback on the situation. But if the F16 can facilitate this then it opens up many doors.
<br>(Unquote)
<br>
<br>This is exactly one of the main goals of the F16HP. An A-cat like performance when 1-up and a F18 like performance when 2-up with the same boat. So far it seems to work out.
<br>
<br>Wouter<br><br>

Thanks for the info Wouter from what you say it appears that the 2 formulas 16 and 18 would target the same market sector. I am very interested to see how this develops.
<br>
<br>I notice that the Stealth has cassette type rudders, fixed with only the ability to move vertically, rather than kick up, I can see both disadvantages and advantages to this. Is this a standard for the F16 or something unique to the Stealth as it is in its early build stage.
<br>
<br>Also being a numbers and statistics man have your read the book High Performance Sailing? (not to be confused with High Performance Racing)
<br>
<br><br><br>

Mark,
<br>You mentioned the F16HP and F18 will target the same market.
<br>
<br>Unlike the F18 the F16 can be sailed one up or two up and the F16HP is something like 50kg lighter.
<br>With the F18 already so strong I see the F16HP appealing to
<br>people that like to sail Solo or from time to time find themselves without a crew and also people that appreciate a lighter boat.
<br>There is definitely an overlap but the F16HP should appeal to a broader market because of its versatility.
<br>
<br>Phill<br><br>

Phill
<br>
<br>I can see your point entirely, I meant purely from a combined weight perspective the market is within the same category. The overall weight factor of the boat factor means in my mind that the owners will probably have a slightly different sailing attitude or perception of how things should be. The only thing that I would fear is that to convert some of the fleet is that it's human nature to think bigger is better but then on the other hand it is not always a guarantee of quality. Take cars as an example of mans feeling of superiority over the next, this may have nothing to do with sailing but is something that is relevant in sales to a larger market where not everybody may shift there focus by 90 degrees. I suppose at the end of the day the only real deciding factor is on the race course and hard evidence with a few good sailors on F16's, 1 is not enough, pulling in either equal or better results than the 18 on real time.
<br>
<br>Yes the solo option is an appealing option as finding a crew sometimes can be a bit of a nightmare, sometimes it is nice to leave work and say to yourself I'm going sailing this evening and not worry about other factors.
<br>
<br>I ask; what do you think of the new Hobie FX One (or should I say re-inforced A-cat with Spi) as this is also targeting the solo to 2 up scenario, admittedly 2 up as the fun option rather than as a race setup.
<br>
<br>I have personally being looking elsewhere due to crewing problems but maybe my Dutch is not good enough. The only thing is; I like my boat which sails very well, is fast and has great handling. Its a very tough decision to make at this stage.<br><br>

Mark,
<br>
<br>I don't have any first hand experience of the FXone.
<br>I can only go on what I've been told. I'm told it doesn't have a very good feel to it.
<br>
<br>Wouter would be much better qualified to comment as I understand he has actually sailed the FXone.
<br>
<br>
<br>It's great that you like the feel of your boat because
<br>to me, feel is everything.
<br>
<br>
<br>Apart from the balance where the boat feels like an extension of yourself there is an excitement related to the accelleration I experience on my Taipan.
<br>
<br>It's great to be out on the wire and with each gust your thrown onto your back foot . There have been times when on the wire and I've nearly gone over the rear beam.
<br>
<br>
<br> I've found it interesting sailing against a Nacra 5.8 at our club. Now if the breese is steady the 4.9 can have a good batlle with the 5.8.
<br>But if it's gusty the accelleration of the 4.9 gives it a real advantage. Every gust gives you a couple of boat lengths or more.
<br>This is up wind and down in either sloop or Uni rig config.
<br>
<br>Note this is without a kite. Throw a kite on the boat and I think it would be like taking adrenalin from a drip.
<br>
<br>Maybe the F16HP will have this as an edge.
<br>Especially in its Uni rig combination.
<br>
<br>As you said everyone will make their own choice based on their own set of priorities. If they enjoy what they chose we have boats on the water and it's good for the sport.
<br>
<br>I hope you enjoy the rest of your season. Our season doesn't start for another couple of weeks and I'm really looking forward to it.
<br>
<br>Phill<br><br>

I'm not sure wether the twp formula's target the same segment. Okay the same crew range but as you said yourself the F16HP will target sailor with a different mindset. The 1 to 2 and back again is a definate difference and partly caused by the going smaller principle which made the catrigged F16HP very similar to the A-cat which ofcourse is the solo craft par exellence. Call it a lucky coincidence. F18 is here to stay I'm sure, F16HP is in development and is also doing a little bit off re-engineering the catamaran setup, there is not telling how far this concept will go. Example, what effect does a lifting spi have on a light craft like that ?
<br>
<br>And ofcourse numbers are just numbers and as a german general once said :"The first casialty of a battle is the battle plan itself!"
<br>
<br>Stealth and rudders. It is an approach taken by its designer. F16HP is an open formula requlating only the performance limiting aspects of a design. It is less restricted than for example the F18 rules. This is also one important difference with respect to F18. F16HP is somewhere between A-cat class rules and F18 rules. Read the preliminary core of the rules on the homepage.
<br>
<br>Book by Frank Bethwaite right ? Not yet I'm trying to get one, but it looks like it is out of print. I think he wrote of the catamaran concept on ground of wetted surface area right ? What a coincidence that we're attacking just this issue ?! ( ;=)
<br>
<br> <br><br>

Funny Mark, I went much the same way. I find myself training a new crew every season. And you know that genaker sailing requires are very capable crew (skipper and crew) that understand eachother. Otherwise it is bye bye. Now I also have P16 which I race solo from time to time at my club when I havn't got a crew or the crew is not up too racing. In the beginning I got alot of heat for a cat rigged P16 is not a class !? And then I got mad. I started looking for a boat that could do well both. Meaning That I'm not last across the line every time and only see the others in the distance. I found but 2 boats that could do that Dart 18 and Taipan 4.9. Dart 18 is not a modern design and will be dying out. The Taipan 4.9 was supposedly beating bigger 18 foot boats. Now I found that many different sources found that T4.9 was up to the task of staying with the 18's. And even 1-up it was among them when going upwind. I was intrigued and a later found the BIM 16 and the Stealth. And so I found what I was looking for a cat that could do the job of racing solo and with a crew equal competitively and arrive at the finish line at about the same time. Sadly I haven't sailed it yet, I will get it just before the coming season.
<br>
<br>Admittely it took a while before I chose to go this way, for I was sceptical too, but I'm convinced now. Also after sailing the FX-one myself. I haven't sailed the I-17 yet and I would really like to in order to compare the two properly.
<br>
<br>My comments about the FX-One (solo boat) :
<br>
<br>- It looks nice and fast (always start with an up point)
<br>
<br>- Downside one : It is a solo boat. They may call it a 2-up FUN boat but that is just rediculous. There is no jib, boom is very low and you can never race it competitively 2-up for 2-up is not in the class rules. Along the same reasoning you can call an optimist a FUN 2-up boat, cause that will look really funny too
<br>
<br>- It feels slow. maybe you can more speed out of it after practicing quite alot. But even others found it in the beginning to be as fast as the old Hobie 17.
<br>
<br>- It wavepiercing hulls work very well, if only the forebeam and dolphinstriker would do the same. What is the use of wavepiercing hulls when your d-striker is only 14 cm above the watersurface. In waves the hulls sink in and the d-striker + beam crash into it. I really feel the FX-one should have been D-striker less.
<br>
<br>- FX-one does not like chop, I found this and several others too. It is reported to be considerably faster on flat water.
<br>
<br>- It DIVES on reaches and broad reaches. And there is no orange zone. You go from green straight into deep red. A very respected sailor sailing the FX-one now said the same. "When it goes, it goes all the way"
<br>
<br>- Downhaul is to heavy to operate from trapeze. And this baby need alot ALOT of downhaul. Took my two hours of figuring this out. And I mean Buckle at the knees, use both hands, Pulling off your fingers and bent the swivel cleat tight.
<br>
<br>-It slaps the wave with the bottom of the hulls. The hulls are okay with normal waves but ot with very short wind waves. Youn know the small kind running on top of bigger waves.
<br>
<br>-It is very wet boat it sprays alot.
<br>
<br>- It is a stern dragger.
<br>
<br>- I dislike the setup of the mastrotation and outhaul. Looks cheap (probably is cheap) doesn't,work well .
<br>
<br>- Sometime it felt sluggish and gibes were scary because of the no limits dives
<br>
<br>I've sailed it a whole day from 10:30 in the mornig till 17:00 in the afternoon. And sailed in light air (1/2 beaufort) through medium to heavy air (6 to 7 beaufort). In both flat and rought choppy water.
<br>
<br>Overall impression : I got on with OHHH yes great great great lets see how much fun it is
<br>
<br>and got of
<br>
<br>HUmmm, well, actually, how can I put it. It feels awkward and slow and nervous.
<br>
<br>In the same twee weeks I tried the tiger, and skiffs liek 49-er and laser 3000/4000 among others (H17, Pacific, H14) And I found the Hobie 14 to be more under control and teh Hobie 17 to be just as fast in all but the heaviest winds where the H17 I sailed became very uncontrollable. And I found the Skiffs to be less awkward than the Hobie 17.
<br>
<br>I took to the Tiger like a fish in water. I'm dualistic about teh H17, The H14 is a great fun machine but don't move your eyebrow to much or you'll be out of balance. Actually I took more risk on the 14 because I felt I was feeling what it wanted or was about to do. I didn't ahve that on th FX-one.
<br>
<br>- I found it to be very fast downwind. (always end with a positive point_
<br>
<br>I'm going back in september and sail another week. Maybe I do better the second time ?
<br>
<br>Wouter<br><br>

Wouter
<br>
<br>Frank does make some references to catamarans in this book although not much as his focus is mainly on Skiff design and monhull crafts. His main concerns with the catamaran is that the total wetted surface area of the 2 hulls can be greater than that of a well desgined monohull. Also their predominantly slender displacement hullshape does not promote planing which is largely restrictive. However this went to press in 93 and since then there has been a lot of developments since the Hawk and the semi-planing hull design in the catamaran world. In fact I believe Reg White has now taken back the Hawk and is planning to redesign the rig as he still believes in the platform, however wet the deck might become! Bow lifting Spinnakers have also reshaped the design concept once again.
<br>
<br>I think the book is now out of print as I found it a very hard task to get hold of, however if you have the patience, time and interest then this is a book to have, it promotes many ideas in your own mind.
<br>
<br>