Sorry this response is long but wanted to touch on a couple of points.
I am no techie MACRO but from what I know from owning a 1997 H16 and from what I have heard the new Hobie 16s (1996 and newer) with the new improved integrated traveler system needs different jib cut than the older H16s to allow for more mast rake. The top H16 sailors could not quit get the mast rake they wanted and so in response to this need the Hobie Co. now offers a jib with a little different cut to allow for more mast rake. I think that is it in a nutshell. Oh yes Hobie will continue to make the old jib as well, indefinitely.
JULIAN it would be great if you invited these top sailors to post within this thread not to prove what you said but just to get more detail from them on the topic. I also have had the opportunity to talk with some top sailors and will invite them to write on this forum. You see I get quit a different response especially from those in Europe and it seems there is much excitement about the spinnaker. Once again, they are not just jumping into but will be testing it out in 2003-04 at the ISAF youth worlds and I do believe at the H16 Worlds. As for the H16 NOT BEING DESIGNED FOR A SPINNAKER, I think that point really is not an issue as the H16 works well with a spinnaker just like almost any other multihull design. I have experience the H16 with a Trapseat spinnaker and it rocks.
I think there may be some truth about you concern with splitting the H16 fleet and I believe that is why they are at this time just testing it out. I would hope before any decision is made that people would try the spinnaker out and vote. My main desire is to do what is best for the H16 class and if that means supporting or not supporting the spinnaker concept them I will do that as an individual H16 sailor and owner. Lets just stay calm and give it some time.
Fritz once again I think you nailed it right on the head about inter class support. It seems to make sense to have the H16, F18, Tornado supporting each other. What is nice about this set up is you have 3 quite different designs and racing seens (meets various sailors needs and racing desires). What I have noticed is top sailors from these classes have been bouncing around within these classes. Mitch Booth sailed at the H16 worlds, he didnt do as well as he would of liked but from all reports he had a great time and many enjoyed having him at the worlds. I have conversed with Mitch via email and he is very supportive of the H16 class and as you have indicated it is a great way to recruit new sailors to the F18 or Tornado group, and is also great if people want to just stick within the H16 class as I am doing. I have to throw this one in but it is also nice that the H16 is able to accommodate people with disAbilities, which is the only cat class that is able to do this.
I see many good things about this three-way class support, which I also think will enable as to be seen from the monohull community perspective as better organized and that we have focus. Some would say who cares what they think, well my friends lets face it many monohull sailors and groups hold much of the power in the sailing world and we would be wise to work with them and not against them.
If you have not heard, they are talking about reducing the number of sailboat classes in the Olympics due to the Olympic committees efforts to make the Olympics more manageable, and other reasons. Therefore, with this in mind we need to really support the Tornado class so the monohull group does not try to kick out the Tornado to save one of their mono classes. I am not saying this is going to happen but its something to watch out for and a good reason (one of many) to support the Tornado class. Also, having a cat in the Olympics is a good for all multihull classes!
One final note there is talk on the international level about locating a junior cat and so far the talk is to use the Dragoon. In some ways I think this is a good idea the only problem is our club felt that buying a Dragoon for $5600 for kids to use from the age of 11-14 is a bit much for a boat they will only use for 3 years. The cost in particular and size of the Dragoon is especially an issue for parents who want to buy a cat that their kids can grow into. In our club we use H16s and team them up with order kids that can handle the H16. This idea was developed by the Hobie Troop 22 group in Florida and works really well.
We did think about the H14 as a junior boat and the kids in our club liked the idea but then they saw the Bravo and got even more excited about that boat, but we still need to try one out. Whats great is the Bravo sells for $2,500 versus $3800 for a wave, and $5600 for the Dragoon. Our local college has ordered two Bravos and two local sailors have also ordered Bravos, and the local dealer will have three on hand to sell. So the starting of a Bravo class is already moving. Still overall our direction is to follow Troop 22s junior idea with the H16s.
The Bravo is a solo cat – check it out at
www.hobiecat.com and go to the Bravo section and click on the video. Also you can see our clubs official boat selection list at
http://www.sail-s.com/main/sail/Sailing_Group/Sailing_Group_Policies_&_Contacts.htm for both mono and multi.
All my comments are just my point of view and I am in no way indicating that I know it all, but appreciate this forum and the great and respectful comments we get here.