http://forums.sailinganarchy.com/index.php?s=&showtopic=80544&view=findpost&p=1940893

I don't know if this guy has any idea what he's talking about. I figured we'd hear about it here first if it was indeed true or even rumored.

we already did hear it first here and saw a cartoon-esque drawing about two months ago.

Well...that is of a new Hobie F18 coming out of France but not anything about the Olympics. It would be a stretch for the F18 to both put itself in and for the ISAF to put an open development class in the Olympics.

http://www.hcana.hobieclass.com/?page=7923&format=

the cartoon-esque drawing was of one of the three boats, the Pearl. No drawings of the "new" F18

Oh ok I'm an uninformed **** :P

Thanks

Yes it's more likely the OD Tiger would be selected over a Formula boat.

the new f-18 from hobie is hopefully going to debut at the paris boat show in december. All new platform the only carry over from the Tiger will be the front and rear cross beams. there are currently rumored two sets of hulls in testing with the old rig. new sail plan and mast aren't finallized. but a wing mast is said to be in the works. Will we see this in the U.S.?

taken from the hobie thread
Guys, just for your information, I´m still in Europe and two weeks ago, I raced with Mitch Booth in Hyères and had the chance to discussed the new F18 with Mitch and other guys from the factory since Mitch is really involve in the development.
Around 2 to 4 sets of hulls are already produced and final testing is planned to be by the beginning of November. Famous F18 sailors invited to test the boat: Mitch Booth, Darren Bundock, Gleen Ashby, J-C Mourniac. I was not allowed to see the boat but Mitch's son saw it and he said to me: this is the sickest Hobie cat ever, really modern. I know that they were still working on the mast and sail plan. Only the front and rear beams will remain the same as the Tiger, the rest is totally new. Mitch mentionned that the hull shape of the infusion and the capricorn was a step further than the Tiger and the new Hobie F18 will be the step further than the nacra/capricorn.
Guys, let me tell you that with everything I've heard: Its gonna be a sick and fast boat.
A new casting with a new blade, carbon daggerboard. New Mast. A clean platform and many new innovations. Its gonna be a really modern high performance F18 Hobie Cat.

Whoever wrote that needs to go into marketting.

That's because he's a Hobie dealer!

the new bow
http://www.hobiecat.com/community/viewtopic.php?p=58400#58400

I think they call that clinker built!

It looks like a character in a Circ de Soleil show.

I think those things are handles so you can carry it around the beach. It does look like a mask...Halloween anyone?

I was hoping it would be a bit wider so it could carry lots of weight (Infusion style). I think we need to make sure we open this class up to the maximum number of teams.

The punisher.

If the new boat is faster, then it's P number has to be -adjusted- for open class racing, right?

Tim, you know the drill. If the evidence supports your position the number will be adjusted.

Dave, it's not my possition, it's the builders who are making the new F18's faster and faster, otherwise you would all be racing a 1996 Tiger, right?

And I'm not saying, I'm just saying, "Evolution" should be taught in school...

And I have no idea how P number get -adjusted- anyway, does that latest F18 NA's, where the top boats were all Caps. and Infusions count in anyway? Or is only one boat vs. another, different class boat, finish times that get put in the mix?

If Matt invents a new F16 design and it is clearly faster than all the other Blades, when Matt is sailing it, will anyone ask that number to be -adjusted- too? Of couse they would. That's all I'm saying.

built in anti pitch pole devices? or vent holes to reduce drag?

Bottle top openers?

hmmmmmm