I don't want to draw attention away from the threads of the Tampa and Ricks events but I just received a very interesting mail from Steve Zender from Zwisterland. He is a Taipan 4.9 + spi / Acat sailor there.
The new Ventilo zipo :
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Hallo Wouter,
The Name is Ventilo Zipo 16
Lenght 5 Meter
to 2,5 meters
Mast Carbon 8,2 Meters
Weight 115 Kg ink Sail
Sail Una 14,5 or Slup 17,8m2 ????
Spi 16m2
See the Photo Wouter
Have a great Time from Steve Taipan 4,9 and A-Cat
Switzerland
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From the high resolution picture I see. That it is a wave piercer design with a very flat bottom and hard chines. It has a boomless main and the sailarea and measure make it fall within the F16 rules. It is not maxed out on spi size for example but that extra 1,5 sq. mtr. can be aftermarketed.
Looks like this Ventilo that is intended to be in its own class is as competitive in the F16 class as the Taipan 4.9 spi will be which is very close to the max. I'm intriqued by this boat and hope to see it sail soon against our F16's (Stealth, Taipan, bim javelin-16)
And here is a low resolution pic. If you want the high res pic mail me.
Wouter
Wouter Hijink Formula 16 NED 243 (one-off; homebuild) The Netherlands