Spitfire?

The Spitfire F16 looks very interesting. Has anybody sailed or seen one of these? Are there any in the US. The boat sounds like a dream to sail. It has a relativly large shute as well. The only downside is the weight (300 pnds) when compared to other F16's ie Taipan, Bim, etc. Is there a website with more info (builder, country of origin?)
<br>Thanks
<br>Mark Talla
<br>Prindle 18-2<br><br>

Here are a few links :
<br>
<br>(Builder)
<br>http://www.swell-catamarans.com/
<br>
<br>(Test reports)
<br>http://www.multihulls-world.com/maj/essg_883.asp
<br>
<br>http://www.catamaran.ie/cats/spitfire.htm
<br>
<br>http://www.chrispagedesign.co.uk/NewFiles/spitfiretest.html
<br>
<br>
<br>Enough to read for you I imagine.
<br>
<br>I don't known if there are any in the US, the design is rather new and I doubt wether anyone imports them to US. Tip let the builder ship one to the St. maarten regatta or Curacau regatta were you pick it up and have a sailing holiday and bring it back to the USA with the USA container. This is the cheapest importing option.
<br>
<br>The spi of 18 sq. mtr. is enough for a boat of only 139 kg's and a just over 8 mtr. mast. F18 is 180 kg's with 9,1 mtr. and has 21 sq. mtr.
<br>
<br>Country of origin is France and it is designed by Yves Loday (designer F18 Dart Hawk and KL booster, I personally love the last) and Reg White (co-designer Tornado)
<br>
<br>And ofcourse you can find some info in the Texel handicap system (actual measurements) where is has a handicap rating equal to F18 and the ISAF system as well as the F16HP homepage. But you probably already seen the last.
<br>
<br>I hope this was info you were looking for.
<br>
<br>Wouter<br><br>

I read the great reviews on the boat, I have only two questions, Is the mast carbon or aluminium? How long will it take to get this boat to the US?
<br>Thanks for the info
<br><br><br>Mark Talla
<br>1992 Prindle 18-2
<br>Hobie 17 (not sailed for 8 years)

Mast is aluminium. If you want Carbon than you should take a look at the Stealth designs.
<br>
<br>I don't know the answer to your last question for I don't know wether the caribian regatta container are already in transit.
<br>
<br>Maybe ask the builder or the regatta organisor liaisons in USA.
<br>
<br>Wouter<br><br>

Mark
<br>
<br>I noticed your interest on a new boat on the forum and thought you might like to take a look at the Stealth, The Stealth R is one of the boats fully grandfathered into Formula 16 hp at the moment and we have one used boat for sale and a brand new 2001 spec boat available at a good price.
<br>
<br>The other thing you might think about is our 2002 boat.
<br>
<br>it is currently being developed from our succesfull stealth R which has just won the UK cat racing championship series.
<br>
<br>the new boat will have the following spec:
<br>
<br>Epoxy/glass foam sandwich painted seamless hulls
<br>8.5 m tapered carbon fibre mast as used on the current boat
<br>Carbon fibre boom, spinnaker pole, tillers, tiller bar and adjustable extension
<br>Full F16HP compliant sails by Ullmans.
<br>Integral tramp mounted spinnaker chute as per current Tornado thinking
<br>Choice of dagger T foil rudders (brilliant, faster and reduce pitch poling enormously) or kick up A class rudders (a bit more convenient)
<br>Self tacking jib
<br>Harken fittings throughout
<br>All up weight 100kgs
<br>
<br>We are planning to come out to the American f16 event alluded to on the f16HP forum and if you wanted a boat we could ship an extra one at no cost.
<br>
<br>Regards
<br>
<br>John Pierce<br><br>

Are there any reveiws of the Stealth R??<br><br>Mark Talla
<br>1992 Prindle 18-2
<br>Hobie 17 (not sailed for 8 years)

I noticed that I've answered your question about Spitfire reviews directly and to the topic. I realize now that ofcourse I should of given you all the links to reviews of all the F16HP boats such as the Stealth. So that I, as a founder, can not be mistaken to favour a particular F16 HP design.
<br>
<br>So to correct my mistake here is a link to a page with all the reviews to F16HP boats that I'm aware of. (including ofcourse the Stealth review)
<br>
<br> http://www.geocities.com/f16hpclass/F16HP_test_reports.html
<br>
<br>
<br>Regards and my appologies,
<br>
<br>Wouter
<br><br><br>

Go to link; the link to a Stealth report is among the other links.
<br>
<br>http://www.geocities.com/f16hpclass/F16HP_test_reports.html
<br>
<br>wouter<br><br>

We have had a Spitfire here since the begining of this season. It is indeed a dream to sail. My son Neil has just won the Irish Multihull Association Travellers Trophy (56 mixed cats) this year having beaten Hobie Tigers, Hawks, Hurricane 5.9s on the water and Dart 18s and 16s, naturally on the water, and on SCHRS handicap.
<br>I usually sail a Dart Hawk, (now for sale) but I got my hands on the Spitfire for the first time last weekend and beat 2 Dart Hawks (Formula 18) and 2 twenty ft. Hurricane 5.9s on the water as well as Dart 18s, to win the race.
<br>Reg White of White Formula in England is the builder (They build Hurricanes, Tornados and Darts) (info@whiteformula.com). (Phone: 0044 1206 302724)
<br>Compared to the heavy Hurricane 5.9s and Formula 18s that we sail here, we consider the Spitfire to be very light. As well as the fact that everything works well and is so well laid out, it is also a beautiful cat to just watch going through the water.
<br>I should point out that I am the Irish agent for the Spitfire, as well as the Dart range of cats.
<br>
<br>Hi to Carl Roberts and others who have seen our www.ireland900.com page, we are still working on the idea. Even if we do not get sponsorship, we hope to sail the course next summer with a small number of cats to check it out and hopefully, run a proper race in 2003.
<br>If you know of any rich Irish - Americans who would sponsor the race, put them in touch !!!
<br>All the best from Ireland,
<br>Dermot Mangan.
<br> <br><br>

Dermot,
<br>
<br>I see you haven't specified a mail adres in your profile but I would like to mail you about the Spitfire and the, ofcourse, Formula 16 HP class in wich the Spitfire fits nicely.
<br>
<br>You can mail me at :
<br>
<br>[email] F16HPclass@hotmail.com [/email]
<br>
<br>or at (maybe CC):
<br>
<br>[email] WouterHijink@hotmail.com [/email]
<br>
<br>Wouter<br><br>

Sorry Wouter, I am new to this forum. I thought that my email address would be displayed. While I have been keeping an eye on this forum and the F16 one for sometime. I only registered yesterday. I think that my address will be shown now. Just in case, it's dermot@catamaran.ie
<br>
<br>Dermot<br><br>