Mike H,

You said:

The advantage would be yours in 1-7 knots if you had a 9- meter mast up.

Answer: Of course it would... that's what I'm trying to avoid... the necessity of multiple masts. You missed the point, which was based on one mast per boat. Can you honestly say that you think my light weight (remember, this is with spinakers, so upwind only... the spin. pretty much evens stuff out downwind) is more of an advantage than a liability? Come on, now, we've done enough boat for boat... If I had only a 9meter mast, I'd get killed by heavier people even quicker. Yes, of course, we could all buy 5 masts and sails like you have for windsurfing. But at that price, you'll have bullets every time. You'll be the only one playing that game.



You said: "Strict Rules are for One-Design Boats. " Sure... so why have any mast height restriction? Why have a beam restriction? Why have a weight restriction?

THE MAST HEIGHT RULE IS ALREADY IN PLACE! Everybody seems to be missing this...

WE ARE NOT VOTING ON WHETHER THIS "STRICT RULE" WILL BE PUT IN PLACE!

All that we are voting on is what the limit will be. This is a Formula class, modeled on the F18. It is not a pure development class like the 18square was. The F18's restrictions are far greater than ours. If it becomes a pure development class, then anyone with a "stock" boat is SOL.

Answer me this: which is the more popular class...F18 or 18square? Think solid-wing masts, guys.

Thanks,

Michael Coffman

T4.9#32

P.S.

Mike - I thought the thing that attracted you to the boat was having a lightweight boat that you and your wife could race without being overpowered? That is what we're talking about. Limiting the power available so that the sailors most attracted to this class (couples/younger people/lightweights) don't get hammered every time the seabreeze fills in at more than 9.5 kts. It's unwise to try to extend the ideal crew weight for normal seabreeze conditions above 320 (sloop) and 180 (cat). At this point, you've eliminated a large # of potential sailors, by competing directly with the A-class and F18 class. You're not making more people competetive. You're making a few people who already have other classes available faster, and losing your base "couples" classes, the stock stealth and stock T4.9.