Regarding the T-foils and additional rules.

I think the best way forward is for Simon to find a F16 sailor who will support him and then work out a rule change proposal that the GC can process according to the class rules and eventually put it to the class for the vote.

Then everybody who is in favour can then vote to accept the change and everybody that is against can vote against it. That should be sufficient to conclude the discussion.

By now Simon will have enough replies to analyse what a crossection of the others think and adjust his proposal to maximize its changes of being accepted.

I'm not sure whether I have given my take on the T-foils yet, so here goes.

I think the T-foils are a golden opportunity for the F16's, especially for singlehanders. We are indeed more limited in hull length as other classes and the effects associated with that are already well covered but with T-foils these effects can be totally corrected. With them the F16's can even close the last remaining gap with the A-cats and the 20 foot spinnaker boats. The biggest advantage of these is the fact that the longer hull length does make them more relaxed with respect to diving. With T-foils this last remaining advantage will be gone and F16 can then be pushed very hard, even by novices, in rough conditions. Especially novice singlehanded sailors will appreciate the additional stability. This will give the F16 and excellent base from which to meet the competition both on the water and in the market place and for almost no additional costs ! I truly believe the T-foils are the last item to complete the F16 package into something that will be a succes story.

From my own analysis I don't expect much advantage at all of T-foils that can be adjusted while racing. For the same reasons others have expressed already plus the fact that permanently engaging them will add drag and they are too small and more or less in the wrong spot. However by the same reasoning I don't object to ruling that only T-foils can be used that can not be tuned or adjusted while racing (sailing). Even if the boat has to make a full stop and sit there for 5 secs in order to adjust them then that would negate all the potential advantage they could bring during continued racing.

So I envision a setup where the fine-tuning of the inclination angle of the T-foils is set by tilting the rudderstock at the sterns by some simple setup but where the T-foils are then set for the whole race/day. Maybe even a setup (eyebolt with pintle on the stock) that could be adjusted out on the water with the boat in irons for a while. And where the F16 class rules actively forbid the setup to be such that the inclination angle can be adjusted while the boat is travelling through the water or during a race (between start signal and finish).

I feel that development is bets allowed for the remainder.

Wouter