I've sailed the dragoon quite often and it is basically a small version of the larger spinnaker cats like the F18 and as such have all the drawbacks of these. Mostly it takes time to rig them up fully. The dragoon also weights alot, it weights the same as an F16 and takes the same effort to rig and transport (trailer).

F12 is much more like a laser dinghy, albeit much lighter. (de)Rigging it will be a flash, 5 min max. This boat can be sailing on an impulse. Roof topping is will be really practical.

Now I agree getting kids involved is always a difficult task, that won't change. But the F12 aims at making all other obstacles to sailing it (like rigging and dragging it) negligiably small.

Personally, I've been contacted by adults who are interested in the F12 for their own use. I think that when adults are sailing this boat that kids will consider sailing it sooner as well. It won't be so much a kiddies boat, which in my experience kids don't like. I have been wanting a simple, throw about and have fun boat like the F12 myself too. So I also believe that the F12 is more then just a youth boat; it will be an entry boat as well. Part of the growth and class support will come from this group as well. For the sailors that want a design they can take out for when they have 1 or 2 hours off in the afternoon or something. The dragoon doesn't attract these sailors.

Wouter