please explain how the Hobie Wave (or any other small simple cats) cannot fill the role of beginner cat racer trainer? The only knock I see on the Wave is the weight.
When push comes to shoove any small catamaran can be used as a youth trainer/beginner boat.
...the wave is not sexy enough to attract the youngsters of today and it also weights ALOT (it is heavier then a F16 !) , It's rig can be much improved and the image of the Wave is wrong...
...the F12 is moving in a direction that is much cheaper and easily repaired using local resources. The unstayed rig is easily build/repaired by Dad using a metal saw and screw driver.
But I fully admit that other people may weight these points differently...
If we look at it from further away, the same points remain just as relevant, but the picture becomes slightly different.
A kids' cat to compete in the Laser and Optimist markets needs not necessarily be the fastest one, the simplest to build, the cheapest, the most beautifull or the better engineered one.
It needs all of these and more:
a) Global acceptance, which translate into an "ideal" balance of the mentioned features and many others.
b) A strong worldwide class organization.
c) Professional builders in all continents (including homebuilders).
d) Excellent marketing.
e) Permanent support work from all cat classes, builders and sailors.
The goals and requirements are ambitious, but we trust the F12 project is a serious attempt with very real possibilities to achieve them. The Blade 12 can be seen as the first boat to be constructed partially as as result from the F12 project.
Please support Phil and all those who are volunteering their work, time and resources to create the best possible cat class for kids. It is essential for the survival of all cat classes and manufacturers, as well as the best long term response to ISAF's recent decision.
