If you have money to burn, try contacting Gran Segel in Malmø - Sweden. They revolutionized the Tornado spis in 2002 when they supplied Martin and Kristian with their design before the worlds in Marthas Vineyard. The same spi have been the class standard since and did very well in China this year. They will be happy to make a F16 kite based on their Tornado and F18 experience. Contact Claes Hirseman at claes at gransegel.se and talk with him about your boat and what kind of conditions and sailing you do.
A flatter kite is faster becouse it have less drag, if we simplify a bit. On a boat like the Tornado and F16 which both have power to burn this makes them faster (in my opinion). But you will reach a point where the VMG dont increase anymore as you make the kite flatter (ref: the US teams kite in China). Kite design is not easy, there are a lot of variables there.
I agree with you Rolf & believe one of the variables is having enough shape in the kite to start with....its a balancing act.
I also believe the gransegal kite are a smoother shape than most other T kites because they have many more panels in the luff of the sail.....hence controlling the shape better.
FYI - a aussie comparison of costs in 2004 was $2,200 for a gransegal kite & $1,350 for most other locally made kites. Big difference.
