I would like to throw in the fact that the F18's today have a much larger sqauretop rig than the Taipans. It is very likely that is results in a F18 rig that sheds air alot better and quicker than the more modest Taipan squaretop. There are some good experimental examples that support this.

Of course their are bound to be some differences between the classes as one design will favour particular conditions more than others. Having said this I think that 30 secs to 90 secs make these boats very equal in general and could easily be accounted for by the fact that the Taipan crews have their Taipans down while the rather new F18's crews are still on the improvement curve.

If anything the two platform seem close enough for some open class fun racing on elapsed time (NO handicap!)

Wouter