Why be scared of discussing legitimate issues????

My PERSONAL 2 cents worth:

Bananaboards would be a very interesting development on an F16. This would be especially true if coupled with T or L foil rudders. Apart from not being allowed under the rules, the time is probably not right for such a development since the class would, in all likelihood, implode if a bannanaboard boat proved ultra fast or ultra competitive. I firmly believe there is a bright future for innovation, development and experimentation within the rules as they currently stand - without introducing a potentially expensive and damaging (in class growth terms) complication such as bananaboards.

I'd love to see the rules opened up in the future to permit experimentation with curved boards (and other freedoms) but I'm talking at least 5 years or even 10 years on.

Of course, outside of class racing or the F16 banner there's nothing to stop people experimenting - but to protect the growth of the class by providing some stability, bananaboards must of necessity be banned.

Don't forget, the current ban was the result of a class wide ballot back in 2007 before the current rules were finalised.

Once again, this is my personal view, it's perfectly possible that the F16 Governing Council may decide in the future to ballot for such developments to be permitted during one of the constitutionally permitted 5 year reviews of the rules.