I think the big question is who else will build sails for this boat? I really don't see any minus's to going open, people are still going to buy sails at the same rate and I doubt they are going to be THAT much faster than a good helm with newer sails. I just don't see the market being that big, the local lofts honestly don't have the experience that people like EP, Performance Sails, Landenberger, Smyth and Glaser have when it comes to high performance catamaran sails. I also agree that EP makes awesome sails as far as quality and longevity are concerned, and it could be hard to beat them in this area.

As far as boat on boat performance, I'm not sure it matters that much (i.e vs. F18). Yes we would like to be faster, but I think a lot of it comes down to helm time and practice time. Sails are of course important in distance racing scenarios, and I think this is where people are complaining. Personally, I prefer sailing one-design or in a box rule against the same type of boats, so I know if I beat someone across the line I beat them fair and square, not based on some arbitrary formula. This matter, however, comes down to race organization, not boat speed per say. I will agree that it is tough to sail the N20 to its rating (a lot of good sailors several years ago made that rating plummet like a rock), and new sails will certainly help with this, but time on the water matters most imo.

At the end of the day, the N20 fills a niche: its a tough boat, capable of open ocean sailing, its RELATIVELY inexpensive, holds its value well and is downright fun to sail. My opinion stands that we should have EP do some R&D on there sails, and allow Performance Sails to be sold and used in the U.S (which the CURRENT, ONLINE rules don't SPECIFICALLY ban). This makes it a two sail maker market, i.e, introduces some competition which can help lower prices and drive quality, eliminates some R&D money by another sail maker/manufacturer/the class, and at the end of the day we get two potential suits of sails that are faster than the current set.