Steve, great summary of the debate.
I would add that the Pink Elephant in the room is the obvious but unstated realization that a One Up F16 and a Two Up F16 require different technical solutions. I think you were referring to this disconnect.
that higher volume hulls (for 2-up sailing) is beneficial over smaller volume.
Obviously, the A class (1 up) and the F18 (2 up) are both 18 feet in length but the technical solutions are quite different (very crude comparison). This technical gap is much smaller at the 16 foot scale and one of the key insights of the founders as they looked at the marketability of the F16 concept.
The more important twin of the technical pink elephant that is not explored are the merits of a formula class that believes that fair racing between one up and two up teams is possible.
Assume perfect technical equivalence between a one up and two up F16 boats. Clone a sailor a couple of times and put them on the two boats. The single handed clone would have to magically come up with a lot more skill to get his boat around the course then his two clones on a two up F16 for the desired dead heat. It's damn hard to sail the one-up boat to it's number over the wind range and you have to really be at the top of the game to do this. (Some estimates of F16 1-up racers is that it takes 30% more skill to get back to your spot in the pecking order). Consequently, it would be better to race as two classes
Now you can acknowledge this disparity and deal with it, dismiss the disparity as "so be it", or not deal with it at all but this is simply politics. Without resolving the fundamental disconnects... the debate will continue.
I suspect that if you focused the debate on two up F16' class growth, the winning solutions will be clear. My solution... Follow Bundy and Caroljn.. F16 is a perfect solution for Light weight and mixed teams, Women teams and Youth teams! Hell... the Hobie 16 market was enormous world wide and you can't quibble with the experience of those two and other world class racers who want to develop this niche of the sport.
The single handers need a different solution for growing the single handed class....
Builders will offer their best equipment to meet the TWO needs as the TWO classes develop!
