Well, it is not new for any developmet or formula class to see a design come out and take it to the next level.

The A Class took a leap in development from the Boyer boats to the Flyers. It now looks like there will be a simular leap from the the current boats to the DNA. Why has Ashby moved from the ASG3s which he builds to the DNA produced from a rival??? If one design makes a significant improvement in performance, then the other manufactures tend to update their designs.

F18

Tiger, then the Capricorn took it to a new level, Infusion refined some aspects of the Cap, then the C2 and WildCat came out further refining the Formula.

That's Formula / Development classes and the F16 class will not be immune from it. Weather this boat is the boat to take it to the next level, we can only wait and see, but at a quick glance it looks like it has the goods. Right now if I was looking at investing, then this boat would be the first I would look. I would love to see a min weigh pre preg nomex honeycome Viper.

And yes, the sailor will always make the biggest difference, but why put yourself on the back foot with a slower boat. Would Ashby win on a Mk 4 Boyer against Brewin on a DNA? Same applies to F16s.