Sorry, but comparing the cost of F18 to Melges and telling us it's all OK? Really?
Not at all, Mike - I guess a better way to put it is, "Why are M24s so much more expensive than an F18?"
You have been close to a Melges, right? For starters, there is a lot more material in those boats than ours. Considering the relative size, they are somewhat proportionally priced to a F18. Not to mention, their sails cost a ridiculous amount of money. How they ultimately justify the cost of these boats is beyond me, although I'd venture to say there are fewer of them than most people realize, and probably take a lot of labor to build.
