Berny -

The fundamental idea of getting a bunch of similar-performing 14-footers on the line is a good one and at the heart of the formula movement. I'm in a bit of a backwater here in NW Florida, though, and the spin is keeping me alive. None of the bigger boats would let me come out and play if I were on the Wave or a Hobie 14, though I've demonstrated in the regattas I've administered that the right size course will keep the scratch boat from having to wait around for more than about 20 minutes in-between races, during which time there is a steady stream of finishers to keep you entertained anyway. Even the self-styled "class director," while keeping his F-14 sails, has sold a boat and his solid-section mast, purchased a 17-footer with a kite, and begun his assault on a national title in that class (good luck, Bob - knock 'em dead in Tybee!). I haven't seen Terry on his purple-people-eater Hobie 14 lately – he was on an A boat last regatta. So here am I, the only F-14 making regional races. Am I whining about it? Maybe a little, but it is still the right boat for me, which is how I wound up here to begin with, and at 36, I'm not about to suddenly grow a half meter and (heaven forbid) gain 40 pounds.

I agree that fragmenting small classes and trying to rig up to beat larger boats is bad – I’m not out for that. The exhilaration of racing larger jib-and-main boats is an unintended side effect of my circumstances, but I enjoy the hell out of it anyway. And your point about more and more larger boats going to spinnakers is also valid – I enjoy sharing the line with Hobie 16s, however, and I don’t see them moving to the spin here in NA, despite the Hobie Europe politicking. I’m trying to do some fleet building down here, but I feel like an army of one – there’s interest, but most of the people best suited to the F-14 are steady crew on bigger boats with limited desire to become skippers. I can’t blame them – I was there for years. All the benefits with much less investment of time and money.

All of this is conspiring to keep me spinning for the foreseeable. In the mean time the 4.3 class is still kicking and there are several at any given CRAM, CRAW, and OCRA event – once I get my pre-toddler a bit more settled, I think a couple of trips north to 4.3 country will be fun. The F-14 continues to draw a lot of attention and questions every time I sail it – there’s an attraction to a very economical but responsive boat that has loose enough class rules to allow for any combination of crew, sails or equipment.

As far as the differences in the North American and Aussie F-14s, I think they will work themselves out given a little time. I think we’ll find we’re subject to convergent evolution – we’ll adapt to different environments to fill the same niche. In the interim, let’s keep the discussion going so we each know what’s working well and why. Next Gulf Coast F-14 regatta? Juana’s Good Time, September 9-11. Can’t wait? I’ll be at Mayor’s Cup, August 7. Wrapping up the Trident series with another 25-miler this weekend in Pensacola Bay. Bring it on.