Hi Steve - <br> <br> We will be working with sail makers ,--boat designers ,--and boat mfg. Companies --people with technical backgrounds that will want exact written definitions of all rules ,--it is a difficult task ,--- <br> <br>-Open to all proposed rules ideas ,--but as I,ve been told many times by others in rules discussions ,{-the devil is in the details }- <br>will try to walk through the total boat and crew weight proposal - <br> <br> Total weight -760 -combined boat and crew <br> Total sail = 550 sq ft ----any configuration - <br> <br>-Is there a max amount of weight a crew can carry ? <br> sail area ,--is there a max or min mainsail ? - <br>A max or min boat weight ? <br> <br>-Could a team build a boat with 550 sq ft main and jib ? <br>-A 400 sq ft main ? <br> <br>-Would all boats under this rule soon adopt huge mainsails with reef points and large furling hooters only ? ------ <br> <br>-If a mfg builds a beautifull lightweight 330 lb boat ,- <br> it would require a 430 lb crew , - <br> Would any manufacture this cat for only 400 plus lb crews ? <br> <br>-If a team wanted a 350 lb boat but weighed 300 would they be allowed to carry 110 lbs of dead weight ? <br>- <br>-Again it is a difficult task , not trying to be negative , or discourage efforts by any , but we will have to answer all these questions and many others with any rules proposal, it can be a frustrating process, but one that we have to place our personal interests aside to some extent and endeavor to insure fair sailing for all . <br> <br>-In looking at the existing state of 20 racing in N A over the last few years , and seeing developement and desire for new developement in cats , per A Class and other excellent lightweight durable designs ,believe the best option is for us to adopt the basic Formula concept establishing length and beam , with similar componate definitions , and then allowing the sail area to weight ratio scale which adds the developemental aspect . It is fair across the board , but may favor heavier teams slightly.-min 325 or 330- <br> <br>-Crew weight becomes a much smaller proportional issue <br>. <br> Crews can deside for themselves what ideal weight they would like to be racing cats with up to 360 sq ft sail plans already overpowered flying hulls in av 6 mph winds. <br> <br>--Carl <br><br>
