Sorry Mary,

But ISAF indeed specifies things like how sails are to be measured and what must be included and what must not. Of course a class MAY choose to do it differently but then it needs to create and administer their own framework. That adds a whole lot of work to running a class AND thus put us in collision course with Race Committees and other classes at regatta's.

You are right, there is a rudderless catamaran in Europe that has a active class and hold class races. However I would like to see anyone get that boat a starting permit in any significant regatta like the Round Texel. The RC will just deny you one as they are unwilling to take the increased risk of being held responsible when things go wrong. And I can't blame them. How do you explain to a non-sailing judge that "the boat could safely navigate a distance race on the open sea with a very crowded 500 boats startline and WITHOUT rudders".

We must remember that political issues like that sometimes necessitate class rules that otherwise don't seem to have a reason for their inclusion. In some instances we had to include them or people in certain nations simply wouldn't want anything to do with the F16 class. Right now, they do.

Our goal in the F16 class is to sail and race no matter what happens. Show up at any event and sail, Crew calling off? you sail solo, Girlfriend wanted to come along you sail doublehanded, 5 knots or 25 knots, class or open class. That is why we focus on the 1-up/2-up versatility, garanteed seaworthyness and level racing with the biggest class around, the F18's. This directly lead to boats that weight 107 kg overall instead of 90 kg or 130 kg and this lead to rules with respect to mid girth width and having a (redundant) double rudder system.

Wouter