Hi Steve and wOUT <br> <br>-On the niche issue -- <br> Most in the U S are not interested in 16s , --The formula 16 class may have some appeal to singlehanders , but there are already active I-17 and the new H-17 classes with excellent class racing in N A , and numerous A-Class cats with better sail area to weight ratios -{faster with more L }- that racing sailors can add a chute to for open or distance racing ,-. All these cats have-very similar wetted surface areas -{mainly a factor in light air =drag } -. <br> <br>-The appeal of larger cats is total speed . Reading the GPS often times distance racing in races like the Worrell we will hit speeds in the upper 20s , sometimes faster when surfing down the backs of larger ocean waves.-20 ft cats also have the length to prevent the dreaded pitchpole as your bows dive into the wave ahead . It is what cat sailing is about , -the joy of trapping off the back , strapped in , chute up , flying off the tops of huge waves , screaming along ,GPS PEGGED IN THE 25 RANGE , and faster ,---especially exciting at night ,-- <br> <br>-A-16 is not capable of achieving these speeds and has the pitchpole problem , --Length is a part of the total formula in achieving speed , as the Playstation {LENGTHENED FROM 110-to achieve more }, and Club Med designers will tell you . This seems to be left out of discussion in above posts. - <br> <br>-Only quoting wetted surface area is very misleading , -trying to sell the 16s in N A is going to be very difficult . <br> One positive aspect is the light weight , - <br> I could see racing a 16 singlehanded , but not with another crew of any size or carrying added gear {-flares food water-GPS cell phone ,-jackets ,flashlights ,tools spare parts etc , required for distance racing , <br> <br>-Wout -for you to pretent you have all the answers , and throw out a list of partial statistics that lead you to false conclutions is silly . <br> <br>-This is the Formula 20 forum , we are proposing concepts and options , ---As stated the preliminarily proposed sail area to weight formula option was provided for general discussion in preliminary form that included all active racing 20 ft cats ,--placed the 8.5 B Tornado in the center , and allows new LIGHTWEIGHT cats to be developed and raced. These LIGHTWEIGHT 20s would have great appeal to a great many racing sailors and help insure the future of the class . <br>- <br> We have been handed a very difficult task , we have existing active racing 20s with weights and sail areas and speed differences that are all over the board , we have variables in the new supposed F-20 S of mainsail area and weight . --Is this UNSCIENTIFIC ,--HELL YES. is this our doing , HELL NO ---moronic comments aimed AND INSINUATING THIS ARE JUST THAT .--these types of deconstuctive opinions accompanied by partial misguided equation do not help , just as pointing out the inadiquasies of 16s is not helpfull . <br> -The intent of proposing this sail area to weight scale if any read the original post was to demonstrate how easily this can be accomplished . <br> Is this the best theoretical solution to the goal of including existing active 20 ft cats in N A and allowing new lighter higher top speed cats to be developed ,--YES - <br> Do I have all the answers , no ,-nor all the skills to refine it correctly ,-that's why I,m here seeking others expert advice ,- <br> nor do I have all the skills to promote and market the class , - <br> That is why we are all here to constructively seek and find solutions with the intent of collectively forming a N A Formula 20 Class . <br> <br> All the best <br> Carl <br> <br> <br><br>
