I think most of you are missing the point with what Marcus did with the blade and where most boats fall down. Firstly there is minimal difference in the flex of the actual beam, there is also minimal difference in the actual hull flex. The BIG thing is the mounting of the beams to the hull. It is almost irrevelant the type of beam and its construction (within reason) Consider this, if the beam can move 1mm at the beam landing what does that mean at the extremity of the boat??

I have a Taipan 5.7 which is now 10ft wide, it is actually stiffer at 10ft wide than it used to be at 8ft2" wide. The main difference is how I attached the beams to the hull. I have been able to reduce the amount of movement to almost nothing. Now the boat is stiffer than a Marstrom Tornado.

Some time ago there was a discussion down the same lines on the Aussie F18 bb and I made the same comments, I heard that some of the class "legends" were taking the piss out of me for those comments at a regatta, anyhow then Marcus comes along and builds the Blade and the bloody thing is quick straight out of the box, first weekend with home made sails and hulls that are not to the designers spec (shape is wonky) the biggest thing about the Blade is that the platform is very stiff. Watch out for the next Blade which is being built and will have the correct shape, better sails etc. I think we will see that the main improvement in the F18's will be along the platform stiffnes route.