Clearly a conflict has been revealed that needs to be addressed. Getting into an argument about things that have passed and can not be changed now is pointless. So I say lets get our eye back on the future and actively work to prevent such a conflict from happening again.

I see two complementary approached

-1- Get our USPN rating to reflect the REAL performance of the F16's

-2- Demand committment from RC's to have us on the big course before signing in to any event.


Point is simple. The Australian VYC rating system (same statistical working core as USPN) shows us something very interesting. Source : http://www.vic.yachting.org.au/?MenuID=Division+News/10631/0,Off+the+Beach/10638/0&Page=12596 Note that both the Taipans (no spi) and the F18's are very actively raced there and have nationals with more than 30 boats each year, in both classes very capable crews are sailing (All top 10 sailors in 2005 F18 worlds). These VYC are arguably based on alot more data and more dependable data at that.

So what does VYC say ? F18 = 70.0 Taipan 4.9 sloop (standard, No spi or F16 upgrades) = 74. If we convert this to USPN than we arrive at F18 = 62.5 (given) => Taipan standard = 62.5/70.0 * 74 = 66,0 !

So the USPN thinks that the Spi equipped, F16 upgraded (larger squaretop mainsail etc) Taipan F16 is SLOWER in relation to the F18 than VYC thinks a standard sloop Taipan 4.9 is. Of course ISAF and Texel rate the F16's around the F18 performance. The standard T4.9 sloop is rated by Texel/ISAF, when convered to USPN numbers, to about 65.6, that is the STANDARD taipan 4.9 sloop (no spi etc). If this doesn't signal something is very wrong with the USPN F16 rating than I don't know what will.

I'm proposing to really actively campaign with the USPN committee to adjust the F16 rating as that is much more fair to use (in relation to RC's) but also in relation to our sailors open class sailors. We don't want to become the dispised handicap killer.

I'm think about campaigning for a number proportional to the VYC Taipan 4.9 sloop rating that is modified for spi sailing using the VYC modification rule. This would come out at USPN F16 = 64 as the absolute highest. So at least 3 handicap points faster than we are rated now. This is confirmed with the Texel/ISAF ratio's between the F18's and Taipan 4.9 with spis. I think we are faster still in the F16 setup but I need a firm foundation on which to base the request.






Point 2 :

With a more realitic rating we can approach RC's in advance and request commitment that they put us on the low PN course and score us at least with the low PN open class fleet. If they are not willing to commit to that then I think me may just as well not go at all or have our own little event at one of the F16's clubs like Gulfport. It is not like we will be any worse off.

I understand that point 2 may come across militant but teh F16 class stayed quiet over the last years and accepted their fate hoping that RC's would learn the true performance of the F16's and adjust their position voluntarily. Taipans have been in the US since 1999 and in 2005 we are still put in the High PN fleets because "otherwise the big boats (like Hobie 18?) would have to wait for us to finish"

It is time to break this misconception and get our rightful place.

It may be difficult to accept to some US sailors but the other area's in the world have already succesfully broken this misconception and the USA is trailing behind in this respect. Not a soul in Australia would put F16's in with the slow fleet and in Europe we haved raced directly against the biggest of cats on handicap in the 2004 events already (Carnac, Texel, Westland cup, Rem race, Autumn trophy race series). Asia (Koh Samiu regatta) and South Africa are no different.

So lets strike down this final obstacle.

Wouter