I bought an F16 (Stealth) last year for the following reasons:

1) I wanted a boat that could be sailed 1 or 2 up with equal ease
2) I wanted a boat that my wife or any of my kids could easily crew and still stay competitive ( my kids range from a 5 stone 12 yr old to 6' 2", 12 stone 19 yr old)
3) It had to be light
4) It had to be easily righted from a capsize solo ( and I only weigh 10 stone)
5) It needed to be quick as I don't do boring
6) I wanted a boat with a spinnaker
7) It needed to be strong as I don't have the time to be constantly fettling and maintaining it

Gradually my criteria above weeded out many really good boats, Tiger, Capricorn, Spitfire, Shadow, A Class, FX1 etc. and I settled on the F16. It's not ideal but it's as near to right as I think I can get.

One season on and I'm having a ball!

All of my kids and my wife have crewed at various times and want to crew again. I've taken quite a few fellow club members out for a blast and the boat has generated a lot of interest. My eldest son crewed at the inaugral UK Nationals and we won in varying conditions proving the ablity of the boat to carry weight well in the light stuff as well as a blow.

My youngest crewed for a club cup distance race in 20knots plus and we won, beating everyone (inc 2 F18's) on actual and corrected time. The boat is so 'adjustable' to conditions and crew weights.

I've raced the Stealth solo this winter and over the seies have put in some good performances against Hurricane SXs, Spitfires, Shadow, FX1, Darts etc. and finished 3rd OA. We even raced one day in a steady 22 knots gusting to 35 and I finished first on actual, second on corrected (beaten by a pesky Dart 15). The F16 is competitive in uni or sloop mode and is no more fragile than any other boat.

The only two breakages I've had all year were both the result of underwater collisions - one took out a rudder and the other ripped a centreboard out through the bottom of the hull . Both incidents could have happened to any boat.

I've said it before and I'll say it again - after more than 30 years of sailing all types of catamarans and dinghies, I've once again found a huge entusiasm for sailing a particular boat and more FUN than I can ever remember having!

All the foregoing having been said, an F16 is not the right boat for everyone. You need to look at your own criteria, pattern of use, home waters etc. AND THEN MAKE YOUR OWN CHOICE.