Some facts from memory are that 8 of the top ten at the recent alter cup all came from sailing a non-spin Hobie 16,18,or 20.
Edit: (Forgot Bob C on the 14 and 17)
-1- Robbie Daniel/Hunter Stunzi Olympic (Tornado)
-2- Alex Shafer/Nigel Pitt Nacra F18
-3- Greg Thomas/Jacques Bernier Defend (Hobie Tiger = F18)
-4- John Casey/Kenny Pierce Nacra I-20
-5- John Tomko/Ian Billings area F (Hobie Tiger = F18)
-6- Robert Curry/Bret Moss D-S (Curry = Nacra F17, Moss = A-cat)
-7- Olli Jason/Kelly Jason Pet'n (Don't know what they sail normally)
-8- Jeff Newsome/Peter Ney J 5 (Hobie 16)
-9- Susan Korzeniewski/Kevin Smith NAF18 (Hobie Tiger = F18)
-10- Kirk Newkirk/Glenn Holmes Pet'n (I thought they sailed a F18 as well)
Sources :
http://www.ussailing.org/championships/adult/usmhc/alter06/results06.htmhttp://www.ussailing.org/championships/adult/usmhc/alter06/elims0506.htmLets see, I count :
1 Tornado, 5 F18's, 1 Nacra I-20, 1 Nacra F17, 1 A-cat, 1 Hobie 16
Only 2 of these are boats without a spinnaker, one of them being an A-cat. So only ONE falls under your criterium of "a non-spin Hobie 16,18,or 20"
I dare say that alter cup 2005 was no different.
I guess your memory ain't what it used to be.
Or you are trying to claim that these crews did so well NOT because they currently race comparable modern boats themselfs (and have now done so for several years) but because they used to sail hobie 16, 18 and 20's waaaaaaaay back in the days ....
Either way your claim is just silly.
Now don't get me wrong I'm not putting the H16 down; just some of the silly claims that are made with respect to these boats. Currently an F18 sailor can sail an H16 and not get into any sort of trouble. A H16 crew newly on a F18 can get themselfs in alot of trouble pretty quickly. As in slacking the mainsheet under spinnaker in a gust = mast breakage. As in not making proper S-curving under spinnaker thus making the boat go up and down all the time till a capsize ends this circus. And I can name several more. Therefor the statement :"If you can sail an H16 then you can sail anything" is just bogus. Maybe it was true 20 years ago (I doubt it) but it is certainly not true anymore.
Wouter
Ohh I nearly forgot. I have an invitation for you to sail on an F18, you only have to drive it as we'll supply you with an experienced crew. Piece of cake, since you come of an H16. I'll buy you a beer afterwards and then we talk about it some more.
