Darnit Will_fl! I told myself I wasn't going to get sucked into these again! <img src="http://www.catsailor.com/forums/images/graemlins/grin.gif" alt="" />

OK...enough with the Hobie 16 and F18 comparisons - it's apples and oranges really since the F18 carries so much more power downwind. I'll gladly agree that it is likely easier to keep the 16 upright than an F18 in a gusty blow. What we're discussing here, however, is the Hobie 16 and the Nacra 5.0 and their pitchpole resistance - which one can put the bow deeper into the back of a wave and survive standing?

The point that there are likely less skillful (i.e. newer) H16 sailors out and about is a good one.

EDIT: I think we can probably agree on a couple of things here: if you put the bow under on a Hobie 16, you are less likely to recover than if you put the bow under on a boat with a more perpendicular and rounded bow. HOWEVER, the bannana shape of the hulls makes the boat very sensitive to crew weight - which is a good thing if you have some experience and a bad thing if you don't. That is, if you keep your weight too far forward, you will pay for it more than you would on a boat like the 5.0. However, when it's blowing stink, the bannana shape of the hull lends itself to keeping the bow high if your crew weight is back back back.