If you did want to optmise the Taipan 4.9 as an F16, you would increase the beam, add a carbon mast, self tacking jib, more modern main sail, snuffer and spinnaker. To do this you will change the entire boat with the exception of the foils and hulls.
And if you did do this, I think you will find it will give no ground to a Blade or a Stealth.
I couldn't agree more. Carbon mast isn't even needed (F16 minimum tip weight mitigates some benefit.) Wouter's F16, with a new set of sails, should hold with any brand new F16.
The newer sail cuts are amazing--my fellow Taipan sailor in Calif. leapfrogged ahead of me in terms of boat speed with his new Glaser main; we have the same skills.
