For me: (1) and (4) are potentially interesting. (2) sounds like a bad idea, and (3) I'm unsure on.

But what are you actually trying to achieve? Are you trying to make the boats quicker so that they're more of a match for the As on the water? Or faster so that they're quicker than the As? Or allow might high-tech stuff so that they appeal more to gadget freaks?

On SCHRS, the F16 is already on an equal footing with the As and I believe that that is correct. We've had a few events in the UK that have shown this, most recently Grafham: when I managed to keep the boat up the right way, and there was a reasonable wind I managed a couple of 4ths in a decent fleet of As. I have no doubts that the people beating me were better sailors.

I believe that the reason that people choose As over F16s is partly because there are more of them around and their Nationals/Worlds attract some big names making them more attractive as a racing class, but mostly it's because they've got no friends and so have no need for a boat that can be sailed 2-up <img src="http://www.catsailor.com/forums/images/graemlins/smile.gif" alt="" /> <img src="http://www.catsailor.com/forums/images/graemlins/smile.gif" alt="" /> <img src="http://www.catsailor.com/forums/images/graemlins/smile.gif" alt="" />

Paul