Wouter,

While I don’t often participate in the discussions on CatSailor, I am an avid daily reader. I must tell you that I admire your drive, creativeness and passion for catamaran sailing. I enjoy reading your technical comments because they seem to me well thought out.

I also admire the way you have taken the initiative of this F12 project, because I know how difficult it is to lead a project. I started a business against great odds and against the advice of many nay-sayers, and I recall all the times that I had to stick to my vision and rely on my drive to get the job done. Even though I had many people working for me, I often found myself working long hours in isolation.........................................................


I don't know if there is a corollary here between my business and your F12 project, but my sense is that most people admire your work and want the project to succeed, and genuinely want to help, but are frustrated and concerned that your actions may impede the success of the F12 program.

While I wish I could provide the technical and logistical help you seek, I hope that sharing my personal experience will help your project succeed. Perhaps resisting the temptation to criticize may in the end get you the help that you’re looking for.

Good luck – I hope to be able to build an F12 for my 10 year old daughter next fall!

Willem Nieuwkerk