Wouter has pretty much said here are the choices based on the underlying mathematics are:
1. a 12 foot boat with a less then desirable sail area, making it a low performance boat, like the ones already available to purchase.
2. a 12 foot boat with the propensity to pitch pole
3. a 12’10” that with neither of the two problems.
But those choices are slanted to bring you to the conclusion desired by their author, and they are based upon the premise that what is wanted for the Formula 12 class is a fast, high-performance boat. And also to fit the boat that he had already started designing.
And all the math proves is that Wouter believes the kind of boat he envisions building cannot be done as a 12-footer.
So, in other words, if he can't build his dream boat to fit within a Formula 12 class, he is going to stretch the class to fit a 12'10" boat.
Also, 10 additional inches makes a MUCH greater difference in a small boat like that than it would if you are talking about, say, a Solaris 42 if it is actually 42'10".
If Wouter builds a boat almost 13 feet long and calls it an F12 and expects it to be representative of a Formula 12 class, a Formula 12 class will never come into existence.
If he proceeds with that particular design, he should call it something other than F12 and then make that particular boat a one-design.
Meanwhile, it would be nice if somebody would come up with some box rules for a Formula 12 class and limit it to 12 feet. <img src="http://www.catsailor.com/forums/images/graemlins/smirk.gif" alt="" />
