I'm not allowed to get into the hull volume and T-foil debate so I won't. However I can tell you that the rearbeam is definately not too low on the Blade (any version). I have sailed the boat in pretty severe wave and chop conditions with my 90 kg on board together with the 70 kg owner and at 160 kg the rearbeam stayed clear of the waves. That is all you want (need) really, so it passed the test there.

Wouter

Hi Wouter
I only said they appeared to be low not that they are to low. I came to this (my personal) conclusion whilst watching the Blades at Zandvoort where at times the conditions were extreme for my sailing abilities, mind you having said that I did complete every race (except when I saved Geert) which is more than can be said for the majority of the fleet for one reason or another. Maybe it was just an optical illusion but I do remember seeing the Blades rear beams and tramps frequently ditching in the water more so than my Stealths. It could just be the technique that the other teams adopted to cope with the conditions? In which case I'm correct the rear beams appeared low.

Latest on USA Viper as of 12/07/07. Here's an exchange with Jill Nickerson, AHPC dealer.

Jill,
There's lots of interest in the F16 Viper. Has it arrived yet?
Will you have another for sale?
Will they have a carbon or aluminum mast, especially this first one?


[color:"red"] First one is half here...it has a carbon mast. The hulls arrive about
just after xmas. We will not have another one on the ground but they
are orderable and will have a fairly quick ship


Best regards,
Jill Nickerson
Fun in the Sun
727-734-0799
fax 727-736-0798 [/color]

Or could it have something to do with the fact that you were using T-foil rudders and the others (except) john weren't ?

Wouter