??? Ding,

DPN in any form will always be a source of argument.

Nobody has said anything about changing configurations etc. The rules for racing are set and they are basicaly the same as in any other class.

I "race" seriously and try may hardest everytime I am on the water. I am not going to be able to race with Gina and be competitive in the F18 class. I am not going to pick up another crew who would be able to handle the boat, just to race in the F18 class. (she would kick my butt). I can race class when there are enough boats, and I can race DPN and be relatively competitive with a number of other similarly rigged boats. If I am on the water I am trying to win boat for boat with whoever is near me be it an F18 or a H16. It makes no difference to me the handicap. There is only 1 race a year where it matters anyway (The qualifier)

Like Timbo said, this event shows nothing about the relative merrit on the current numbers. The Alter cup is about the sailors and the best get on the boat and figure it out the fastest. People who have one of the boats being sailed do not ususally do that well. This is because the boats are not set up the same as their own. I can sail my own boat much faster becuase it is set up for me and I have the time on it to know the feel to keep it moving. I get on another and my head is in the boat as I am not sailing by feel and my strategy goes by the way side. The best teams get "the feel" right away. We were beating the Puerto Ricans early in the evnet and they were beating everyone late. JC got on the 16 last year and figured out the boat spead first and won the event. It is about the sailors not the boat - Remember.

If you want to talk about money in builders pockets, come talk to me, it is not doing this. My involvement here is for the cat sailing. Anyway isn't it about time you flopped classes again <img src="http://www.catsailor.com/forums/images/graemlins/cool.gif" alt="" />

Well, I've done this for the last two F16 Nations Cups, but I've always declared my configuration for each day months in advance, well before forecasts could hope to give a clue as to "favourable" configurations.

I wouldn't expect non-F16 events to allow this, but otherwise I think it should be at the discretion of the event organisers.

Paul

Exactly; IMO what you did was right and was allowed; you declared in advance that this was happening and it was allowed.

You and Gina were specifically excluded from the "non-competitive" category. I took it to mean myself and perhaps a few others. In my case the shoe fits so no complaining here, although I do plan to put a little more effort into it.

Context is everything. Had you been in the conversation, I don't believe you would have taken offense.

I like the weight and versatility of the F16. The F18 was never a consideration for me.

There were a number of people at Alter Cup who's opinions I respect. Not all of them agree. The opinion I've adopted as my own is that the F16 is very nearly as fast as the F18, upwind; and about 5% slower downwind, given equal crew weight and ability. IMO, the numbers should reflect this.

Those who buy the F16 because of a favorable number will abandon the class when a similar opportunity avails. As a class, we should be trying to attract those who favor the F16 for its strengths; performance, versatility and weight.

I don't agree that any of the first or second parts are complicated. It is a decision that has to be made for each regatta, but it doesn't have to be complicated.

You can't kick your crew off during a race under the current ISAF rules. There's no need to make a new rule. <img src="http://www.catsailor.com/forums/images/graemlins/confused.gif" alt="" />

If the crew doesn't want the food or shirt then there is no need for them pay the extra. If they want it, they pay for it, shirts and food are usually always available during regattas. Also, I think changing/adding/removing crews during regattas is rude, to the crew and other competitors, without justifiable reasons.