There is an interesting boat test of the new BIMARE X-16 on the October 2008 issue of the French sailing magazine Voile & Voiliers.
Enjoy

http://www.bimare.net/17/16.pdf

I really should learn french at some point

Interesting that they choose not to compare the X16 with the F16 but used the Shadow and Hobie FX One. We have a job to do there. E-mail to Voiles & Voiliers in planning!

Congrats on the PR scoop! Still think it is too bad Bimare choose to not build a boat within the Formula16 scope
Boat looks really good in the pics!

PS: Catfan, I have always wondered who you really are? Where/what do you sail, what do you do etc. I have the impression you are somehow affiliated with Bimare? Not that there is anything wrong with that, quite the opposite. Always good to hear news from southern Europe, and I wish we could get more news in english from those areas.

My French is not great, but I can spot a number of interesting ommissions/mistakes.

1, The Shadow is quoted as 98 kg, it is actually 99
2, There is no price for the Shadow, I wonder if that is because it is the cheapest?
3, The Shadow is said to be 1 and 2 up; it is a pure 1 up in racing mode.

Does anyone know why Bimare chose to -not- make it fit the F16 rules? And does anyone know what would have to be changed to make it fit? Looks like it has a carbon mast, boom and beams, what else?

Well you know Petrucci has his own ideas.
My guess is, it's just the mast (basically a reinforced A-Cat mast) that is outside of the F16 box rule.
The X16 has probably a smaller width and is maybe to light.

Bimare would probably produce an F16 compliant X16 if somebody orders one.

Bimare produces there boats during winter.
If you want one, you would need to order it now.

The mast is too long and so is the luff length of the mainsail.

Boat has been measured and an SCHRS certificate issued. Details here: http://www.schrs.com/index.php?page=class&id=16

As far as I can work out it does fit the F16 rules, at least the basic ones:

VLM - Max. Mainsail Vertical Luff 8.64m

F16 limit is 8.1m

Simon,

Basics maybe yes, but as already said, the mast is too long for example.

Rolf,

At Carnac Kathleen and I took a Voiles et Voiliers reporter on the Blade and they made an interview about it.

Comparing F16 models and comparing the Blade to a Spitfire and the Bimare X-16.

You can read all about on our blog: http://bladef16.blogspot.com/

Please do not distribute these pages. I haven't distributed it before not to infringe the copyright, but I guess a little advertising doesn't hurt.

Start learning French guys!

Ah thanks, couldn't find the mast length or main luff length

Hi Gill
The helm in theses photo's looks like the same person who was ridding the Bim at eurocat. We had a couple of really close finishes which was scary as I should have been faster.

RE: PS
Sorry Rolf
when I registered to Catsailor I chose not to disclose my identity (for several reasons) and I prefer to stick to this decision.
With regard to yr questions:
I do have a couple of good friends "near" BIMARE, but I have also many many friends all over the world.
From time to time it happens that I have some first hand news and, when I am allowed, I am pleased to share them.

Catfan:
Fair enough. No worries, just curious.

Gilo: How great! I take it the article was favourable? Looks like they angeled more on general spi 16 footers instead of the F16 class. Did the journos go out on the boats, or was it all done on the beach?

On the beach and on the water.
The woman trapping is not Kathleen.

The Blade comes out quite well, but so do the other 3.
The rest of the overview is indeed not only about F16, but in a country where the class still is very small this is a big step.

If there are any boats going to Carnac again we could try to fix something again?

Next week I expect to have some more copyrighted pictures...

It will be interesting to see how the new Hobie FX1 Full Carbon matches up against the other boats in that review.
Performance wise it will probably have an edge going upwind, although I cant find any confirmation that it carries a spin so downwind it might be slightly less.
http://www.hcana.hobieclass.com/site/hobie/hcana/downloads/2008/HOBIEFXCARBON_data_gb.pdf

Odd to note they have gove for a fairly small fat head.

Also annoying they don't put the boat weight on the flyer....

The carbon FX-1 has reef points? They build an all carbon race machine and put reef points on it?

I thought reefing was a bad idea with carbon masts as you can't flatten the sail properly anymore with the downhaul...

I hope they get at least down to the F16 weight with an all carbon boat!
Just as the FX One now, the Carbon will probably a nice boat to sail (not that much fun as a F16 ofcourse... ;-) ), just a pity it will not match any class.

In the meanwhile I've uploaded some pictures that were taken for the article at Carnac on our blog.