Hobie demo's the Wildcat
Vectorworks demo's the F16 Falcon
Goodall shows off the F16 Viper
Marstrom demo's his new A cat with carbon artwork

How important to catamaran racing is the continual introduction of new boats into existing classes?

For me.... it sure adds spice to the sport.

While I think it's great when a new Hobie 16 shows up in the fleet and it's certainly good for the class in my area ...It's nothing like a new formula boat showing up on the beach.

Are cat sailors different then the dinghy one design sailors?

To me the constant development of catamarans is one of the aspects which surely attract me more to multihulls than to dinghies. If there are new technologies - at reasonable prices - available, why not using them? In this context, I believe we have a closer affinity to surfers than to dinghy-sailors. And let's face the truth, aren't we still little boys who need a new toy from time to time?

I love new development. It gives the "cat scene" more of an innovative cutting-edge feeling.
There are still SMOD classes for those who'd rather not spend all that money and time on upgrading everything, so everyone wins, provided they are sailing the boat that is right for them!

Did you just answer your own question? Did you stop taking your medication?

Nope... Ice storm...when most of the threads are off topic...
you need to start a SAILING conversation.

If you are a dinghy OD sailor... do you look at the formula classes as interesting with new designs entering every few years OR... is that an expensive and destructive process which prevents the racing class from growing?

Hobie has and continues to sell the SMOD concept. They even tried to lock the Tiger into this business model.

Remember the Tiger had separate class rules, separate one design regattas. But, A continual upgrade path for the boat undermined the philosophy and now with the Wildcat they will have a buisness model like the rest of the builders.

With the F18 Hobie Wildcat.... will the Tiger class survive as a OD class?

There and benefits and downsides to both OD and Formula and for me there is not a clear winner. It all depends on what you want out of your mulltihull racing experience.

As for the Tiger OD class, it's now offically a dead boat, but the N20 has been a dead boat since the F18HT came out and we all know how that turned out.

I love my Infusion and if it was a successful OD class I'd probably move away from the formula class. Right now, formula holds the best promise for growth IMO so that's were I put my time and energy. I'm not easily seduced by the geewiz that's cool factor if I were I would have gone to an A a long time ago.

Tiger as a OD boat is not dead - not by a long shot. The American F18 event will lose entries to the Tiger event in Arizona and to the Nacra event in Florida. Tigers will continue to have a successful Worlds event, and several countries will continue to have a Tiger national-level championship as well as F18 events. There is also the possibility that the Tiger will become an Olympic boat in 2011. The Wildcat may give some sailors pause when considering a new boat, but the Tiger will be the strongest faction within F18 for some time to come.

John, you very well may be right and if things play out the way you say I see the Tiger fleet entrenching themselves as an OD fleet and stepping away from the Formula class. I can't image RD would continue with the Tiger platform.

It's hard to fight the 'new is faster' thinking. Real or imagined many Tiger owners believe their boat is off the pace, so these sailors are at cross road, update or commit to OD. In this situation one class loses.

Dave, how can you say the N20 is a dead boat? It was the largest class at Tradewinds. You were there.

Andy,

His comment was tongue-in-cheek. When the F18HT came out, it was supposed to take the place of the N20 in the W1k race. That race never happened, and several 18HT owners were left on their heads and raced them in the first Tybee 500 where it was demonstrated that perhaps the 18HT was not the best distance racer.

I think I got the irony. Dave will boot me in the nuts if I'm wrong though :P

Spot on my friend.

Hey! I geewizzed my way to a two middle-of-the talented pack finishes with a 10 year old boat and an 8 year old main....though the CF bling is cool.

No doubt Jake and good on your for that, and I'll get right on board and say it's more mental than anything else to race dated technology. But, no matter how hard you fight it with every rational argument in the book the updated platforms always get you in the bank account.

Jake my friend, eventually it will get you too. I'll go so far as to say you've already got your next 'A' picked out. Face it you're an 'A' junkie and you're jonesin bad.

Yeah...you got me there.

Ding,
You don't have your next F-18 picked out?

Cut the check last August.

Jake, have you become an "A" hole?

I suppose that depends on who you ask and around which topic.

Well, I20, F18, now A class.? What up?

Only respect,

E