Hey All,

Three quick questions :

1. Do you trailer your F16 on trailer bunks or do you lift your hulls on racks (as is mandatory w/ the Acat) ? My concern is that the pounding taken by the hulls, while driving long distances, will culminate in damage.
2. Who makes the fastest mainsail for F16 one up sailing (i'm 70kg ; place priority on windward performance as not much one sail reaching in our racing) ?
3. I'm speeding toward middle age and the inevitable "middle age crisis" encouraged by the divorce lawyers and sports car salesmen in my area. Find myself compulsively assessing risk
and potential dangers...Are you concerned about putting an ankle through your footloop (attachment), capsizing and potentially drowning ? Do you carry a cell phone when you sail coastal waters?

Warm Regards,

Paul

Hi Paul,

Some valid questions you have there - I'm sure there'll be some different answers from different people.

1. My Taipan is trailered using the AHPC 'no-tie' system which is essentially a frame with a set of cups that hold underneath the front beam. This takes most of the weight of the boat and the sterns are supported by a cup on each side. Works really well and don't have any problems as long as the cups are free from grit and stones etc before going long distances.

2. This is a tricky one and I'm sure there isn't a difinitive answer - especially given that the F16 class is still reasonably small. People have different ideas, platforms, weights, mast materials, mast setups, sailing techniques and experience. If all these were standard across all of the fleets then a difinitive answer 'might' be possible - but only after extensive independent testing in controlled environments. See what I'm getting at? Whilst there are faster sails than others in some circumstances, generally the nut on the tiller has more to do with speed around the course. The only thing you can infer is that (in general) newer sails are more closer to their designed shape than older ones and therefore should be more efficient and faster - though this isn't always the case either!

3. Not concerned about putting foot in foot loop. The trick is to make them small enough so that you can jam your foot in there and tighten your ankle to keep you in when you have a small nosedive. You also need to make them large enough to release your ankle easily when you have a really big stack over the front and go flying. Also, don't put your feet too far into them - its the same problem that horseriders have when they fall off. If your foot is too far into the foot strap thingy, then you can get one jamed in there and then get trampled and dragged by the horse. The thing I'm most worried about is having my foot in the strap and then falling off around the back as the boat accelerates twisting your ankle the wrong way. Doesn't worry me too much though.
Don't sail offshore all that often so don't carry a mobile phone but its not a bad idea.

Hi Paul,
On the footstrap question, I`d replace that one with windsurfer style footstraps, they are adjustable. Adjust so that your toes only just stick out past the strap, no way your whole foot can go through it & get your ankle trapped. I`ve had some exciting wipeouts on short-boards and never got a foot stuck.
The other 2 questions I`ll leave to others. If your trailer has good cradles & well-padded, the boat should be fine. (F16 are not built as light as A-class). The cell-phone issue is contentious, if you`re bobbing in the water you might be out of range, but rather have one than not.
I`d add flares, and a beach-buddy (someone who knows you`re out, and will hit the panic-button if you`re not back by Thursday !)

Cheers
Steve