Would someone please tell me just what is a F18HT ?
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I assume it is a F18 Hobie Tiger-just a guess<br><br>

The 18HT is a separate class. It seems to make a lot of sense. Matt Struble, W.F. Oliver, and David Hertz are already on board. Several other sailors are considering switching to this class, including Chris Brown and Mark Lavine.
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<br>The boats are 110lbs lighter and much easier to handle. The class is going to adopt the the exisiting EU rules. I believe that the basic rules are min of 130kg (286 lbs) boat weight, 20sm max Mainsail area (incl mast), 20 sm max spin sail area (218sf), 5,5 m max length (18ft), 8,5m (8,2ft) max beam, and 10,5m max mast height. As far as I know these are basically the rules! This type of rule structure is much like that of the A-Cats. This simple approach seems to work as the A-Cat class is the second largest cat racing class (H-16 are first) in the world and growing!
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<br>The price is right too! Bimare is introducing them at a short term special price of $12K (FOB East Coast) and Ventilo is selling theirs for $13.5K (FOB Switzerland). You can e-mail W.F. Oliver for more info at williamoliver@aol.com<br><br>

Most points are correct except.
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<br>"The boats are 110lbs lighter and much easier to handle"
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<br>They are that much lighter but with a bigger mainsail than an I-20 it will be hard to proof that it handles MUCH better. Spi size is nearly the same as the F18 size.
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<br>"20sm max Mainsail area (incl mast),..."
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<br>Bimare will or has replaced its F18 HT with the Javeling 2 with has only 19sm max.
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<br>"the A-Cat class is the second largest cat racing class (H-16 are first)"
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<br>Last count was :
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<br>H16
<br>F18
<br>Dart 18
<br>F20 (US I-20)
<br>A-class / tornado
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<br>Reality<br><br>

Correction, Matt Struble was asked by WF if he would crew on an Ht for a regatta. In which he said " he would like to"
<br>Matt going to be racing a F-18 next summer & believe the F-18 is the hot ticket.
<br>Season Greetings
<br>Mark
<br>http://www.angelfire.com/mi4/naf_18/
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Matt Struble and W.F. Oliver are planning to race with and against one another on F18HTs during the comming season. Matt and W.F. are avid A-Cat sailors and like the idea a 18HT, because it is basically an "A-Cat on steroids-built for two!"****
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<br>****Please,forgive quote stolen from the M-20 guys.<br><br>

I guess as a dealer pretending to be something else Mark it is in your interest to push the classes that you sell but the last time I spoke with W.F he said there was 3 Javelin 18HT's coming and one was for Matt.
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<br>I guess he will be racing that next season along with his A Cat and the Tornado which will not leave very much time for sailing F-18's then.<br><br>

WF say what he wants..... I just got off the phone with Matt.
<br>He does not have a HT on order or plan on getting one.
<br>Regards
<br>Mark<br><br>

Say what you may Mark, however I am willing to put my money where my mouth is. We will see what boat Matt sails.
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<br>W.F.<br><br>

A link to 18HT photos are available is available on the old forum. I do not know how to provide a link on this forum.
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<br>I extend my policy for not joining this forum on this computer. This is my work computer and the router (common internet connection) is shared by over 20 computers and users (several sailors). I have joined the this forum on my other computer (home)!<br><br>

Darn, forgot to sign the above post, again.
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<br>W.F.<br><br>

Darn, I forgot to sign the above post-again.
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<br>Sorry,
<br>W.F.<br><br>

The F18 HT class has not happened here in Europe. There is a small class in Italy I believe due to Bimare involvement. It is my understanding that Bimare got into HT because they chose not to build a competitive F18 for an already strong class. The F18 class is large because it is a semi closed class. The "arms Race" of the 18 HT will not allow it to happen. Here, the original F20 class was formed as an HT class- open to high tech construction and carbon. Where is this class now?
<br>Klaus
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<br>Yes, I sail F18.
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