This probably is not inside knowledge, but had not heard anyone talking about it. Goodall told me that they will be premiering the Capricorn F16 late this year. I emailed him to ask him if I could post this quote in may, he never responded so I guess it is not a big deal. Here is what he said:

“The boat is scheduled for completion in December.
Performance: Faster than the Taipan F16. It will be an all round better boat.
Price: Less than the current Taipan F16.”

Has anyone heard anything about its ability to carry weight? Will it be similar to Taipan F16 or closer to the Blade?

The boat has yet to sail so we just don't know, but since it will be a scaled down Cap F18 I think we can expect it to more like the blade then the Taipan in weight carrying capacity.

Wouter

Hi all,

info from Greg face to face is that the new boat will look like a scaled down F18 Capricorn they are still designing it, he has mentioned his intention to build a new 5 metre cat for some time, recently he has sounded like it may be getting closer, hopes to have it in the water in time for Singapore.

We may not even see it in Australia before then, as it will be made in Asia like the Capricorn F18, it will be made using the same systems and factory as the F18, so it will be heavier <img src="http://www.catsailor.com/forums/images/graemlins/frown.gif" alt="" />, than a fully optimised F16, how that affects it's performance we will have to wait and see when it hits the water.

Manafacturing in Asia is much cheaper than Australia where the Taipan is built, which I guess explains the possibility of it being cheaper than a F16 Taipan, but again we will have to wait and see.

Regards Gary. <img src="http://www.catsailor.com/forums/images/graemlins/smile.gif" alt="" />

Third hand rumors about the future Cap 16:

--boat will not be min. weight
--rig and beams will not be carbon
--hulls will not be made by AHPC or Boyer

In summary, it sounds like AHPC is going to all the effort of creating an F16 but without striving to optimize it. AHPC's trademarks are high quality lightweight construction and innovative design. I'm wondering how the Cap 16 will continue the tradition based on rumors I've heard. Hopefully AHPC can chime in and dismiss these rumors as untrue.

Unless price or design are groundbreaking, the US market will be hard to crack with the Blade and Stealth being such excellent values.

Do you mean it is rumored to be over weight? or under?

OVER--due to non-Boyer-made hulls, non-carbon mast, etc.

[Please note these are only rumors at this point.]

Rumors mate......

So the 4.9 is also being replaced by the Capricorn <img src="http://www.catsailor.com/forums/images/graemlins/confused.gif" alt="" />

I can't see the taipan 4.9 being replaced by the capricorn 16, it may replace the F16Taipan4.9, but as far as the taipan class 4.9 goes its established itself well here in australia, and while some are predicting its demise, I'm sure I and many of my friends will be racing taipan 4.9's well into the future, and I would doubt that production of it will cease, like the Taipan 5.7.

It will most definately replace the Taipan F16 (= not Taipan 4.9) as that is the whole intention of having the Capricorn F16.

It will seperate the F16 line from the Taipan 4.9 line and that is a good thing. I'm sure the Aussie Taipan 4.9 sailors will be very happy with that. From the perspective of the F16 class it is a good thing as well. At the beginning of the F16 class it was predicted that the Taipan basic design had several good years of competitive sailing left in it. And it has proven that indeed it had, winning the F16 Gulfport event even this year. But we are 5 years on now and the Taipan F16 is pretty much maxed out, any further gains must come out of parts that are not easily modified in the basic Taipan design. An example is the daggerboards, but also the hull shape is getting a little outdated; that is after remaining competitive during a very respectful 18 years. Especially the weight carrying capacity is an issue that is well improved upon. It was time to do the "clean sheet" approach. And I must admit that Greg himself has predicted this all along. At the very beginning he mentioned that they would stay with the Taipan for a couple of more years and then when the class got more established they would design a whole new 16 footer from the ground up. Using the latest design features and try to become the new benchmark.

The question then becomes what will happen to the Taipan 4.9 as a result. The international sales will most likely all transfer to the new Cap F16. Which puts it to the local Australian fleets to float the Taipan 4.9 design by ordering new boats sufficiently often. And at a higher cost price then the Cap F16 I may add. If Gregs prediction is true that the Cap F16 will be faster and also a better allround boat then I see an uphill struggle for the Taipan class to maintain herself. Only strong continued class racing and a strong class organisation will then be left for the Taipan 4.9's to balance these other considerations. To me this sound like fighting with one arm tied to your back. I would co-opt these challenges by voting in for example the F16 mainsails into the Taipan class and maybe a new jib design. Thus negating some of the greater differences. Anyway, my opinion is not really important anymore, it won't change anything and it is now up to lady fortune to determine what the end result for Australia will be. On the international scene the race has been run and that race was the only one affected me personally.

So, I say best of luck and succes. Actually I would love to be proven wrong by the Aussie Taipan sailors, I really do as the design really deserves it, but I don't fancy their chances.

Wouter