Mary maybe you were not clear on what you wanted or suggested. Let me ask you this so we do not waste any more valuable resources or effort.

No one will not permit a SL16 to race against a F16 straight up. We all know it measures under the F16 rules. But do you want the SL16 to be acepted as a F16? or do you want the F16 class just let them race with us straight up?

Like I have said in various posts. No F16er will prohibit any SL16er sail against them. But I do not think the SL16 should be considered or added to the F16 lineup.

In other words Me, personally do not think the SL16 should be considered a F16 when it is not. Now race straight up with the F16 I do not see a problem there.

Doesn't the class have an official measurement cert for each boat??? If not, how do you know if *any* boat complies with the rules?

Tiger Mike

I'm guessing that the rules are written that sails shall have a maximum area and stipulate as to how they are measured???

From there surely the sailmaker would be expected to use that number as a maximum figure and build any tolerance to be in the smaller direction when they are assembling their sails??? If the class deems that a larger jib to be acceptable then change the rule so that all sailors can take advantage of it.

The simple answer would be for any SL16 owner wanting to sail as F16 to measure their jib and modify it if it is oversize (shaving a few mm off the foot should be enough).

In most classes it's the skippers responsibility to ensure that their boat complies with the class rules at all times and this is one rule that should also apply to F16.

Cheers,
Tiger Mike

Exactly!

Tiger Mike

Hi
ive sailed an SL at the europeans at Brightlingsea, good fun,tended to nosedive when it got windy, more fun!
I'd say they are a great choice as a youth boat or indeed for anyone light who doesnt want the extra power of something like a Spitfire.
It felt like a smaller heavier Spitfire with skegs.
Let them race if any turn up.
They will soon be wanting to buy one of your boats WITH BOARDS, this is the biggest difference.
I doubt if they will point anything like as high, but they should join in anyway.

Exactly.

The F16 class rules don't need to specify this or that boat is "in" the class or not. If any boat shows up and fits within the formula (okay to have a shorter mast, etc), then it can sail as an "F16."

Robi, I did not word my initial post very well. At that point I should not have used the word "accept," because it was thought that the SL16 was totally conforming, so it did not need any "acceptance." All I was trying to say was that an invitation should be extended to the SL16 class so they are aware there is a class they can race with until they have enough boats for their own class.

Now that it appears the SL16 is NOT totally compliant because of the jib situation, it is important that the F16 class "accept" the SL16's to race with them.

It would not be appropriate for them to be added to the existing list of non-conforming boats that were grandfathered into the class originally. So I hope that is not what you thought I was suggesting.

And I also think the Hobie 16 with spinnaker should be invited to race with the Formula 16's. Both of these youth boats will continue to be used for quite some time because either one or the other will be used for ISAF Youth World Championships, depending on which boat is most available in the host country.

Both the SL16 and the Hobie 16 with spin are misfits on their own and the F16 class is the only one I can think of that they can race in on a boat-for-boat basis.

It would be a nice contribution by the F16 class to youth sailing if these two youth boats can be invited to race in all F16 events except for Nationals or North Americans.

I hope this clarifies my thinking, fuzzy though it may be. <img src="http://www.catsailor.com/forums/images/graemlins/smirk.gif" alt="" />