Looking into F16 (Falcon or Blade)

Scott,

Where are you based?

Not by yourself. You need to be around people with experience. You wouldn't believe the difference in performance, particularly under spinnaker, so there's no point in going into it.

Tell us where you are, we'll try to match you up with someone.

The rigging can be a little daunting the first time out, but with some patience and scheming it can be done single handed. Sailing the boat is not that hard. The boats are well balanced from a steering perspective, the sheet loads on the main are handled very well by the 8:1 or 9:1 block systems and the asymmetrical spin flies like a huge offwind jib (in the simplest of terms). If you’ve been sailing a lot on other boats you can get these boats around without too much hassle. Obviously, the more extreme the conditions become –the more skill it takes (as with any boat). It would be prudent to when and where you start your sailing. Singlehanding requires a deeper look at conditions and recoverability (righting solo, getting the boat sorted, etc.). Obviously, learning in a vacuum with no others around will slow the improvement process.

Having said that, racing these boats at the pointy end of the fleet is difficult and requires a lot of practice. Racing is always more demanding – getting 80% out of these boats is easy; 15% can be gained by time on the water and the last 5% requires a dedicated training/coaching/fitness program.

I do agree with PGPs idea of getting together with others. It is what makes sailing more fun anyway.

As for a starter cat… the positives are high performance, latest designs, growing fleets for racing, latest and greatest gear, easy to manage on the beach, sexy. The downside is price point for a “starter cat”. The second hand market is growing, but you will still spend some cash – so it depends on what you want it for, how you will use it and how much you are willing to invest. Multihulls give you the best “bang for your buck” as related performance, but that does not mean they are cheap <img src="<>/grin.gif" alt="grin" title="grin" height="15" width="15" />

Where are you located?

Matt has a used Blade and demo Falcon for sale on the Falcon Marine web site. $12K on the Blade with reconditioned hulls. I bought one of these reconditioned boats from him and have been very happy. There may also be an older Blade for sale and a newer Falcon at the end of the season. Located in the Chicago area.

I don't think I had as much sailing experience as you, but what expeience I did have was on cats. I spent the first season learning how to sail it. Now I am trying to figure out the racing part.

tshan's comments are on target in terms of rigging and the 80/15/5 breakout.

Even if you never race, these boats are very fun.

What kind of Mono's did you sail? Big keel boats or little dinghys?

I made the same transition about 12 years ago. The learning curve going to Cats from mono's is steep and the F16 is not a

forgiving

entry level cat like say, the Hobie 16 or 18. It will let you know when you get it wrong, but if you have lots of time on a Laser or 470 or 505 or 49'r, it's not a hard transition, just different and things happen at 3x the speed, so you have to be thinking way ahead of the boat, even more so when you put up the spinny.

There is an excellent book available right here on this web site called Catamaran Racing for the 90's which will answer many of your questions, I highly recommend it and as others have said, best to go with someone who knows what they are doing first time out.

Link to book: http://store.catsailor.com/pc/viewPrd.asp?idproduct=6437&idcategory=99

Scott

As others have said; what other boats have you sailed before; Anythingb with an Asym kite?

Unless you've sailed a 49er or similar the speed down wind will be a complte revalation. You will never have been as fast upwind!

Located in southern Oklahoma, lake Hefner is about 1.5 hours and its about 2 to any lake in DFW.

Pete, the difference in performance is exactly what I'm looking for. If you know someone within 2.5-3hrs of my area I don't mind a drive to crew or just a few learner hops.

Thanks again,
Scott S.

Fly to Tampa from Oklahoma City ($228 round trip) or Orlando ($218 round trip) ... plan a long weekend and you can catch a ride with one of us.

If you schedule around Wildcat (Oct 1 -2) you could probably crew for someone on a F16. (If you do this fly into Orlando)

Terry

BTW, Gulfport Yacht Club (Tampa Area) has club races each 1st and 3rd Saturday thru October.

My Dad is in Ardmore, OK, there's a big lake near him. You close to that?

Does west Little Rock (Roland) AR fit your criteria?

Timbo most of my sailing exp has been on larger keel boats. Pac seacraft 37 and a Hunter 40 these were OPBs. I have some experience on smaller boats but that was close to 15 years ago. Most recent thing that *might* be comparable to this is track days on my 675. Weight shift is key on a bike for loading/unloading the front end and proper turn in on corners. I would expect it to be similarly important on a cat that might only weigh 16kg more than I do.

Scott

Kris I could make it to little rock, it would take some planning but yeah.

Timbo, sounds like your dad lives near lake texhoma. Its a massive lake something like 90k acres of water. It's a bit crazy when the rednecks get to drinking. Other than that is a good lake and well within driving distance to me <img src="<>/smile.gif" alt="smile" title="smile" height="15" width="15" />

You'd be wrong <img src="<>/grin.gif" alt="grin" title="grin" height="15" width="15" /> I've put down a fair amount of track time on a GSX-R750, and there are little to no correlating skills.

Any reason the Viper isn't on that list? I've got an 09' Viper Demo boat available.

I know, buy an ad...

Well my Dad doesn't have a cat, just a ski boat, and I'm in centeral Florida. Like Terry Back said above, you should take a flight to Orlando around time for the Wildcat Regatta, (Oct. 2-3) and get a ride on an F16, there will be many to look at of all variety, and some F18's and A cats as well as the Hobies.

There is very little correlation to a keel boat vs. the light cats, about the only thing that is the same is you still use the wind in the same way, the results however are very different and the little cats react to every puff, Very Quickly vs. a keel boat.

It's a fun challenge and you should take a ride if you can find one.

Karl, I looked at the viper but I'm afraid the all up weight with me (6'1" 195) on the boat would be too much to be competative. I did see in the global challenge where there was a crew that weighed in close to 435 and in a stiff breeze they did just fine on the viper from what I have read.

I would be up for a demo before I purchase a boat though.

I'll be at Lake McConaughy in Nebraska all next week with the boat if you would like to take it for a spin.

Give me a call if you're interested, or would like more information on the boat. 507.301.9019

I did nationals at #385 and we were very competitive. Conditions were all over the map.

Scott, at 195 you will NOT be too heavy, certainly not for Uni racing and if you get a crew about 150 or less, not too heavy for two up either. I'm about 190 and I'm overpowered and working hard when sailing solo when the wind comes up above about 15, 10 being about perfect for me. And I've had no trouble righting the boat alone, in fact, I've become very good at it, with all the practice I get!

Arsailor is outside of Little Rock AR, Kirt Simmons. His last post was back in July but he may be lurking.

He has a Taipan 4.9. If he does not surface and if you wish to explore this contact further, give me a PM and I'll find his e-mail address.

I'm here! I'm the guy in Little Rock with an old Taipan (in fact technically the first F16 in the U.S.!). Sorry I haven't been more involved- going through the big D right now so priorities have been a little adjusted lately- but on the good side I have plenty of room and don't have to ask any permission for people to come visit. There is also a race at Carlyle, IL that wouldn't be too far away for you and there is a Taipan at Tyler, TX if you want to get with him.
PM me if you want to come here and we can set something up!

Kirt