Just for fun.
Is this asking what we think they *will* pick, or what we think they *should* pick? My answer will be different depending...
I voted for what I thought they SHOULD pick, but Politics will decide what they actually pick.
What's your argument for why they should go with your choice?
You left off
Don't give a rat's butt
I chose Viper but really prefer
any F16
. It's more of a plebian approach! [<span style=font-weight]
I'm really not displaying any brand loyalty, but I like the idea of something like the Nacra 17. It is separate enough that it risks minimal impact on other classes, but close enough in parameter that it will probably bring more competitors to the 16 and/or 18 foot classes. It can have it's own complete rule set and not affect any of the existing successes but I can see that teams will probably sail between two classes for training. I would just be a little concerned that having a subset class with different rules within F16 or F18 would create a real mess.
Why?
Did you choose for no reason?
You have sailed one and liked it?
You hate all other boats?
Are all of the boats acceptable to you?
The Hobie 16, it will fit in with the other Olympic boats
I choose the Viper.
I agree with Jake that the Nacra 17 would be the best boat long term for all of the reasons he states.
But I think they are a day late and a dollar short. The boat is not tested and I find it hard to believe they could generate 50 bullet proof boats by the end of the summer...
The Viper is good enough sailing wise for a 4 year turn as an Olympic Boat, and AHPC probably has 100 boats or more around the world that could be acquired by a Mixed team relatively quickly to jump start the mixed multihull class and training. I think you can market the fantasy that the 16 footer would make a better Woman's boat then any other choice... so you would be feeding a woman's class with a Viper long term) (Viper because it can't be any heavier then a 470 to drag up the ramp) I don't think the ISAF will give a fig about the impact on an F16 class and it's impact.... They should but they won't.
ps
(If I were AHPC.... I would have a boat on the trailer with curved foils, tested and ready to rock and a dagger board replacement kit for any Viper in the field.)
If you think that the Olympic class should be interesting with the latest technology then you would be in favor of the Nacra 17. Cool boat, curved daggerboards, and lighter for those that thing the F18, my favorite, is too heavy.
As Jake mentions it is close enough to the other classes for cross training in larger fleets.
Also mentioned is the mess that would come of using a
one design
F16 or F18 while those boats are trying to compete in the Formula classes for training.
If it is the Nacra 17 it could be the boat people watch the most during the Olympics, if they are watching sailing, as it is fastest the newest and could be argued to be the most extreme.
Dan
I like the F16 concept, it offers very good performance for a small package, and is affordable. I'm opposed to prohibitively expensive equipment in the Olympics in general.
No F16's in the pool... they have three SMOD classes Spitfire, Viper and NacraF16 that are close or measure in. Are you choosing the cheapest one?
No F16s
. That's what's wrong! As long as this is just innweb banter and neither IOC or ISAF is going to pay any attention, I'd choose a generic F16, any manufacturer or home build for that matter.
Lacking that I'd choose the Viper because, of the entrants, they've done the most for F16.
I like the F16. That's where I've spent my money and I enjoy sailing it; though I have to admit it's a lot of boat for one old man.
Could hobie finally find a use for the 2 piece option for the tiger?
No F16s
. That's what's wrong! As long as this is just innweb banter and neither IOC or ISAF is going to pay any attention, I'd choose a generic F16, any manufacturer or home build for that matter.
Lacking that I'd choose the Viper because, of the entrants, they've done the most for F16.
I like the F16. That's where I've spent my money and I enjoy sailing it; though I have to admit it's a lot of boat for one old man.
Ah.... excellent point!
I suspect Hobie will make their years and years of support for the 16 and Tiger a major point of their pitch in the political back and forth.
It's an important factor.
I agree with Jake that the Nacra 17 would be the best boat long term for all of the reasons he states.
But I think they are a day late and a dollar short. The boat is not tested and I find it hard to believe they could generate 50 bullet proof boats by the end of the summer...
The Viper is good enough sailing wise for a 4 year turn as an Olympic Boat, and AHPC probably has 100 boats or more around the world that could be acquired by a Mixed team relatively quickly to jump start the mixed multihull class and training. I think you can market the fantasy that the 16 footer would make a better Woman's boat then any other choice... so you would be feeding a woman's class with a Viper long term) (Viper because it can't be any heavier then a 470 to drag up the ramp) I don't think the ISAF will give a fig about the impact on an F16 class and it's impact.... They should but they won't.
ps
(If I were AHPC.... I would have a boat on the trailer with curved foils, tested and ready to rock and a dagger board replacement kit for any Viper in the field.)
No problem for Nacra to manufacture and distribute 50+ Nacra 17's by the end of the summer. I don't expect there to be any issues given the proven expertise of the design team and the platform, foils, sails + mast manufacturers......Watch out for some exciting 'press' in the next week....
Nacra F16 is being raced in a competitive mixed cat fleet at the Thai Cat Regatta starting tomorrow against top Viper teams.
See http:/
Wow.... now that is called just in time delivery... good luck with your launch!
Will ISAF look at the availability of used boats (Vipers Spitfires H16's and Tigers) as essential to boot strapping a class? The 49ner example probably does not fit because mixed multihull is
supposed
to be a transition to men's and womans disciplines. So... US Sailing decided that this boat selection was a 4 year solution... will ISAF make the same call?
It will be interesting if ISAF notes availability of used boats in the final decision.
But of all the H16s out there, how many would any olympic class sailor consider using in an ORC type event? .5 to 1% maybe. And then only after replacing half the parts/sails. 200-250 days of training year. How long do you think a H16 would be competetive?
You should have kept the results secret for a week or two
Yeah... that is often tossed at the Hobie 16...
I never campaigned a Hobie 16... But... I know of no data that says a Hobie 16 wears out faster then say a Hobie Tiger...
If you want to argue that the hobie pylon platform is flawed... i would just point out a new A cat designed by Melvin which looks just very much like a Hobie 16
Do Hobie's wear out faster then Tigers or Vipers? I don't know. The world of public opinion may not be all that reliable! just saying.
The history books show that most of the Olympic Tornado's suffered from oil canning and competitive boats got trashed after big events in breeze ... Eventually builders systematically got better until marstrom built a premium boat and made the Reg White's obsolete.
I would love to see some data on the competitive life of a hobie 16 and the other recreational boats.
Comparison to the Marstroms will happen at these trials and if boat build lifetime matters... Marstrom probably wins.
No problem for Nacra to manufacture and distribute 50+ Nacra 17's by the end of the summer.
That reminds me something: AFAIK only Hobie has an active dealer in South America (Brazil). Does Nacra have a dealer here? Does any other manufacturer do? I'd really like to know - and perhaps could help.
Nacra have at least 2 dealers in South America (Argentina and Chile) to my knowledge....there may others....
No problem for Nacra to manufacture and distribute 50+ Nacra 17's by the end of the summer.
That reminds me something: AFAIK only Hobie has an active dealer in South America (Brazil). Does Nacra have a dealer here? Does any other manufacturer do? I'd really like to know - and perhaps could help.
Nacra have at least 2 dealers in South America (Chile and Argentina) to my knowledge...there may be others...
If you want to argue that the hobie pylon platform is flawed... i would just point out a new A cat designed by Melvin which looks just very much like a Hobie 16
A cat design is by Mike Drummond, I don't think melvin had anything to do with it. The A cat frame is also one piece carbon fiber as the pylons would be also, so with the exception of looks they are nothing alike.Bad comparison, but it appears your just trying to get your post count up, so fire away with the mis-information.
One of the frequent critiques of the Hobie 16 is that the the hobie 16 pylon platform design looks dated! A carbon version of the same basic design in 2012 must be noted...
Face it Todd... Hobie can make a very strong case for the Hobie 16 with spin as instantly getting more countries into the Olympic game. Surf city even noted that Nigeria has a Nationals...
Don't be surprised if despite all of the negativity... they are a strong contender in the room.
Hobie 16.
Why would anyone want a boat that made pitch-pole a household word?
Don't we want to at least see a boat that can be driven to the limit and beyond instead of one that limits sailing ability?
The H16 is easily the most expensive boat on there.
Why would anyone want a boat that made pitch-pole a household word?
Don't we want to at least see a boat that can be driven to the limit and beyond instead of one that limits sailing ability?
And that kind of ignorant statement is why you won't find many Hobie racers on this forum.
Denial is ignorance.
Maybe someone should do a poll on whether the H16 is more prone to pitch-pole than any other boat on that list. Never mind waste of time. We know the answer.
Maybe your right. Nothing would be more entertaining then the whole fleet peter panning at the top mark. Then it would be a righting competition. Brilliant!
Commodore, Tampa Bay Catamaran Sailors
Let me guess... you don't have a lot of Hobie cat sailors in Tampa..
Obviously, you have not seen Hobie 16 sailors in big breeze.. Just because you can't sail one does not mean much.
Every alter cup qualifier that I have run in breeze... 18 knots on on up... I wonder if the big boats will actually beat a Hobie 16 across the line ... never an issue on corrected time. No swimming involved!