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Revamping one designs: your experiance
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Rupert View Drop Down
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Posts: 8956 		Post Options Post Options   Quote Rupert Quote  Post ReplyReply Direct Link To This Post Topic: Revamping one designs: your experiance
    Posted: 29 Jul 15 at 10:36pm
The only class that may beat the 200 on female sailor % would be the Firefly. Again, a class with a strong party ethos...
The Larks used to as well. The 200 not being a Uni boat makes it more surprising, though.
Firefly 2324, Puffin 229, Minisail 3446 Mirror 70686
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Null View Drop Down
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Posts: 745 		Post Options Post Options   Quote Null Quote  Post ReplyReply Direct Link To This Post Posted: 29 Jul 15 at 8:13pm
The 200 is a lovely boat to sail, it's well made and simple to sail.  Not to mention some great class racing.  No suprise it's a formula for success.
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JimC View Drop Down
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Posts: 6662 		Post Options Post Options   Quote JimC Quote  Post ReplyReply Direct Link To This Post Posted: 29 Jul 15 at 12:57pm
Certainly a few years ago when I did some number crunching of data for higher performance (two string) two handers) there was a strong correlation between % of female sailors and champs turnout, and no other numbers I looked at had any relationship at all.
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Post Options Post Options   Quote Guests Quote  Post ReplyReply Direct Link To This Post Posted: 29 Jul 15 at 11:49am
The RS membership you get to sail any of the RS boats though... so it's maybe not a completely fair comparison (although I only sail a 200...). 

I think the marketing of RS helps getting boats off the ground, but after a few years it's not a big factor. Much more important is the demographic of the fleet which is determined by the ideal weight and the roles of the crew. Then you have external factors that determine how many people fit that demographic. 

The 200 hasn't dipped below 80 boats at a nationals in 16 years, and the lower number before this were due to it being  anew class (deigned in 1995)... (only Topper and Oppy beat this record, but they are single handed (not as many people), and are youth supported. 

What would be interesting would be to see the female participation. I'd wager the 200 has the highest female participation of any class outside of youths and juniors (and it's probably pretty similar to them). The top of the fleet is a roughly 50-50 split. 

I think that, coupled with the fact that you can pick up any old boat and be competitive, has a lot more to do with popularity of the 200 than anything else; especially with younger sailors. 
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Posts: 1586 		Post Options Post Options   Quote kneewrecker Quote  Post ReplyReply Direct Link To This Post Posted: 29 Jul 15 at 11:29am
Nope- the marketing and distribution get the initial batch of boats out the door.  

It's the quality of the racing on offer that keeps them coming back. 

The RS200 stakeholders (class, builder, owners) seem to have this nailed.  I'd stop a long way short of calling any of them turkeys with this product, or the life cycling of the consumables- it's the best of its ilk imho.


Edited by kneewrecker - 29 Jul 15 at 11:30am
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jeffers View Drop Down
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Posts: 3048 		Post Options Post Options   Quote jeffers Quote  Post ReplyReply Direct Link To This Post Posted: 29 Jul 15 at 11:19am
Originally posted by Chris 249


With three out of the top six being RS classes* perhaps it's reasonable to think that they may have just the teeniest bit of an idea about how to generate and maintain interest in the sport?


It is all about marketing and distribution. I think we all agree they are pretty good at that. 

Plus the class association has the backing of professional people (paid staff) to do a lot of the admin leg work for them.

This is reflected in the fees, £40 or so for full membership of the RS Assoc with the Fireball being £20 for the same membership.
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Chris 249 View Drop Down
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Posts: 2041 		Post Options Post Options   Quote Chris 249 Quote  Post ReplyReply Direct Link To This Post Posted: 29 Jul 15 at 10:48am
The "turkeys" had the third biggest UK nats last year. Pretty brilliant going for a class that hasn't got the 'artificial' support of squad or International designation.

How are the classes that update all the time going? Seen a big Mistral regatta lately?

With three out of the top six being RS classes* perhaps it's reasonable to think that they may have just the teeniest bit of an idea about how to generate and maintain interest in the sport?


* the Y&Y listings put the Moth nats in the top 4 but IMHO it doesn't count as it includes international boats competing in the worlds.
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Posts: 332 		Post Options Post Options   Quote Woodburner Quote  Post ReplyReply Direct Link To This Post Posted: 29 Jul 15 at 9:43am
Originally posted by mozzy


The class voted and the square top was pretty heavily rejected. 
LOL Why am I not surprised?

Turkeys thinking they've rejected Christmas... LOL
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Rupert View Drop Down
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Posts: 8956 		Post Options Post Options   Quote Rupert Quote  Post ReplyReply Direct Link To This Post Posted: 28 Jul 15 at 6:27pm
It making no difference is certainly the best result for the class, and pretty soon people will forget there was ever a change and everything will carry on as before.
Firefly 2324, Puffin 229, Minisail 3446 Mirror 70686
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Post Options Post Options   Quote Guests Quote  Post ReplyReply Direct Link To This Post Posted: 28 Jul 15 at 3:15pm
Just thought I'd update this thread...

The class voted and the square top was pretty heavily rejected. However, a new cut radial jib and spinnaker was voted in (using same materials and same shape). Obviously as stated previous the main has changed material as the old stuff was running out. 

The new sails are now available and although I've not used any I have raced against people using them. I can't say I can notice any difference, and I've not heard any stories of changes in use of sail controls either. Recent opens have had a good split in the types of sails winning.  

Obviously you always see more newer sails at the front of the fleet, as the better sailors are likely to be keener and therefore invest more money (in general) so it always hard to distinguish totally from whether its the better sailors that are buying new sails, or whether new sails are making those who are buying them better... 

Overall seems a good result for the class.  
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