Classes Table Discussion

There's more to class racing than the Nationals.
It's just an easy indicator to stick in a table.

What do we want from a class?
In my case it's accessible, level racing locally, plus some open meetings to go to.
I'm not committed enough to worry about my overall score in the travellers series, but having a good fixture list is important.
Having a class start at Fed week (our local big regatta week) is a big plus point too.

Also, in terms of enjoyable fleet racing, I prefer a fleet of 25 boats to compete in, rather than 50 or 75. A huge fleet may look good on paper, and be great if you're in the top 3, but it doesn't necessarily offer the best sailing for everyone.

You also need to think about the achievement level of the fleet. No point being the only overweight middle aged club sailors in a fleet of Olympians or vice versa.

The table gets skewed when you have a Worlds or International event either part of your Nationals or imediatly before.

In terms of carpe diem, there is much discussion going on regarding building in epoxy, which might well be a good thing, but why change the rig?  We have decent carbon spars and a healthy choice of sail materials, so why fiddle with a proven formula?

I think grumpf you need to improve your knowledge of the class and get a grasp of how successful it truly is before you suggest changes that are neither necessary nor productive!

(and the offer is still there for a trip in my boat should you wisely choose to broaden your horizons)

In terms of diversity I agree with James; if we didn't have all the idiosyncratic little classes, of which I seem to have gained a fair few lately, then dinghy development would stall completely.  I have a classic low rider moth, cherub and i14, all classes that have contributed massively to what has happened in dinghy design.  If someone had said back in the sixties or sevemties that we had too many classes and tried to halt the spread we might well have missed out on these gems. 

I think if a minor class is good enough it will succeed in the long term, like so many have done.  If the class isn't good enough then economics and personal choice will take their toll.  Survival of the fittest.


Edited by winging it - 14 Sep 11 at 10:21am

Originally posted by rogue n'ah b**locks- diversity is good, sail a boat you want to sail and embrace the full potential of an ever-improving handicap system by actually using PY as properly intended- most clubs / regattas don't. look at your signature - Alto and V-Twin - neither would exist if dinghyland was even more prescriptive than it currently is already.

The full potential of the PY system is basically enjoy it on the water and rant about bandits on here.
When the 'is the PY right today' debate is as long as the race I lose interest.

there is perhaps something in this- to have an official World or even European Championships, the class has to meet certain ISAF critera, and file yearly reports to justify retaining the status. Now, there are those who may say that the criterea are too lax and that some classes are not deserving of being able to declare a World Champion, but you take that one up with ISAF. Many classes that don't meet the criterea hold "Eurocup" or "Interncontinental Championship" etc events that are often little more than "brits abroad with a couple of token locals"- there's nothing wrong with this, who doesn't like to go somewhere warmer and sunnier to sail?