Too Many Classes?

Originally posted by pondlife1736

   I don't think there's that much need for excessive hand-wringing over a fall of classes listed in the PY figures or not.  Are there as many cricket bat makers as there was 30 yrs ago? Are there as many brands of football boots available?  In any market, where there isn't 1 or 2 dominant suppliers, then periods of start-ups followed by consolidation are just part and parcel of the 'business' side of the sport.  
Some classes may have relied on 'craftsmen' to keep them alive, others more related to a particular commercial body.  As these come and go, there will be changes.  Technology and materials move on too, so some classes are bound to go by the wayside.  

What's interesting, to me at least, is to see the classes that have survived and embraced new technology (e.g. MRs, N12s, i14s) versus those that survive despite "potentially better" alternatives being available.....  the well trodden path of "racing quality is more important than having a good sail to me".
There's plenty of open water around, pretty much everyone is within an 1-2hrs drive of some, so higher performance, higher-speed, isn't necessarily limited by availability of places to sail, more by cost and complication as a barrier to entry, IMO.  Boat park space is a PITA, the guys who come up with an affordable stacking system for sailing clubs allowing more boats in less space, will become heroes of 21st century dinghy sailing in the UK.