Expensive Sports...

We've already got one, it's called the "L@ser" 

Originally posted by Rupert We would all be sailing something like the Water Wag, wouldn't we? After all, it was the original one design. No need for anything else.

There is much to be said for racing old one designs.
but if the Water Wag had been an international class at the time, can you imagine the process of getting these changes approved:

In 1900 a new design which differs from the earlier design by being 1'-3" longer, having a transom and flying a jib, which was designed by James (or Maimie) Doyle from Kingstown was introduced.^[2] The new design was subject to some minor adjustments of sheer line and rudder size over the years 1901-1902 before the design was finalised.

Originally posted by JimC Thing is the big clubs are the most expensive, and so are the big classes. Add to that increased travel time to fewer clubs and you're pushing an awful lot of people out of the sport.

Originally posted by zippyRN Originally posted by JimC Thing is the big clubs are the most expensive, and so are the big classes. Add to that increased travel time to fewer clubs and you're pushing an awful lot of people out of the sport. Big inland clubs  are often on reservoirs and the water companies   being  (ex)public sector love their rules and regs , compared tothe attitude taken by the aggegate companies who are quite happy to turn over the vast majority of  responsibilities for management of what is their 'waste'  ...

The reason inland water is expensive is often that sailing has to compete with trout fishing, which generates serious money.
Maybe sport just exists to use up all our spare money? If all boats were half the price, I'd buy a more expenssive one....

Not universally true. My club leases the fishing rights for our Thames Water reservoir and prohibit fishing.