What classes will survive ?

I'm not sure I'm good enough for a 600!

Solution looks nice, but bit of a gamble getting something unestablished,
maybe?

I do still like the idea of an asymmetric though...

Regarding the RS range, the big attraction certainly in the early days, was the huge events and great camaradarie. Unfortunately once RS diversified into every imaginable type of boat (except cats), venues could no longer accommodate all the classes and slowly but surely the class loyalty has worn off as the fleets have seperated. The 300s, 600s & 700s used to enjoy the visual delights of the female crews from the 200s 400s and 800s but no more sharing events means singlehander events tend to be male only and the evening socials have become a bit bland. The RS association used to control all the classes but this has now been split so there is an association per class, which you would expect to improve the situation but unfortunately it hasnt really.

I like the proposal to group alike boats together to form a loose controlled class but its likely that a company preferring long production runs would have to adapt to constant development or risk dying out, and frankly I cant see RS putting themselves in that position.

Originally posted by GBR884 Yeah solutions look really nice, I know one guy with two!! They seem like really nice boats. What kind of budget do you have because that will depend on the quality and "competitiveness" of which boat you choose?

As little as possible! Maybe around £3k

Perhaps it would be interesting to try and establish what qualities a class needs for a healthy and long life.

I don't think just being a development class is enough ...

For example the Merlin Rocket is very healthy after looking a bit shakey against the RS400 in the late 90's. Thay will have 100 boats at Saclome and hit the 80 limit on their nationals months ago ...

Then of course we have the poor old N12 that is struggling against the RS200 which gets huge turn outs.

If it was a dev. class v smod issue then you'd expect the Merlins & 12s to have faired the same against the RS400 & 200 but they are very different.

What qualities make a class survive?

what does a class need for be sucessful?

that i can think of,
well attended circuit
good relationship between builder and class
enthuthsiasm (sorry for poor spelling)
newcomers to the class (i.e appeal)

you cant say a development class is always sucessful. the laser has sold over 200,000 boats. one design but very sucessful.

heres an interesting question i have been thinking about. would the RS classes be better off with an association independent of LDC? does it make a difference?

in fact, what makes a sucessful class, the boat itself or the people and class association. i would say the latter.