What classes will survive ?

 With regard the Vareos that James Brace referred to: We at RS had a batch of Vareos, a good while ago, with faulty bonding paste.  All boats affected had the entire hull / deck joints replaced, and the problem sorted. 

The episode was part of of the unfortunate end to our relationship with RMW marine. We dealt with James as we do all our customers - with fairness, understanding, and professionalism. I hope James agrees.

Anyway rough on the Vareo class - as it feels some of you are being - I'm bound to think so of course, but the Vareo has not  tried to be what it is not. It is a stable and manageable hull shape from which to hoist, that same hull gives it a good off-wind wow factor, but the wide w/l and generous wetted area will restrict it upwind. The Vareo nationals last year were great fun - 48 boats - it does not occur to you it could be 1/2 knot quicker if it were a bit less stable etc etc when racing others. The RYA handicap is a bit brutal - I seem to remember in developement we thought about 1045 - and on windward / leeward, it would be very fair.

I am re-aquainting myself with the 700 at the moment, after a few years of holding kids trollies and drinking too much coffee with other unfortunate parents: We have a bunch of 700s at HISC - 11 out last wednesday eve - and yes I am mostly crap, but getting better.

As a director of LDC, some of a thread like this is hard reading - some not so hard, particularly as I have been responsible for all RS development, since the 600 was an idea on the train coming back from the 1993 boat show!  Any business consultant would probably say we care too much about each class - the latest resurgence in the 300 and 600 classes is great - still definitive boats in many ways.

Nick Peters

...and what an amzing idea that was! Top respect to you RS bunch, I love the 600 and have no plans to move onto another class.

James, just to let you know that I have read your posting through, clearly we need to discuss this further, to put your mind at rest on several counts.  Perhaps we can talk next week. I remain truly sorry for the unfortunate experience, and the frustration it caused you.

Nick.

Back to the thread. By classes dieing, everyone means on the national circuits. Classes dont die, they just dont get a mention in yachts and yachting, the boats are still out there, they have owners, most of them are sailed. They just dont attend the open meetings.

Someone mentioned earlier the 400 numbers dropping, ok the nationals dont have 120 boats like they did 8 years ago, but the class is very much still alive. It is an incredibly popular club racing boat, and still has some good turnouts to open events. I believe they have just finished the last big batch of them for the time being (until a few more people go on the list) having made 40 of them.  When i bought mine 2 years ago (when RS were not making them from new due to changes in builders) there were nothing on the secondhand market for a year. A good boat was like gold dust and i was so lucky to find mine. perhaps this had a big influence on the class numbers at events, as it was hard for people to get into the fleet.

Anyway enough about the 400, its a brilliant boat, with a strong fleet and will be around for a long time yet. I think numbers in most classes can still go up, regardless of fuel. using the 400 as an example, there are nearly 850 of them in the country, somewhere, there must be some way of convincing people that doing an event is a good thing.

I think one class, one day, will come up with some really clever idea/incentive to bring the boats away from club racing and back onto the circuits. i have no idea of what it might be, but once you set the ball rolling, you will attract more and more. any ideas?

I am considering a contender at the moment, when i can find some more info out about them, because i read an article on hear the other day saying the 2010 europeans are in La Rochelle and the 2011 worlds in weymouth, two really close venues, and possibly some great racing. thats a big enough incentive for me.