Asymmetric 12

I know I've banged on about this before, and I'm sorry to be repetitive, but IMHO that is the biggest problem in UK dinghy sailing at the moment. I am all for new designs coming out, 'advancing' the state of the art, but why do they all need to be new classes? Why can't someone (the RYA?) develop a series of new 'formula' classes so that the designers/manufacturers concentrate on these rather than fragmenting fleets into ever smaller numbers. An example: The L4000/ISO - These classes would almost certainly be doing better if Topper /Laser had co-operated rather than competed. Combine these and any future replacements with a 15' single wire asymmetric class. A new 'semi-development' class based on the RS200 (or N12 with gennaker) would allow the likes of Topper and Laser to join this (currently closed) area of the market, would advance design and would meet contemporary sailors requirements. It would also allow RS to release the 201 when sales of the 200 slow down, without alienating their customers. Win-win.

In my personal opinion 12 foot is too short and I would prefer 14-15 foot, but I'd go with the flow if it meant getting the class going. Elsewhere on this forum I posted a preliminary design of a NS14/MG14, as I feel this is a better rule than the N12, and substantially cheaper than the Merlin Rocket (whilst being lighter and without that old-fashioned symmetric kite). Progress has slowed since the latest arrival to our family, but as he has now developed the ability to sleep for more than half an hour at a time, I hope to get it complete by the autumn. If anyone would be interested in building it, I will gladly give them a copy of the design.