Nationals Attendances

That opens up the unanswerable question of why people sail a certain boat and not another. Some will want a local class, others will chose one with the chance of international events (either for the glory or for the friendships. Some will chose a boat that fits their physique and fitness or sailing style. Budget and aspirations will come into it too but I suspect as noted above that people and the social side of things have a huge impact for those not after world glory. Indeed with the Laser being the boat of choice for campaigning youths and those with Olympic dreams perhaps the perceived seriousness and lack of a good social at events means the ‘leisure’ (and I use that word advisedly) has less to draw them to events. Indeed I did hear at the weekend a rumour that the Finns who always seemed to mix seriousness with a party are suffering a tad from the lack of the latter, which if true is a shame as they were legendary for being an Olympic class that still had food fights!

I have to risk attack by posting but perhaps Laser is the accepted single handed class for international or Olympic sailing and is as such sailed by those who aspire to stardom. If you asked those sailors if they would like to change en bloc to another class what would they reply? By the way 114 Aeros at Hayling. After how many years?

Originally posted by davidyacht Perhaps the issue is whether the traditional Y&Y Nationals Attendence table remains the most appropriate meter

Its not a question as to whether its the most appropriate metric - its just that until recently its the only one we had. We now have the number of races in the RYA table as well, but not any others I'm aware of.

Originally posted by By The Lee Originally posted by Doug.H Originally posted by By The Lee Originally posted by iiiiticki Was it 110 boats for the Aero Nationals? Obviously just a flash in the pan. Order will be restored soon. Even Lasers had more than that and thats with a lot of the fleet at international events! A lot of the fleet?  I'm fascinated as to who exactly you think makes up the vast majority of the class membership...... because it certainly isn't the ones going off doing the international events.  A lot of the fleet aren't turning up, and it has absolutely nothing to do with international events being run at the same time.  Well I'm not suggesting all these events affected attendance but: 4.7 Worlds: 41 Brits Radial Youth Worlds : 26 brits U21 Worlds: 17Brits

Yep, and reference those 26 radials and 17 fulrigs against the sheer volume of class members.  Numbers wise it's the equivalent of an entire club not turning up for club racing on a sunday and then saying numbers were low because that one sailor 'John' didn't turn up. 
Also, didn't the person who won the radial nationals also go to the youth worlds?

I'm not having a go at the laser, I'm just pointing out that proportionally compared to other classes, the laser isn't getting good turnouts and that the class assoc should be looking into that.  The laser standard nationals attendance numbers numbers should barely even notice if the top few don't turn up. 

Originally posted by By The Lee Originally posted by iiiiticki Was it 110 boats for the Aero Nationals? Obviously just a flash in the pan. Order will be restored soon. Even Lasers had more than that and thats with a lot of the fleet at international events!

A lot of the fleet?  I'm fascinated as to who exactly you think makes up the vast majority of the class membership...... because it certainly isn't the ones going off doing the international events.  A lot of the fleet aren't turning up, and it has absolutely nothing to do with international events being run at the same time.