Numbers at nationals.

Originally posted by Doug.H As for the circuit, I'm not sure how much it may have changed but I seem to remember a "bed by 8'o'clock" attitude.

Yes, we get that in the 12fters. You need to be in bed by 8am, otherwise you have to go sailing still pi**ed.

The Solo is doing well at my club too, plenty of boats around at different budgets, they seem to take a reasonable range of weights, and they're great for those of us with tatered knees due to too many years in a Laser. There doesn't seem to be a huge difference in speed between the various builders/ages of boat in the fleet, hence we get some great classic fleet sailing. The Solo CA seems very active too. Anyone who disses the Solo is one boat short of a flotilla in my book..

A lot of the squad sailors were missing last year due to clashes with other events. I am told it is the same this year.....

Judging the health of the Laser class by the attendance at the Nationals, can be misleading.  They have 6 qualifiers a season, that are always well attended by the hard core, a Youth Nationals and of course a Masters Nationals.  Laser sailors will also travel abroad to Olympic circuit events, while domestically there will be large fleets at most sailing local sailing weeks such i.e. Abersoch, Falmouth, Fed Week etc. 

Similarly, Solos nearly always get their highest entry at the Inlands while Merlins have to cap the entry to Salcombe Week at 90ish.  Nationals numbers are a useful barometer, but only tell part of the story.

There is no doubt that the Laser fleet has changed since it became Olympic and the National Championships is probably the biggest loser. It is still perceived as a hardcore event and run as such, but does not count for qualification to the Worlds/ Europeans/ Olympic funding.

I think most people enjoy there boats at there own clubs and dont want to travel a good example of this at our club is we have 13 laser 2000s and only one went to their nationals last year also likewise we have 9 vareos at our club for the last two years only two of us have gone to opens and national events for the class asked why the others dont want to go the answer was why do we need to go when we have such good class racing at home.So nationals and opens are not everyones cup of tea but i try to get to as many as i can to help support the class and you seem to get to a certain level club racing and going to events helps to push you more