New Posts New Posts RSS Feed: What classes will survive ?
  FAQ FAQ  Forum Search   Register Register  Login Login

What classes will survive ?
 Post Reply Post Reply Page  <1 678910 19>
Author
  Share Topic Share Topic  Topic Search Topic Search  Topic Options Topic Options
winging it View Drop Down
Really should get out more
Really should get out more
Avatar

Joined: 22 Mar 07
Online Status: Offline
Posts: 3958 		Post Options Post Options   Quote winging it Quote  Post ReplyReply Direct Link To This Post Topic: What classes will survive ?
    Posted: 20 Jun 08 at 9:48pm
And next year the worlds are in Denmark, also accessible.

Have a look at the UK class website:

British Contender Association

the International Contender website

and there's also a yahoo group:

contender forum
the same, but different...

Back to Top
timeintheboat View Drop Down
Really should get out more
Really should get out more


Joined: 01 Feb 07
Location: United Kingdom
Online Status: Offline
Posts: 615 		Post Options Post Options   Quote timeintheboat Quote  Post ReplyReply Direct Link To This Post Posted: 21 Jun 08 at 10:09am
It does look that a class will have a better chance of surviving in the long term if it is a single hander.

Most of the kids these days want their own boat and they want to helm. What are they going to be sailing in 10-20yrs time? Why bother with all the hassle of trying to get regular crew when - if your water has the room - you get all the same toys with an MPS or RS700.
Like some other things - sailing is more enjoyable when you do it with someone else
Back to Top
mossman View Drop Down
Newbie
Newbie


Joined: 22 Feb 08
Online Status: Offline
Posts: 28 		Post Options Post Options   Quote mossman Quote  Post ReplyReply Direct Link To This Post Posted: 21 Jun 08 at 10:48am

I’m intrigued why it seems to be recognized that the Vareo offers something not offered by other boats (even if it is not thought that it does it particularly well) and yet a number of people believe it is a class that will die out.

I would have thought it was in a good position to survive at least until someone else does what the Vareo does, and does it better.

As a recent purchaser of a Vareo I am obviously biased (and personally I think it does what it does very well – but then, as a relative beginner, what do I know). Anyway I am very happy with my new boat and I hope it has a great future.
Back to Top
gordon View Drop Down
Really should get out more
Really should get out more


Joined: 07 Sep 04
Online Status: Offline
Posts: 1037 		Post Options Post Options   Quote gordon Quote  Post ReplyReply Direct Link To This Post Posted: 21 Jun 08 at 11:25am

For my part, I am intirgued by the number of people who believe that a class becomes popular and then survives because of the intrinsic qualities of the design. I believe this is a minor factor, far less important than the quality of the people who run the class, especially in the early days, and the sailors who are drawn to compete in the class.

There are lots of good boats out there that have faded away into an undeserved oblivion, simply because there was no-one around at the right time to promote and run the class.

For instance - would the Laser have become the world-leader that it is without the marketing and production strategy that accompanied it? All of which was revolutionary in the early 70's.

How many of the RS fleet would become popular classes if they were being built by a small boatbuilder without the marketing power of RS boats?

Would the Star (the best (only) 2 man boat for heavy weights)  still be in the Olympics without the strength of the class association and their close links with the great and good? If ex-Tornado sailors had worked their way into the inner cicles of ISAF, would we still have a multihull in the Games?

 

Gordon

 
Gordon
Back to Top
Jimbob View Drop Down
Groupie
Groupie


Joined: 05 Sep 06
Location: United Kingdom
Online Status: Offline
Posts: 77 		Post Options Post Options   Quote Jimbob Quote  Post ReplyReply Direct Link To This Post Posted: 21 Jun 08 at 11:55pm
you only have to look at the Laser to see what is needed to survive.
1 relatively cheap (but should be cheaper)
2 simple to rig and launch,
3 easy to sail at a low level of competence,
4 yet very difficult to sail at the highest level,
5 competition everywhere you go (a function of the other points)
6 great fun downwind when windy (although hard work to get upwind)
7 great in strong winds big seas
8 easy to transport wherever,
9 Many Open meetings if you want that (again a function of the other points)
10 multiple rigs for all ages, weights and standard of sailors.
The only thing missing is a trapeze option
Jimbob
Back to Top
allanorton View Drop Down
Far too distracted from work
Far too distracted from work


Joined: 21 Nov 05
Location: United Kingdom
Online Status: Offline
Posts: 228 		Post Options Post Options   Quote allanorton Quote  Post ReplyReply Direct Link To This Post Posted: 22 Jun 08 at 7:23pm

Originally posted by G.R.F

TASA - thanks alzheimers setting in, 

Isn't that TASI?

Back to Top
JimC View Drop Down
Really should get out more
Really should get out more
Avatar

Joined: 17 May 04
Location: United Kingdom
Online Status: Offline
Posts: 6662 		Post Options Post Options   Quote JimC Quote  Post ReplyReply Direct Link To This Post Posted: 22 Jun 08 at 9:57pm
Originally posted by Jimbob

you only have to look at the Laser to see what is needed to survive.

And yet very many of the classes that have lasted a long time have few of those points, and every class which has attempted to be the new LAser has failed...
Back to Top
Guest View Drop Down
Newbie
Newbie


Joined: 21 May 04
Location: United Kingdom
Online Status: Offline
Posts: 0 		Post Options Post Options   Quote Guest Quote  Post ReplyReply Direct Link To This Post Posted: 22 Jun 08 at 10:24pm

Originally posted by JimC

Originally posted by Jimbob

you only have to look at the Laser to see what is needed to survive.

And yet very many of the classes that have lasted a long time have few of those points, and every class which has attempted to be the new LAser has failed...

What classes have attempted to be the new Laser?
Back to Top
tmoore View Drop Down
Really should get out more
Really should get out more
Avatar

Joined: 01 Nov 07
Location: Wales
Online Status: Offline
Posts: 880 		Post Options Post Options   Quote tmoore Quote  Post ReplyReply Direct Link To This Post Posted: 22 Jun 08 at 10:25pm
byte (?) - very similar in hull and same sort of size rig as the radial
Landlocked in Africa
RS300 - 410
Firefly F517 - Nutshell
Micro Magic RC yacht - Eclipse
Back to Top
tmoore View Drop Down
Really should get out more
Really should get out more
Avatar

Joined: 01 Nov 07
Location: Wales
Online Status: Offline
Posts: 880 		Post Options Post Options   Quote tmoore Quote  Post ReplyReply Direct Link To This Post Posted: 23 Jun 08 at 12:33pm
when i sailed one at the club i remember the mainsheet being very highly loaded. the boat also felt much too short. bar that it seemed a great little boat which was easy to move about on shore. possibly the boat i tried was rigged poorly?
Landlocked in Africa
RS300 - 410
Firefly F517 - Nutshell
Micro Magic RC yacht - Eclipse
Back to Top
 Post Reply Post Reply Page  <1 678910 19>

Forum Jump Forum Permissions View Drop Down

Bulletin Board Software by Web Wiz Forums® version 9.665y
Copyright ©2001-2010 Web Wiz
Change your personal settings, or read our privacy policy