I have been around the class for about 8 years and every year that I have spectated (6 of those 8) someone has said, "lets make it 30 boats next year". This year Rupert made the comment on the Lightning forum.

What can one do to increase numbers. As far as I can see Lightning has done everything right but entries remain stable.

 What did Solo do right? They have seen massive increase in numbers and unlike lightning, where old boats have proved capable of winning, only a newish Solo will do well. You will not see a competitive 30 year old boat. Having sailed both a Lightning wins hands down for me.

So, what is the magic formula. It seems to make no sense to me.

 

Also some people join the smaller fleets precisely because they are the smaller fleets, if you attract new people, some of of the old guard will drift away.

 

Also, there is a slippery slope to being the nationals of a.n. other me-too singlehander.

Solo, Phantom, Laser, Finn, OK pretty much respected by anyone, but some classes, who knows whether the level of competition is actually serious?

 

Also venue. Have it somewhere nice where Dad can go racing while rest of family plays on the beach.

Or something.

 

Why are you spectating instead of taking part? That may be telling.

If your average club sailors do not feel encouraged to come and fight over 26th place, that won't help.

The Contender is perhaps more hampered by being an international class, but also, it's still delivering the goods on the world stage, while certain boats that were going to take over its role have come and gone.

 

Manufacturers try to build what people will buy.

Class racing being driven by the class associations seems to be working better.

 

You might think that Northampton is a delightful place for a family break, others may think differently?

 

What you have to do is identify sample individuals who don't come, but are your targets.

Start with people who come one year then don't come back.

Find out why.

Who owns the boats?

Not everyone wants to do a nationals, and  those that do will possibly pick a class that has the type of nationals they want.

That may mean coastal venue, school holidays, or not school holidays, style of racing, number of days, the people to race against.

What's the event like socially? Too directed towards a certain demographic?

 

 

We actually had 27 register on the first day, but a couple of the guys weren't able to actually race due to one thing or another.

You know the class and it's people very well and you also know that we've tried to keep things as un-cuthroat as possible, whilst also providing good racing throughout the fleet.

The last few years may have seen a stabilising of numbers, but the fleet is more compacted than ever.

For example, I reached the heady heights of 7th in one race at one point (Yes, ME!) but infringed another boat. Fair enough, but my resulting 720 dropped me to 14th .... a couple of years ago this may only have lost me one or two places such was the spread of the fleet. (Rupert also commented that it's now as hard to get to 8th/9th/10th as it was to get to 3rd/4th/5th just a couple of years ago)

I also almost lead into the windward mark (yes....ME!!!!) - but got scared and dropped to 14th again!  (...or was it Robbie and Paul laughing at my shock of being where I was that put me off??)

 

I guess the point is that we've worked hard to make everyone feel included. Everyone is aware of everyone elses results and we're always encouraging and imparting advice, be that the likes of Robbie at the front or me down at the back. People were genuinely interested in who beat who out of Emma and Tony for last place for another example - applauding them over the line. (Paul even helped me reset my dodgy kicker on the Sunday morning to help me sail better in the big breeze).

 

30 boats would be a great turnout, but the quality and friendliness of the racing has been the primary objective for the class. However, with gentle increases in Nationals turnouts over the last few years, we've gradually bought the boat back from the brink - with a deliberate agenda and ethos at the heart of this progress.

 

Numbers aren't always the be all as a measure of success, the measure to us are the number of smiles on and off the water.

I suspect - though with no figures to back it up - that the percentage of boats (any class) competing at some class event over a year is reasonably static without boat churn - with the occasional bubble everynow and then. These bubbles are what is interestsing and what provokes them. Usually a change to the boat or new blood in the CA.

Young Fuller, I am sure that all your "guys" are kind and pleasant people as any friend of yours must be but it does not imply that they can sail. Perhaps if this "guy" gets fed up he might contact the Lightning Class Association where there is a shortage of boats. 

 

You should be more encouraging, like telling him he'll learn lots coming to an event or two.

So he can boost his club performance to super GRF beating levels.....

Is this the same Contender that has had Nationals attendances between 40 and 60 just about every year for the last 15? What's wrong with that?

If you are lightish but not athletic enough for a Byte C2 then sail a Lightning.

Remember Lightning is a SMOD and every effort has been made to keep it that way. That is why racing is so close.

Non-SMODs might actually be 'more close'- especially in classes where sailmakers cut sails to suit different spar bends, in turn suiting different sailing styles, helm weights and body strength. 

As for why solos are so popular right now ... I put it down to the increasing age of the average dinghy sailor.

 

Perhaps things also come down to the type of people sailing the boats? As you know, we're not a bunch of super cut-throat Ainslie wannabes (more likely to hear "after you" on a mark than a bark of "NO WATER!!"  ) So perhaps the idea of 'Nationals' still sounds either daunting or a bit serious to some, but not quite serious enough for others?  .... not sure, but I think the idea of a poll amongst the Association members as to why / why not is a good plan to take on board.

Also, there was a forecast of big gales and heavy rain during the run up - so perhaps a few were also put off (We have a lot of non-pie eaters in the fleet).

 

Graeme, it's a just-over 7m sail (I think it's the same size as the Laser actually) and I'd say that whilst the LN is a superb lightwind boats, the Streaker can normally win out, but in a breeze we can hold our own on them (though handicap usually brings a close result).

You're right, Lightning368 is a great lake boat (pivoting centreboard, tracked mast, planes very easily & early....) give one a go if you get the chance.

 

 

There is no doubt that an old Solo is a different boat to a new one, but within acceptable levels whereas a wooden, tin masted Phantom bears little resemblance to a new one.

As for why solos are so popular right now ... I put it down to the increasing age of the average dinghy sailor.

I still find the success of Solo a bit of a puzzle......I am old but still prefer a Lightning. I think that the problem of raising good fleets of Javs might be the size/complication/cost of the things. Ok, you can pick them up at reasonable cost (I did) but to get near the front money has to be spent. When I spoke to you at Sailfest I think you said a new boat was on order? I bet you can get 3x Lightnings for the price of 1 Javelin.

GRF seems obsessed with beating Lasers on the water. The best boat for this PY busting is Byte in a blow but it can be done in a Lightning in lightish winds. At our club this happens all the time but that is another story.......

Sorry Banks.

sorry I stopped reading after that, the answer you are looking for is... buy a Laser.

We do not like Lasers out of pure perversity. Everyone has one, the sails flap, the mast is iron.

We should (if we are light) sail a Byte C2. Don't argue, because it is nimble and sophisticated.

Solo's are like AGA's, I have one, great in the kitchen but I would rather not sail it.

Lightning 368 remarkably sophisticated for an old design and great on a lake. If only the sail had a bit of roach it would look so much more modern.

Streaker? Look pretty but I have never seen one sail.

Smeone tell us about Streakers.

Well to get thing started here is a picture of the original streaker....

 

The Lightning class should be chuffed to bits that they get 25 boats for a Nationals, and that if they hadn't of put the effort in, they would probably getting 10 boats.

 

Looking at the class website, 350 Lightnings have been built since 1978, and only 30 since 2000, so getting 25 at a Nationals represents 14% of their boats.

 

Without doing the research and maths, I bet the Solo and Streaker come nowhere close to that ratio (on boats built since 1978)

 

However for the Lightnings to increase their Nationals attendance looks a tall order. 

 

1) The boats are mainly sailed at small inland clubs, because they are probably best suited to small inland waters. They never have been a class sailed in any number on the coasts that I can remember. Therefore to have a Nationals at a coastal club with the potential for wind and waves will either a) put them off from going at all, or b) if they do go, and the wind an waves get up, then they will get tired and frightened, the boats will break,  and they will not want to go ever again.

Similarly, a long weekend in the summer at Grafham/Draycote/Rutland is also probably not massively attractive either.

 

2) The boat with its restrictive rig is not attctive to the boatbuilders/spar maker/sailmakers, so they will stick to the less restrictive Solo's and Streakers, and the keen/wannabee lightweight/juniors will stick to the Laser Radial.

 

 

Ligthning's have their niche, If they have not attracted a large audiance in 35 years, they are unlikely to do so now, so the class should concentrate on what they are doing well now, not look enviously at other classes.

 

I know that Lightnings do have a sea championship, but Weston is not a real sea club compared to Plymouth/Paignton/Mounts Bay/Hayling etc where other classes hold their Nationals.

 

 

It was basically designed as a Phantom for small people, (Kevin Clarke the Solution's designer, built and sailed a Phantom but he was too small for it).

 

But the Phantom was originally designed as a Solo for large people.

 

So the Solution is basically aimed at the same size people as the Solo, costs about the same as a Solo, but goes a bit faster.

 

It might have had a chance against then against the Solo, but the Solo class has upped its game in recent years and  Winder, Boon, Speed  etc produce high quality good looking foam epoxy boats, with excellent fit out so that the new Solos look as upto date as the Solution.

The Solution may well be a better sailing experience than the Solo (I haven't sailed one), but I cannot see it has enough differentiating factors to make a large number of people choose it over the Solo or Laser  Radial.

Yet another UK niche class.

 

PS - Congratulations on 29 boats at West Oxford, looks like the assocaition is giving the class what it wants. 

 

 

rightly so in my personal opinion... holding a UK nationals inland just doesn't seem to do the sport justice.  Any class worth its salt would hold an inland champs specifically to test those skills separately. 

I'm hoping to get one next year the attraction of the class for me is the low cost of equipment, for others it might be the friendly nature of the class (I've been on their forum and everyone is very helpful) others might just like the boat

I think it has multiple attractions, I'm going to borrow my dad's solo as well but 8-9k for a new solo is certainly a turnoff for me personally and whilst I want to sail in 100 boat fleets not everyone does

Nationals should be on the sea where typically you get a more level playing field. A class should also host an inland championships to test who is the best puddle racer. 

Most smaller classes do not sail 5 days.

Many 'sea sailors', salt encrusted nautical gods feel a little superior, don't you?

You are correct, but get ready for loads of people telling you your not.

WPNSA is very pro, expensive and no camping or spectating. Very good for a blast on the sea but little else.

Cardiff is good, semi sea, free camping, good food and cheap beer. Spectating not bad either with strong glasses.

What's wrong with Grafham, QM or Ruland except for horrible food and lack of soul?