The solution will be... We catamaran clubs need to step up and run another race course at the JO's ...
Sure. We provide the boats, we provide a clinic for the multihull kids, we provide the course -- what objections can they possibly come up with?
I know, not enough land space at the host venue. <img src="http://www.catsailor.com/forums/images/graemlins/smirk.gif" alt="" />
Well done to everyone for taking the initiative - hopefully this will work. The RYA (UK) did this about 8 years ago with 6 Dart 16s provided by Laser. Then ISAF declared the Hobie 16 Spi the Youth Cat. The kids did not think that this 30 + year old design was cool enough and, apart from the dedicated few, the whole thing never really took off.
Then ISAF decided that the SL 16 should be the Youth Cat. So the manufacturers and the class put a lot of work into promoting the class.
In 2007 the Hobie 16 Spi will still be the boat for the Worlds. But then in 2008 the new SL 16 class should have built up numbers and will be the boat sailed. This all seems great, and maybe parents and Clubs will be encouraged to invest in youth sailing and buy some of these cats.
BUT, why should they - when they find that in 2009 everything goes back to the old ways and the old design HOBIE 16 Spi is once the designated cat for the Youth Worlds <img src="http://www.catsailor.com/forums/images/graemlins/confused.gif" alt="" />
