Hey... We have been this way before! The bottom line... we agree to disagree as to the present and future of cat racing in the USA.

If your fleet wants to run an open regatta... Just don't use the flying H in your NOR... Run your regatta just like a yacht club... any class that commits and gets the turnout that you want... goes racing.... (that might include classes likes skiffs, 505's Int Canoes or portsmouth cats and mono's.)

The guys who run the national and international class make the current class structure happen... They get the Nationals and Midwinters to happen. They seem to be all 16 sailors... who graciously make events for all of the other classes (except the Tigers ) happen. Appreciate what they do! (it ain't easy) ... and if racing in your region is served by droping the flying H.... better to do so sooner then latter. (Its hard to put the racing scene back together after it collapses).

(Consider... it might make more sense to run Hobie 16's and 17's in a single class after you factor in the skill and experience of the two small fleets.... )

Critical thinking about what makes the weekend worth doing is needed... If three boat one design classes work for you ..great... They don't for me.

The more interesting question is... What will we be racing in 5 years?