Well, then, I would think that in order to get a lot of small-boat sailors, it would be best to figure out a way to make it a two-day event for them. People don't want to pack up their boat and trailer it any significant distance just for a one-day event.

Make it a mini vacation getaway weekend with their boats and families. Promote it as a "rally" or some word that would convey a gathering of sailors to have fun on the water (and on land).

Downplay the "racing" part and make it a FUN event on both days. Distance race on Saturday, with the normal trophies for the "serious" racers, but also fun prizes (inexpensive) for last place, oldest team, youngest team, youngest sailor, oldest sailor, oldest boat, all female team, all youth team, heaviest team, etc.

Maybe some other type of fun "races" on Sunday that will appeal to both serious racers and recreational sailors.

And on land have prizes/trophies (inexpensive) for every conceivable thing -- you can have prizes for team that traveled the farthest, club or fleet or town or whatever that has the most boats at the "rally" (excluding the home club).

If there is camping at the site, prizes for best tent, biggest tent, smallest tent, most unique tent, etc.

You can have prizes for most unique method of transporting the boat to the site, and/or most impressive trailer rig (like four stacked boats), whatever you can think of.

In North America, most regattas provide T-shirts or hats or something to all the competitors or at least to the skippers of the boats, included in the entry fee.

Maybe beer is not important to sailors in Norway, but in the U.S. there would be a major rebellion if there were not free beer. Soft drinks are usually provided for the kids (and over here they can't drink beer until they are 21). I don't think it has ever been a problem providing beer for the adults just because kids are present. That seems strange to me.

You said there is going to be a barbecue (included in the entry fee?) But is that on Saturday or Sunday, because you said it is a two-day distance race for the big boats.

You have to make this a "HAPPENING," that will make people, and more and more people, want to come back every year.

Before you know it, it will be the Norwegian version of Texel. No pressure on the organizers, of course. <img src="http://www.catsailor.com/forums/images/graemlins/grin.gif" alt="" />

Now, aren't you sorry you asked for suggestions? <img src="http://www.catsailor.com/forums/images/graemlins/grin.gif" alt="" />