In that case I think you have missed the key points.

We are actually arguing that a clear track of growth needs to be formed in the catsailing scene, much like the opti, Splash/Topper, laser, 29-er, 49-er. That is what national sailing associations appear to want and find lacking in cats.

This means we first need to find a listing of boat types to use as building blocks for such a clear growth track. This is relatively easy.

Then the critical part comes and that is organising all these classes into a unit that supports the roles of the others in this track and stimulates growing through the ranks. This then needs to be expanded with special youth programs, hopefully with sponsorships, and when we are done we can reapproach our national sailing organisations and provide them with a fully devellopped track for cat sailing. That is what they need to make our case on the international level. At least they say so. But we even need to provide them with this even if they are just shoving us off. Only then can we corner them into a position where they are without excuses. Right now we are too easy baited and discarded. It doesn't even take much effort to talk our protests down like the RYA did recently. We have no position of power or influence and that needs to change.

But we have to start at the bottom and that means selecting the boats that will become part of this track and possibly create a new design if a sufficiently large gap is discovered. Without a proper sequence of "steps-up" ; all other organisational efforts will be largely useless. Mostly because the National sailing associations will in the end just refer to the total lack of true linkage to the Olympic Tornado and discard all efforts in one major sweep or the arm. And honestly, they will not be very wrong in doing so either.

Wouter