We really need to start kids on cats, not pull mono sailors away. That's a sure way to make sure we don't get invited.
You think that this is an issue?.... I don't see kids having the same passion for the "class"... eg I am a 420 sailor.... Parents ??? Yes...... they want to get in the "right program" (Tell me to buy this boat... go here.... support kid.... fill out college application.... DONE) I don't see any young adult going back to a 420... (lasers are the only single hander in the game).
We sell this as CROSS TRAINING.... the notion is well supported by US Sailing. They are not campaiging a cat for the summer....
My notion is that we need a yacht club with space to park 10 of Wouter's cheap cats. the catsailors of the club commmit to keeping these things running. Once a month... 3 events a season... they run an invitational event for the region's elite junior sailors.
You pull out the cats at the end of the intro junior sailing class at the club. ... give the kids a taste..... Tell em... they need to join the advanced program and qualifiy there to sail the cat.. The boats GO to the regiona. JO's. but kids OUTSIDE your region come down to compete. your regonal kids are on their laser or 420.
You need one of these centers in a region.
They feed sailors into the US sailng Youth events... the Hobie 16 junior events, etc etc.
