Or maybe we're going about this all wrong. How about a fun sail/gathering where a race breaks out?

Taylor's Cat-Dash format was a good one with a beach start and multiple laps around a not-too-long course up and down the beach. It allowed the non-spin boats to sail fewer laps and still stops and starts at the same place (so logistics are easy). We just need to figure out how to get people to come. Personally, I would really like to have a campground (RV) very near the race site.