I agree with Tracie that the best way to develop a crew is very slowly. The problem is that in some areas the weather changes in minutes not hours. I took a woman out one Sunday with the winds blowing about 5mph. Of course within an hour it was 10-20mph... She acted as if I could just roll up the windows and drive back to the beach. When I explained we would have to tack back she was furious... imagine getting wet on a cat... I gave a couple of books/mags to browse through but she didn't have time. No capsizes or pitchpoles either. The learning process is unpredictable at best and finding someone that won't panic is even more so.

As far as crowds at a mark you should try the Fboat nationals. I recall sending a couple of pics to Mary that were published in the magazine. Imagine about 20-30 F31s going to a mark within a few minutes and huge spins popping up everywhere.

You either like it or you don't...

thom