Hi Mike,

The problem this time around was the boat rotation - we finally got what we wanted by having the multihull fleet at the same event as other classes, but the manner in which the event was put together precluded rotating boats. Until some parents or clubs get serious about buying some SL16s, we've had to rely on the generosity of Performance Catamarans to provide boats, and they are only willing to have 10 built at any given time. That's why the fleet was capped at 10 entries. If even ONE person actually owned an SL16, then there would have been eleven entries.

Plans are in the works for next year already, and I think (hope) that the right people are getting involved. The host club can work out rotating boats with some advance notice this time, but BYOB is infinitely easier to manage. I think the Youth Championship Committee will need to decide some pretty major things in the next month or so. Stay with the SL16, thereby complying with US SAILING and ISAF direction to develop multihull youth on a modern spinnaker platform, but handicap the event with some serious logistical baggage; or make this a BYOB event on the Hobie 16 (no spinnaker) to ease the burden on the host, parents, and fleets, but thereby ill-equipping our kids to compete at Worlds when they qualify... Tough choices. <img src="http://www.catsailor.com/forums/images/graemlins/tongue.gif" alt="" />

Other things to consider - last time this was a Hobie 16 event, kids couldn't get boats. Folks were unwilling to charter good 16s - sad fact. Also, the SL16 (like it or hate it) was the fastest boat at the regatta and the kids took notice - we've been hoping for that kind of exposure for years. The 29er was close, but they gained time on the SLs only one race out of ten. Switch to the Hobie 16, and the skiffs will be the fastest boat at the event - we lose some appeal IMO.