Interesting question... What is the value added if you have a large builder behind your class?

IMO, a large builder does not help that much in growing the class.

Tornado has Marstrom, Probably not considered a big builder and the T class runs their class racing. Not a widely popular boat but the Olympic circuit drives the most active competitive racing circuit in the world. Marstrom does not know the meaning of the word “marketing: (Bottom line… no support for the “big builder is essential notion”)

A class, Has LOTS of small builders contributing new designs. No one builder dominates and the class runs their life. Much better grass roots support of the rank and file for the A class. Marketing is by the builder who wants to go racing on his boat around the world (Asby, Marstrom, Melvin etc etc) marketing is by word of mouth by a few fanboys…. The rank and file really markets the unique performance advantage of A class (positive spin) or exclusivity (negative spin) of the class. (No support for the big builder is important notion)

F16 class… A couple of small builders… no marketing campaign… A HUGE and vocal fanboy base that never misses a chance to talk about the boat… resulting in a bit of a mismatch between the noise on the wires… and noise on the water. (no support for the big builder notion.)

F18 class, Lots of builders, large and small… BUT… uses the marketing campaigns of the big builders to promote the class as the working man’s.. not quite Olympic class… The marketing approach is to put Tornado pro’s into the puddle with amateur sailors. This is perceived to strongly influence consumer choices… eg guys who are constantly trying to measure up. (This is the only example that I can come up with where the big builders have a positive impact on class growth)

So… in my opinion… the big difference is the marketing dollars invested by the big builders. The two large builders have more visibility to the consumer and the big marketing PR campaign helps with making the class visible. This has proven to be the big advantage to growing the class. However, In the USA… the class growth certainly seems to have stalled on the east coast so obviously more marketing is needed!

Do these big companies help the class organization more so then the small builders?
Sure!

Performance Cats in the USA. Probably considered a large builder ... Controls the class rules under the SMOD principle ... Not much owner provided class organization and leadership ... Basic attitude... Jack Y will make the nationals happen and he does. (F17 F18 and N20 classes). Certainly contributes to the marketing BS in the F18class… previously hyped the N20 class… then the F17 class by getting current DN Worlds champ onto those boats.

Hobie (USA and Australia) Clearly THE large builder in the game and the creator of the SMOD philosophy for cats. Times are changing of course and for our purposes (high performance racing), it would seem that the Hobie 16 and Tigers are the last fiberglass boats they will build… No doubt they lead the world in the marketing hype with the factory team in F18’s. The class association is viable runs the racing for the rank and file.
The factory has made substantive donations to the class (see big trailer etc etc)

Capricorn/Taipan…. Probably considered a large builder. Time have changed for them as well and they play the marketing game to a bit lesser extent. Currently the only one of the three that does not have a single handed spin boat class to sell…. (thus the question to the F16 class).

Do the big builders contribute to the self destructive behavior of the F18 Class because of the business plans they are running?
Well (flame suit on) YES!!!
The F18’s separate into Hobie Tiger nationals… (get rid of ALL your F18 mods)… the Nacra F18 class runs their own nationals… (get rid of ALL your F18 mods). … and the NAF18 class can’t seem to control the troops. So… for 08… you have three nationals scheduled. Nobody can explain why this makes sense.

The notion that each of the builders host a coastal 3 day open (all types of F18’s invited ) championship and the NAF18 class hosts a one week long North Americans seems to not be a good solution.

So IMO, it’s tough to make an argument that a big builder push is critical. Could a big builder contribute to class growth… sure.. How much compromise is needed… ah well that’s the crux of it now!