Hello Mary-

Knowing you and Rick were sailing cats when I started in the mid 1960s; I know you can remember when there weren't any real production cats out there to choose from. I remember the sudden freedom of dragging a cat to different beachs throughout the summer. Then in the early 1970s new cats started springing up everywhere. Now there seems to be a surge of new designs worldwide.

I personally feel its a good thing on one side of the equation. The boat buyer has a large selection to choose from both new designs and existing models as well. The resale of many boats has deteriorated at a faster rate because of this same model selection thats now available.

Racing one design wars have been around forever and the open event handicaps never seem to work for everyone. Some have closed their events to one manufacturer participation while others say the more the better.

As long as there are sailors that want to sail I think the more cats/options available the better.

thom