Yes, there is power in numbers. Wonder how the kids who finished in the lower third on the scoresheet felt.
The more I think about it, the more I think the focus on racing and competition is a major reason for the large numbers of opti sailors who quits sailing.

I have never sailed an opti, so I will probably never be as good at sailing as those who started in optis will be.. Logical? No, marketspeak! It doesnt matter if you start out in an opti, a bathtub or a Melges24. Time in the boat matters to develop skills, not what kind of boat it is.
I have seen the scared kids unable to control the opti and being very alone, so I firmly believe a beginners boat should be able to be sailed two-up or three up.
A cat is the perfect fun boat for sailing, cruising, fooling around and bathing for the kids. I think the opti is so succesful becouse it have "critical mass" and "everybody else" are using them. Not becouse of the qualities of the boat.
A new Opti costs more than a rotomoulded F12 I was quoted..