Like I said earlier, the distance races appeal to me. Not as a replacement but an addition to the course. And if this enables attendees such as myself, access to more and closer regattas, because of less "overhead" in form of no real need for an official race committee, that's great.

I just want to be able to get together with other cat people and go sailing, and I feel many greenhorns feel the same way.

I think racing is just a logical, natural and desired stage after that.