To claim this to be a fact, but that doesn't necessarily mean that it is.

I think your comments are most laying blame somewhere convenient. Afterall, if there are (were) so many people who "only wanted to enjoy high level competition on simple boats", then why aren't these classes not surviving on its own ?

What do other classes bring to the equation if your own simple class is going so well and is exactly what the doctor ordered ?

The only one "surviving" is the H16 class but even that one is facing serious challenges. Times have changed. Soccer fields in Europe are being sold and using to build new neighbourhoods as over the last 20 years the interest in amateur soccer declined significantly. This too had nothing to do with the new range of soccer shoes replacing the old leather ones. New generations look differently at things and the glory time of sailing was pushed to the past by computer games, television etc.

In fact, we may even have to entertain the notion that may the new high performance classes are actually floating the catamaran scene as a whole. The new youngster, with their bling-bling attitude and Pimped-up scooters REALLY DO NOT GET HOT about a Prindle 16 or Hobie 16.

I spoke to several youths in the Dutch H16 based youth training program and their comments were telling. They were happy with the provided program but wanted to move on to the "real" classes as soon as possible.

Maybe you should stop blaming outside factors and harness this reported market segement that "only wanted to enjoy high level competition on simple boats"

I think you'll find that this segment has changes as well, moved on to other things or would have left anyway even if everything remained as it was in 1975.

Wouter