The one thing that I can offer on the open sails is that prior to any outside influence, I was hard pressed to compete in windy conditions up until I bought a set of P16 sails that Randy was using in the One-of-Kind Regatta in New Orleans. I was immediately able to depower the sail enough for my light weight (handicap, as I saw it) of 250# w/crew and enough weight added to reach minimum. Same when the P19 came out around the same time, the sails were very full and hard to flatten. That worked OK for the 335# and above teams, but for me, adding 50# of weights to reach minimum, I was again out of the running. The Smyth sails brought control back and once again I could compete in windy conditions. Once the stock Pattison sails became less competitive, overall, the factory began offering race sails as an option to those who wanted to race. Since those of us who raced every weekend wore out a suit of sails within a year or two, and the different sails were all rather competitively priced with the OEM sails, most people didn't see any down side there. Certainly nothing like the cost of a carbon mast these days. I think a P16 sold for between $2300.00 and $3900 with trailer during the prolific years of 1975 - 1990. I paid less than $5000.00 with trailer for my stock P18-2 in 1989 with a set of mylar sails that came with the boat, and they were quite adequate, as I was 1 & 2 at the nationals in 89 and 90 respectively with around 30 boats at each event.
The P19 fleet here was strong from at least the year after it was introduced up until the mid 90s. There were at least 30 on the line at the nationals in 88, 89, 90 and quite a few after that until the 6.0 NA and similar boats showed up. The 5.8 and P-19 were fairly even depending on the conditions, but when the 6.0 and other 20 footers showed up along with spinnakers the landscape changed for good. Don't misunderstand, I enjoyed having the spinnaker on my 18-2, for what it is worth, but the costs escalated even more with that addition. Some people moved up and some dropped out. It can happen in any sport, it just happened rather quickly in the catamaran arena. I think if I were much younger, the A class, F16, or F18 would be fun to race, but the price is way up there for what they are in my opinion.
One thing I have to say about Randy, he was always one of the great clinicians and inspirations within the Prindle and Tornado fleets. Always giving advice to bring others up to speed and at least for me, even on the water between races analyzing things I had wrong, from traveler positions for the conditions to downhaul advice, and other tips. Always constructive and friendly. I don't remember anyone complaining that a "pro" was among the competition, because he was such a gentleman on the water and sought to bring the rest of us up to be better. We learned more at the races he attended than any three where he wasn't.
I will give it another try this year in a Tornado once again, as crew this time, but man, I hurt after a few races!
The last time I spent any time on a T20, was in the mid 80s and the boat was single trap, no spinnaker, and a smaller sailplan. This new version is a different animal. Maybe I will see a few of you out there.
Understand, I want the regattas and class numbers to be big, competitive and successful. I just was offering a perspective that comes from conversations with some of those no longer involved, rather than those who still are. I thought maybe that information might be useful, since very few here belong to the inactives that the thread was inversely addressing.
