I'm afraid we are seen as not serious enough is why some people do stay away. BUT, you can be serious and be NOT so serious.

Yes, the principle of more is better is one of the F16's foundations and it helps that the class has grown.

Here in the US, there are more serious racers joining the F16 fleet, but those people are also NOT going to yell at someone at the starting line or throw a protest as soon as possible. The people that do that, DO need to stay away in ALL of sailing. That stuff right there is the biggest turn off to sailing than anything else. Being exclusive is the next big killer of OUR sport.

I also think that for our CLASS to grow, we probably need more "professionals" come to the table. That would make it a legitimate class. IMO anyway. I know, that sucks for some of us who aren't going to get first because they show up, but if someone like that does show up, WE have to step up our game to be competitive. Which means, we HAVE to get better at our sailing skills. Which in turns, makes US better sailors.

After saying all of that, I'm not a serious racer, but all of my sailing has been racing. Your LIFE sometimes gets in the way. You just have to take care of some of those things. But, for our class to grow, we've got to go sailing. Yes, going to the local club and sailing there to club race helps, but, going to out of town regattas is the best way for OUR class to grow. You won't believe how many times I'll do an out of town regatta and someone will ask me about the F16. Of course, the cost is a little high for a new one, but that's what you have turn over for.

A little rambling, but OUR class is a legitimate class AND it is very viable. Some people just don't want to admit it!


Mike