I think the "problem" here is, when you attach the title of "North American Championship" to the regatta, it goes from fun racing to serious racing. I fully understand (and support) fleets wanting their own separate course for a true North American Championship, free of contaminated air from those -other- boats, what ever they might be.
Now, to the point of a Hobie Megga type regatta, for Formula boats, that would be fun, just don't call it the NA's. There are some who race in both F16 and F18, if you combine the regatta, they won't be able to do both, obviously, so one of those classes is going to lose a few boats. If we want maximum turnout, we could have a week long regatta for F boats, but race F16's for 2-3 days, then F18's for the next 2-3 days. The teams who do both can then do both, in the same location, and have a race course that is clear of those -other- boats. The rest of us can show up, race our 2-3 days and go home, or stick around for more party fun or as Pete mentioned, do some sight seeing in the local area, what ever that might be.
+1 on the basic premise but as Rick White said, there are already some events like Tradewinds, Spring Fever, and Racine that probably do the same.
Another poster batted the A-Class for being isolationists, hmmm. As class president, we do what we think grows the class in organizing and scheduling our events. We think what we are doing is working and I've invited any A-Class sailor who thinks the class leadership is making bad decisions to become a class officer (interesting how quiet most get after that response). I think most in our class believe in getting boats to multiclass events. We had 13 boats at the Wildcat and 10 boats at Lake Carlyle last weekend. There were 14 boats at Spring Fever this year. I know we disappoint Rick and Mary by not being consistent at Tradewinds but we love our week of racing at the Islander in Islamorada every January and most of us have to use the Tradewinds weekend to travel home but some can stay and race. We owe a lot to Rick and Mary for hosting us when we first started coming to the Keys 10 years ago.
But for the major class event which is the NAC, we prefer to go it alone and I can understand why the F-18's would prefer the same.
Bob Hodges
USA 230
