Who said uptick...

I just want to maintain the current levels of participation!

Face it.. the new Nacra F20 generates more interest then the latest F18 flavor but it needs events to compete at and racers to compete with. Moreover, we have fewer and fewer race ready old boats that people will actively race (one Arc 22 in the Steeplechase) BUT we have many areas where sailors will bring out the old girl and race for a big local regatta or newbies who have purchased an old race boat and think about giving racing a try. A schedule, (IE a couple events designated as open class) where IF they show up.. they know they will be racing against a large group of racers who are also playing handicap that weekend will help keep these guys racing or introduce the sport to new racers.

Supporting this kind of schedule means we need a handicap system and this is just one of those important details. I just want a fair reliable unbiased international measurement system for those events... (distance races... some buoy races club races) that sailors want to compete in. If the monohull world can run PHRF and IRC nationals at Key West and a few other big regattas... the beach cat world should have a similar high quality handicap option for races where one- design fits under the handicap umbrella.

We should go to school on the other sailing classes. My J35 class has been actively debating the local one design schedule. After years of autopilot scheduling.. They now get it that owners balance the one design events with the popular but less challenging point to point events on handicap and only have so much time and money. They think that getting the just right mix of events is essential for keeping the 30 year old class strong (15 to 20 local boats with 10 boats on the line for each OD scheduled regatta) They got owners to compile a similar spreadsheet as tback's southeast region to make choices.

RE.. the steeplechase being F18 rich and so not a handicap race for you... Terrific! a game within a game. You loose nothing and the ARC 22 and M20 will also have a game to play. My point is that this game is well served by a SCHRS handicap AND a Clear Schedule serves the sport well.