Caleb's strategy (boat show/local org. relationship leads to new sailors) sounds great BUT we are still waiting for local cat racing in Seattle.

Yes, we finally have local mast up storage for catamarans (in its 3rd or 4th year now) with limited launch access but there's no cat racing from the venue. The venue offers racing for dinghies but not cat racing. We ask and offer to help (with volunteers and financing) but no cat races. The storage facility and launch area are part of a mixed-used city parks development. According to the Seattle Parks department, the development is 5 - 7 years away from completion ... maybe longer. Cat races in 10 years?

So, sure the strategy sounds great but there's nothing local about it and the venue is not a cat friendly area.

With the economy still south, local cat sailors (and I'm sure other area sailors) are finding it difficult to afford the "travel trailer sailing schedule" for races.

Sorry but don't get your hopes too high. The Seattle situation is VERY, VERY much a work in progress.

Raceless in Seattle

BTW, we must have logged over 1,000 miles driving to races so far this year. We live 7 miles from our mast up storage facility. We drive to the storage, drop our mast, pack up and drive to races (at least 50 miles away and as far as 200). Doesn't sound local to me.