If, as Jake and others speculate, dead-boat societies are one of the keys to building OD or box-rule fleets, does your regatta do a good job at welcoming these dead boat societies?

As the PHRF fleet starts get smaller, perhaps they don't feel as "included" as the one-design fleet starts?

I think there were a few events where the N20 and N6.0 went boat/boat with the 18s (back when DPNs weren't that different). Can your regatta afford that "luxury" for some dead-boaters with reasonably similar DPNs?

Is it that essential in a non-crucial regatta (like a NA's or World thing) to have PHRF "quarantined" to their own start? Are they that much worse than a noob in your one-design start?

I know keeping start/finish time for PHRF is a drag (maybe we can figure out how to use those RFIDs that I see runners have in big events), and lumping them in with OD fleet might hurt since you may have to keep time on everyone, but would the effort draw more sailors out?

Conversely, are dead-boat sailors more interested in sailing than racing? Are dead-boaters at your regatta to win pickle dishes or do they appear more interested in the social aspect of the event?

Would they be more enticed with distance/adventure style formats than buoy?

I see there are several (relatively) well attended regattas in my area that consist of a hodgepodge of craft (mono, multi, and WTF). One is a fundraiser, so that makes a bit of sense. The other is basically an excuse for everyone to get out on the water for a day.

I think the class winners get a coconut or something, and given the number of classes (oldest, best dressed, etc) I suspect that everyone gets to win something.

The local Opti fleet has a "random" winner where they pick a number out of the hat (not including numbers 1,2, or 3) and post it on the course board at the prep flag. So if "4" is posted, whomever finishes 4th wins that award. And then everyone bunches up near the finish to hit that number... This worked out especially well when the adults had to sail the Optis smile

I think I saw about 5 boats in a glob all pushing and shoving each other (one was backwards) and it seemed like everyone was having a little too much fun on that one... But any time you put adults in an Opti, the results are pretty hilarious

Jake, can you make a DBS logo for F-24m2? I think I'd like a shirt or two... smile

Jay