The issue is the amount of oxygen in the room for national regattas COUPLED with the needs of historic OA's that host events.

If you leave this schedule decision up to the OD classes... who can bring 30 boats to an event (A class and F18s and Hobie 16s) Each class is able to find a good OA to run their event(s). The second feature is the OD class May see value in moving the big events around the region or country. Final point, from the ONE design class's point of view NOTHING is gained by sharing the race course with another class. The A class probably looks at this as a negative to share the race course (Collisions always work out badly for an A class... it sucks to see the non A class boat survive .... Its human nature to believe that the other SOB just doesn't care enough then) From the One Design Class point of view... We Have no Problem here with the status quo.

From the one design Sailor point of view... They also don't have a problem... their class has right sized the national schedule for them. For example, the F18s seem to want to do ONE mid winter event (Jan or Feb)... They LIKE events that are strictly their class... Most of the sailors don't have strong opinions about sharing the race course tho... So... something like Tradewinds works out for them. Alternatively, they could decide that the class is better served racing at Key West to show off to the world press (yes its not practical)... Tradewinds would then be a second tier event for them. If they are traveling a distance.. they will pick their class one design regatta, The national sailors don't have a problem with the status quo.... the Regional sailors are disapointed that their 2nd tier event does not get big support.

The national sailors look at the second tier of events that are trying to pull them in (those in the pre season of March and April) as maybe... but probably not in their plans because of ... time and money limits.

So, the PROBLEM exists for the OAs like Spring Fever, Davis Island and Hobie MWE, they need turnout to run the event at their historic levels. ... Spring Fever thought they would have 75 boats... and were on track for less then 50 AND they don't exactly know why. A class got a turnout at Davis Island last week... Hobie MWE is running a Classic Hobie 16, 17 and 18 event. Spring Fever is gone.

I would look at the problem and say.. Winter events are Jan and Feb... In the keys... The One design class leaders can hash it out with the OA for what their class wants... The A class left Tradewinds and set up their own event because it worked better for them. If you want changes in tradewinds... speak with Rick.

March and April are usually primo sailing times in Florida and the South, GA and MISS but are pre season for most of the country. Events like Spring Fever, and the A class Davis Island and Hobie MWE are going to be on sailors second tier. They need 90% turnout from their regional racers to have a hope of being successful ... and then a few sailors who travel nationally. They have to get the expectations in line and right size the event.

The conversation that needs to be had is between Spring Fever, HWME (Hobie) and Davis Island (A class) OAs ... AND the Class OD leaders of Hobie 16s, F18s, A class... AND the class leaders of the local classes (F16s in GA). The dates matter here... Since Spring Fever is constrained to EASTER which moves... can the other OA's be flexible with dates and does that make a difference to how many sailors are available for the three OAs.. This is one conversation that needs to happen sooner rather then later and it is one phone meeting with the principles... (who have to want to solve the meta level problem.)

Of course... it seems to me that the US cat scene actually needs ONE big euro style regatta. Spin double handed.
Single handed. Classic sloop.... Classic big sloop. As Eric noted... he has no reason to travel in his small one design Isotope class... UNLESS he gets to race new people in other classes. The ONLY WAY this event is successful is for the major One design classes to support it.

Would it be interesting to have ONE US Regatta where 10 F18s, 10 Olympic 17s, 10 F16s, 10 Nacra 20s, 5 (CFR 20s, Marstrom 20s, Nacra carbon 20s, Flying phantoms,and the odd C class) who pre registered and showed up for a three day regatta of buoys and medium distance racing? 40 to 45 boats on the starting line?

Would the Hobie 16 leaders promote an event of 15 Hobie 16s, 10 Hobie 18s, 10 (Prindle 16s, 18s, Nacra 5.2s 5.0s Mystere 5.Os and 4.3s ) and 10 Isotopes. 45 boats on the line..

If I were king... I would set it up as the Olympic Support regatta so every boat kicked in a few bucks to support the Junior Olympic development team. All beach cat racers have a stake in supporting this effort.

It takes a meeting of the class presidents, regional fleet leaders and the OAs who could pull this off.
Has it ever been done... Yes... Multihull magazine ran the Newport Multihull cat fest years ago... Spring Fever did a little bit of it for two years.

Again... the one design class leaders have to decide that such an event is valuable to the sport and their sailors.

So... two steps..... Divide up the oxygen in the room between the OA's and the One Design Classes in the pre season.. (March and April)

Step two... Is their any value to a Single euro style regatta during this pre season period. I recognize... that while it may be pre season for the northern sailors... the southern sailors are in the begining of their seasons... so... they absolutely have to take the lead and give up something on their schedule to make it happen.

Final point... the distance races are attempting to restart... so.... you have to keep those OA's and sailors in mind as well. (hint.. invite them to the phone meet up)