Speaking as the "early-20's person breaking into cat racing" I can agree wholeheartedly that it's a big jump to make. a huge investment in time, and money. <br> <br>yes, $1000 is a huge investment to someone in their early 20's! <br> <br>so you need fresh blood to flesh out the fleets? I see that some fleets promote and support youth programs, which is a great investment in the future. However, the problem with this strategy is that it takes 10 years to measure the effects on the sport, and it can backfire because of the expense imposed on the parents, which can trickle down to an attitude that turns the kid off the sport in the end. I played hockey as a kid, and I know EVERY SINGLE PARENT at one time or another wished to god that their kid would get sick of it and pick up a less expensive sport. I think if you're going to keep the kids in the sport for more than two years, the parents need to think that it's at least PARTLY their idea. <br> <br>I also challenge the precept that these new catsailors must start out as non-sailors. why not concentrate on converting some monohullers? <br> <br>my point: <br> <br>We must market the sport at the collegiate level! It's true that most schools run strictly 420's or V15's, but there are a number of schools that have more diverse fleets, and the great thing about it is that they invite dozens of other schools to come and compete on those boats. <br> <br>Imagine! a manufacturer could LOAN fifteen two-man boats to the USNA or USCGA or any of the big-fleet schools for a couple of weeks. they invite twelve other teams to a regatta. each team brings an A and a B crew, plus alternates.... <br> <br> that's 72 RACING-ORIENTED sailors putting the boats through their paces for a weekend, PLUS the exposure of the host institution and their team and student body! and that's just ONE regatta! imagine the numbers if this fleet of loaners were to tour from school to school over the course of a season! <br> <br>I'm not saying it would come without cost for the manufacturer. collegiate folks race HARD, so at the end of that season the sails would be worthless and the hulls would have some "character" left on them, BUT in two or three years most of those sailors are out of school, establishing lives, and looking for a way to feed the racing addiction they acquired in school. they'll buy used boats, of course, but that's GOTTA percolate its way into the new boat market pretty quickly. <br> <br>anyway, if I were a marketing rep for hobie or performance, I'd be looking into it. seems like a no-brainer.<br><br>
