Sam,

Don't over interpret my statement of "factories help support".

Factories and the national class leadership take the lead, seduce, cajole, and bribe, whatever it takes to get a local group to run the event. They try to balance geography, time of year and local interest. They have the authority to call an event the nationals and they give that standing to the club who is running the event.

THEN they do this.
“Hobie Corp. just wants to take credit for "ANOTHER GREAT REGATTA" in their advertising.”

And that is fine... we are all in this boat together; factories, class leadership, club leadership, volunteers and racing sailors and the fans who just watch from the side lines. Remember It's their tradmark which increases the stature of the event and we support this notion by supporting events sanctioned by the factories as "nationals"


“The U.S. A Class has many regattas including an NA with no factory support.
They have even put on a World Championship in America with no factory support.”

Actually not true, I know that Boyer sent boats to the nationals for charter….

Regardless, my point is that we are all in this boat together and the more people pushing the ball forward the better. The factory support is just one factor (I certainly agree with you that they are not the most important factor) in driving the event forward.

Tracie’s point about regional sailing is right on. The national scene is just a reflection of the health of the local sailing scene.

Mark