Spot-on on the question of who the audience is. I think there's two answers to this. 1) The current fleet of 20 foot cat sailors. 2) New blood drawn in by some generated buzz.
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<br>The current sailors will have to be given incentive to go to a new class that requires a new boat or mods to their existing boats. Especially, if as noted, they will give up their previous action due to those mods.
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<br>The new blood will be drawn in when they see how cool it is. But they won't see how cool it is unless boats are out there sailing, and it gets exposure.
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<br>A rule that starts out very inclusive and morphs over the years to a new formula is certainly one way to go. It does rely on active management of the spec to ensure that it keeps moving.
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<br>Another way may be like is done with the A-Class, I believe, where there is a two-tier rating. One for the newer lightwieght boats, and one for the older, heavier designs. So start out with a two tier system - one for the older designs, the H-20s and N6.0s and whatever. Any mods to those boats would be kept to something that could be undone for the local one-design action. The top tier is for the new boats, ones designed for the rule. This then could be closer to the existing international rule. Lower tier sailors can always move up to a newer boat when they're ready financially or skill-wise. People tired of spending on new equipment could move down instead of out.
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<br>As time moves on, current top tier boats would become uncompetitive with the new designs and then could become eligible for the lower tier, giving a competitive used boat access point for newbies. Older designs would most likely eventually fall away except for those that like to tinker and upgrade.
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<br>This way you can draw the current 20 foot sailors, and provide for new growth. With a current crop of sailors and the right moves, the buzz would be generated and the new blood might be attracted. Now the formula has momentum, and can evolve.
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<br>At first you may have more lower than upper tier boats. But you have boats participating the F20 class, and I believe the upper tier will then grow.<br><br>Keith, Annapolis, Md.
<br>H-18
<br>Northstar 500 (monoslug)
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