Open sailing is NOT going to grow the sport, or it hasn't for the last 10 years I've been involved with multihull racing. Open racing has it's place and purpose, but to trade straight up racing for numbers, just isn't worth it to me. If you have to beat someone by 5 minutes to win... you're no longer racing them you're racing the clock and that aint racing. If I wanted to race like that I'd get a lead mine with a sweetheart PHRF rating. That way I could enjoy my sandwich and a cool **** while I stomp the guy 30 minutes in front of me.

If you want to attract the mono guys we better have strong OD/Formula racing to offer them. Why else would they leave the comfort of their own open class to sail multihulls. And don't tell me it's because multi's are fast, sexy and fun, if that was all it took we would have converted the mono guys in the 70's!

Open racing is NOT our future!

Dave

David Ingram
F18 USA 242
http://www.solarwind.solar

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