When you want to build attendance for a regatta, you need to generate an event atmosphere. You have to build the image to the point where average joe sailor says... I just have to make life work so that I will be there. (Texel seems to have that buzz and it's only a 2 and 1/2 hour race)

If you market "the party" as the essence of the event you will get one or two good turnouts and then as with all things trendy... "been there done that will cut your participation in half". This is not sustainable.

On the other hand, events like "the Nationals" have staying power because of the competition that they draw. You still need to put on a good party but the party is secondary to the competion.

The caveat is that the top dogs have to attend.... If the perception is "well they call them nationals but X, and Y an Z aren't racing" you are doomed."
For Example, the Nacra 20 will have two "national events" The first in Michigan at the Performance combined worlds/nationals will probably be sparsely attended if you believe the postings on the internet. Thus they created another event in Florida that the top teams claim they will attend.

So, the first step is to select a schedule that puts events where the joe sailors are and then to get the rock stars to come. 6 events is ambitious. 3 or 4 might be doable.

I don't think you can build a series on hype alone... but cash always works. The rock stars can justify the time and expense by saying hey... I should finish well enough to cover my costs. Joe Sailor will turn up to compete with the best and see how they do and perhaps do well enough to upset one of the big dogs. The cash prize is not a big deal unless they win some. Since everyone loves an underdog you generate interest if you get the story telling correct. The bigger the event the more energy you can harness and the more satisified that your sponsors are.

It takes years to build an event and just one or two bad events to blow things up.

Perhaps you could generate a series of two Distance races and two buoys races with the best 3 out of 4 counting.
Catfight (Aug), Houston w Tornado's??? (Nov), Steeple chase (Dec) and a Mid Atlantic distance race, C100, DTB (June) or the Statue Race (July)...

Another Idea is to get involved in the Big Boat events that already have a big marketing push behind them. EG, Key West Race Week plus Newport plus the Chesapeake Bay CBYRA championships. (Its much easier to join in with the marketing and help push ... then rise above the noise with a seperate event) You have to believe that a Key West start of 15 20 foot cats would draw some attention and get Joe Sailor out to the race course. (hell you see just as many beach cats in Madison avenue marketing campaigns as you do monohulls and the image of agressive, exciting, colorful photogenic works.... we just need a female driver that looks as good as that Indy driver! )


Take Care
Mark