To get the kids to sail cats (in the UK) we have to find something that looks more fun than a 29er or a Musto Skiff!
That means a Spitfire, F16 or an F18 Simple as that for 2 up, or a Shadow, Inter 17, FX1, (my new beast) or an A class.
Word!
I think one of the disadvantages a lot of posters on this thread have is that they see things from a national point of view rather than a global one. I gather that mono dinghy sailing in the US is not high profile - it seems that sailors want to get onto lead mines as soon as they can. So there hasn't been the same move towards modern high performance dinghies as there has been in Europe and Oz. And these modern boats are the ones the kids here want to sail. Read some of the UK forums where youth sailors post - it's all about whether a Cherub is better than a 29er or whether they should buy a moth and fit foils or get an MPS or RS700. So if we're to get these guys onto the proper number of hulls we have to offer them something that's at least as sexy as a Cherub or a 29er - or even an RS200. Because if we don't these kids will become the next generation of skiff sailors.
Don't get me wrong, I've nothing against H16s - I've had a blast sailing them at Vassiliki (and had the bruises to prove it!). But it's a 1970s boat and this isn't the 1970s. Youth dinghies have move on a lot. If we want cat sailing to prosper, youth cats have to move on too. So what do we need? Not sure the perfect boat exists. Maybe a Hobie Tiger Cub....?
