Mark,

Your comments are all very well for the US, but in the UK, we have to contend and fight for sailors who are seeing fleets of 30 29ers (see here for example at an open meeting ) 29er's are cool. I would probably not be sailing a cat now if 29ers were around when I was a kid, I would be sailing an 18 foot skiff or a 49er ! we also have a good fleet of musto skiff's at a open at the same time.

This was an open at our club to remember Dave Ovi (the designer of the boats who died recently).

29ers are cool. H16s are not.

Spitfires look cool and modern, Sorry, but as George says H16's do not, and the kids in the UK care.

They want to go fast, they want a kite and they want a technical boat to sail.

If we want cat sailing to flourish in the UK (and the Holland/rest of the EU - Correct me if I am wrong Wouter) we need a boat that WILL ATTRACT people to it like the 29er already does.


A little while ago I was talking to some kids about the Inter 17 at the club when they were up for the above open and they were asking about helming from the wire (you could see they were already thinking about the progression to a 49er (not a Tornado) and they were asking "so how fast is it mate"... oh, it's handicap is just a little faster than a 49er, but I cannot keep up in the light stuff, but give me some breeze and I'm lapping them no worries.....

Ok they said.. Still don't want a Tornado. Why I asked.... Oh, no real reason, just so much more to learn after spending so much time on the 29er !!!!!!


Most of the "adults" around the club want to sail a Tornado....

So by not catching them young they go onto the 49er and not to the Tornado.......

Then in later life want a Tornado.....Bugger.........