That means :

ISAF section 5 rule 26.2.1 subsection E (ii) (who thinks up these article references !!!)

(ii) in the case of Recognized Classes, in at least four Member National Authorities or three Member National Authorities which are from two continents and meet the following criteria as to the number of boats per country according to size;

LOA Boats per country

Up to 5.0m 20
5.0m to 6.5m 15

LOA Boats Worldwide

Up to 5.0m 100
5.0m to 6.5m 80

For the purposes of these regulations “continent” means any one of Europe, North America, South America, Asia, Africa and Oceania.



Mind you ISAF didn't have to do this as

ISAF section 5 rule 26.2.1 subsection G states

(g) The requirements of 26.2.1(e)(ii) may be waived by the Council, upon recommendation of the Sailing Committee, when considering a class which serves a unique aspect of sailing.



But lets summarize the conditions this SL16 class need to meet before mid-year 2008 = 30 months from now.

4 countries having at least 20 boats and having a total of 100 boats (class members) around the world

or

3 countries, of which at least 2 on different continents, having at least 20 boats each and having a total of 100 boats around the world.


Note how selling 80 boats in France and 20 to non French sailors is not going to cut it.

Also !

[color:"red"] ! So these guys need to sell 100 SL16's of 11.000 Euro's to youth teams (below 21 years) in the next 30 months !
[/color]

Note how this means almost selling a boat a week for the next 130 weeks ! And do this in such a way that at least 3 (or 4) nations have at least 20 purchase. I really don't see many nations putting up 20 youth teams of sufficient desire to part with 11.000 Euro's (USD 13.000 ex shipping).

Come to think of it, that combines to a 1.1 million Euro's deal over the next 30 months. (1.3 million USD or are you Americans calling this 1.3 billion USD ?).



WOW ! This will be fun to watch !

I can't imagine the amount of promo that that it going to take.

Wouter