US SAILING hosted its first ever one design symposium in Newport RI over the past weekend. Focused on helping OD classes grow, the symposium was a huge success and the turnout of 100+ (representling ~30 classes) was far greater than the organizers anticipated for the inaugural event.
I think all participants came away charged up with new ideas for fleet building and class management, and with a real sense that we are all in this together. The one design classes are facing the same issues as multihull classes: how to get new people involved, how to compete with other family obligations, how to find affordable access/launching facilities, etc. etc.
It was announced at the beginning of the weekend that there would be a "winner" of the symposium, and that the judging would be arbitrary and capricious. At the end of the symposium the award was given to the Hobie class who were the second to sign up and brought 4 representatives so they were able to cover all the breakout sessions simultaneously.
The four class representatives each got a J-Boats hat.
All in all a great showing for multihulls! Nice job guys (and Liza) getting us some respect!
Hunt Stookey
18HT USA 14
