A directed conversation over lunch generated the following ideas:

For Regional Clubs… Swap boats… spread the knowledge.

The Southern Circuit program of three events in a 10 day period for Lightings. A 2 day Cult like race… Off Day … a 2 Day Intense regatta… then a relaxed event for 3 days and then home to winter. Lots of class history associated with the event that keeps it growing.

Events larger then Just Sailing… EG Leukemia Cup…
Open the social event to the Public. (The Low Rent Regatta ran for 20 years on Labor Day in Virginia Beach and was a huge drag race with an even bigger party attached that the public came to and the proceeds went to a local charity.) Version 2.x hosted by fleet 32 has replaced this event when the previous organizers retired after their 20.

Tie into the local town with open ceremony’s

Hype the venue as a place you want to visit and experience.

Entertainment for participants… but more importantly spouses and sponsors.
Music and Video where noted several times.

Media sponsor fulfillment… Make sure sailors KNOW to buy stuff from the Sponsors.

Portsmouth racing for small fleets… (otherwise known as the Dead Boat Society)

The Brits run a pursuit race for all Portsmouth classes that gets over 200 boats… (Sounds like the Florida Mug race)

TESOD… Always at 6 pm Tuesday. 3 starts, short courses, no scores kept, lots of grief and applause dished out by the SINGLE PRO on the hailer. If the mark needs moving… Move it hey…the other half the fleet will round the mark when you put it down again.… there is no score… the other classes will appreciate the new course. Lots of races a night. Emails to come… Email Wed AM about who did what to whom.
TESOD = Tuesday evening Sailing One designs.

Lunch on the water, hits the spot AND it means more time racing and socializing at the party later.

Entry fee… 1/5th of rum for every 3 people on the boat… No Rum leaves the premises in a bottle.!

Great Venue’s offer great sailing, but keep people together and out of cars!

On line Registration with who’s coming updates WORKS…
The 505 class had their largest east coast event in 15 years after they manually updated the who’s coming list daily. The Albacores manually updated their list and ran it through paypal … great results. CRAC almost doubled the alter qualifier turnout with online reg as a major factor.

Personal Handicaps work… In Australia… the Line honor winner in a one design class gets a trophy for first… THREE other trophies are awarded to the Personal handicap winners. Some one design fleet is doing it here and it works.

Vocal Race Committees make life easy, keep everyone in the game, and generate energy.

Start on time.. Develop a reputation…. People will comply… don’t get sucked down!

Ensure the fleet gets there by starting your mark boats out last and sweep up the stragglers to the starting area.

The welcome you receive when you arrive at the venue is remembered for YEARS to come and makes a difference

DEBRIEF THE WINNERS…. Share what happened out there.

Mentors

Lending boats to sailors grows the class. Lending SAILS as a fleet to owners who lend boats REALLY GROWS The class eg 505, Vipers Insurance is now able to deal.