Dennis, I agree with your comments if racing is defined as competitive fleets on W/L courses.
Here in the PNW the participation in point to point races by race/cruise designs is increasing. One of each year's highest participation races (typically 70 to 80 boats, 24' to 67') is the Sloop Tavern Yacht Club Race to the Straits. The fleet races out (northwest from Seattle) to Port Townsend (+-30 miles), spend the night plus a party, then race back on Sunday. This is a pursuit race so the slower rated boats have a chance to be at the dock first. Seattle Yacht Club added a race/cruise fleet to their Tri-Island series. High powered, planing "cruise" boats are not allowed. Rating credits are given for old sails and other cruise boat attributes. Half way times are taken in case light wind prevents finishing before the time limit (typ. 6 to 8 hours). For the last few years the race/cruise classes had more boats on the start line than most of the competitive classes. I enter Calypso in this series and enjoy close competition with similar age/design boats mostly crewed with family and friends. Protests are discouraged; courtesy and sportsmanship are promoted as is helping newbies learn the ropes. The Elliott Bay Marina puts on a fun "race" Thursday evenings during the summer. A 100 boats may show up. Costume themed nights occur. Slow boats can motor if necessary to finish in time for the party (keg, live band, munchies). One small yacht club runs a race for liveaboards named something like "Race your House", IIRC the turnout was low (<12) but it got people out on their boats. Tuesday evening on Lake Union the "Duck Dodge" race and party might have 30 to 60 boats crammed onto the inner city lake surrounded by houseboats, restaurants, and marinas. The after race raft up party is well attended. I am optimistic that the efforts by local yachts club's efforts to tailor races/events to the larger race/cruise audience will reverse the race/cruise boat participation trend. Martin Calypso 1970 C&C 43 Seattle ________________________________ From: CnC-List [mailto:cnc-list-boun...@cnc-list.com] On Behalf Of Dennis C. Sent: Tuesday, December 18, 2012 2:58 PM To: Cn Clist Subject: Stus-List Racing An adjunct to the transition to cruising thread. Racing is evolving to smaller boats. Typical new race boat now is 20-30 feet, fractional rig, non-overlapping headsail (frequently on a furler) and possibly a sprit. Race boats are moving in the direction of high performance, planing hulls and less crew. Handwriting on the wall = if you have one of our older IOR design "classic" boats, move away from hardcore racing and more towards cruising or beercan racing. Dennis C. Touche' 35-1 #83 Mandeville, LA
_______________________________________________ This List is provided by the C&C Photo Album http://www.cncphotoalbum.com CnC-List@cnc-list.com
