Thanks Tony, and yes there has been a lot of growth that will soon need to be addressed. One of the issues is the numbers of boats to a start matched to the venue. The NCR venue considerations after Camp Dearborn will have to take this into account. We cannot go to Charleston every year even it we all demanded it. It is a wonderful facility but there are always local needs that we do not want to burn out.
The Worlds was decided for Charleston because it was the best we have and could handle the most boats. This is not a sanctioned event but part of conversation in the international community going back to a barbie at Brian Hogg's house in New Zealand. The first was in 2006 at Nelson and it was agreed by all that it would be casual to rules in regard to the EC12 and formal memberships around the world. There are EC12's in six countries and the move is to bring them together to visit and share ideas for the community. In concert it was felt that a two fleet race format was best so that the time on the water was maximum for the effort to be there.
The international community has for more boats than the 24 allotted but probably less than a dozen will come. I know that when we have 50-60 entries to our NCR there would be interest in the Worlds as well. I find this exciting that we have risen to the point of logistics being a matter of considerations. But so should be to the international community when they come to the US to face about 160 competitors that travel around to our regattas. It is easy to understand that 50 of them would like to come.
It would be the same for 2012 when the Worlds move to Australia where there are 50 Aussies that would like to attend.
It is a lot more expensive to travel these days compared to 10 years ago when I began sailing on the East Coast. A weekend regatta can cost three to 500 dollars now and adding a third fleet to the Two Fleet System in Florida and a fourth fleet to the Class NCR will dramatically reduce the time on the water; more so in management than actual sailing. Increasing the length of regattas has been frowned on since the NCR at Disney with four days of racing. The staff said no more!
There are other programs and too long for here in this writing but it would be good to hear other views and ideas for the mix. Contingencies are needed for when it is upon us.
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