I'll offer a counter-point.

Maybe people that enjoy outdoor activities break down into two categories - one that values amenities and one that doesn't. On the monohull side, there are a ton of boats being kept in marinas that are not clubs. They cost less, and they don't have pools and tennis courts. I keep my keelboat in such a place. I could put it in a club-type facility in the area and double my slip fee if I valued those things. I, and a whole lot of people, don't. So I'm not sure that facilities like that are a requisite for growing sailing. There are lots of monos sailing off of moorings - the ultimate in no amenities.

Go to Sandy Point on a weekend and check out all power boaters using the ramps. They don't need a fancy club to grow their sport.

I don't play racquetball any more because the clubs kept adding things I don't use and raising the fees for court access.

Our rustic facility actually turned a few people away this year. We thought having the porta-pottie for the Lighthouse race was pretty cool. Some of our newer members are couples/newlyweds.

In terms of money, if buying a cat and putting it in a club type facility costs anywhere near a full size boat (sail or power) the whole family can ride on at once and do overnights, I think cat sailing will ultimately lose. I don't think I could ever justify the expense to my family for them to hang out at the club so dad can go sail. But, that's me, I know some people do.

But it's no doubt that the fancy cubs and facilities thrive, so there is a market there as well, obviously. And maybe they will help grow the sport. But again, if to get into the sport I need to buy a $14k boat and then pay a high fee to store and sail it, and the boat's primary use for racing, well...

I still think that to grow the sport we need to reach out to and bring in new sailors, not try to shift the habits of existing ones. And I'm not sure raising the amount of money required will help unless the image/societal part begins to draw the money crowd.

So maybe both approaches offer benefits and drawbacks, but both approaches are in full use for monos and dinghys as well. I wouldn't blame one for keeping the sport down.

That having been said, I do believe that we need some permanent facilities that cater more to cats around here. But I'm not sure I agree they need to or should be AYC, PPYC, EYC caliber/cost facilities.