In the Pacific Northwest (Area L), we sent 3 teams to the Youth Multihull Championship in 2007. One skipper 'graduated' and was not young enough. His crew wanted to go this year. But she would've been a one-time flash in the pan. The Championships were a way for her to get some good competition cross-training for her mono campaign. She was not committed one iota to multis.

One of the other skippers broke his leg in a skateboarding accident and was out for a year. His dad owns a Tiger, so he'll be back this summer. The other skipper was the daughter of a Tiger owner who also had a bad accident and was sidelined. She was brand new and very green. We expect both kids to be back this summer. One of our "up and coming" youth is the daughter of a multi sailor.

Results from the Pac NW -- the kids are coming from the families, not from other classes. The top notch kids in other classes are staying in those classes. We might get some crossover from other classes in the lower ranks, and some of those might even do well on multis. But the rank-and-file youth multi sailors are gonna come from families that already sail multis, and kids that have little exposure to sailing prior to jumping in.

As for the parents giving up their boats so the kids can jump on them, I don't see that happening. We are all too selfish and passionate about our sailing to do that on a consistent level. A few might; but not the masses. Area L parents are buying 16s for their kids and double-stacking them to regattas. It works sweet.