Lots!

Why do we want big fleets to race in.... Because the competition around the race course is full on and constant... if you blink... you get passed by a lot of boats = great fun or a great horror! You are always racing someone on these courses. You have to pass boats and you have to round marks with lots of boats... You fit into the group that goes racing... The party is great... but not the reason you come back year after year. The experience of blink and you loose and the challenge of sailing against all those people is key.

What do we do in the USA... engage in fantasy and nostalgia.

We believe that a 4 boat one design fleet will grow to 10 boats and then 20 boats because all people are focused on one design racing and every weekend regatta should be run like the nationals identifying the top one design racer. The guy who wins every race gets bored and moves on. The guy who finishes last in every race gets bored and moves on. Racing in a small fleet can get pretty dull. BUT we know the past ... We believe that if ONLY we could go back to the hobie way of life of yore where the parties were legendary... That casual racers will come out in droves and join the hard core racers (See Hobie Alter Interview of not letting the racers ruin things). So... we continue running the same game plan year after year.

In the EU.... they don't break up 60 boats into 12 classes on their average weekend of racing. They understand that good sailors need to race other good sailors... no matter what boat they are on. The competition will keep those guys interested. Competition at the bottom will be equally as keen. It becomes personal if X beats you again this weekend.

Fact. Lots of new sailors get old race boats and come give it a try... they are parsed into a small open fleet or a small B fleet .. They don't have a good enough time to get into the sport of racing and never come back.

So… we need to ask… What is missing?
What is the fundamental joy in racing sailboats… IMO.. its passing another boat. We need to recreate this today. ITS MISSING all too often.
Second… make sure everyone feels welcome in the group,
Third, a great party usually follows the first two and great food and booze certainly help… but a party alone won’t get you to return the next year if the first two are missing…. Take a look at spring fever… best deal and party that I know of… but about 30 % of the sailors do not bother to return to the event within three years of going. Ouch! IMO… they say… great party, great regatta… Nah… not worth going back next year. Been there… done that.
Finally… Oh yeah… the scores and trophies, camping, giveaways etc..

Identify what’s missing and we will do better.
Your mileage may vary!