Okay, I have been watching the banter, and I have to chime in now. We have a fleet of about 25 boats here in Columbia S Carolina. They are as follows
Supercat 20 4
I 20 2
NACRA 6.0 1
NACRA 5.2 2
G Cat 5.7 2
G Cat 5.0 4 active
G Cat 21 1
H 18 2
H 17 1
H 17 sport 1
H 16 5 (3 new sailors)
Mystere 6.0 1
H18modified 1
Trac 16 2
H 20 1


Okay, do we race one design. No. Do we race portsmouth, sometimes. Do we just go out and have fun and see who gets back first? Oh yes. No excuses heard, no bitching, just I can sail my boat(no matter what it is) better than you.

Now when we have a regatta, we split the fleet into high and low portsmouth groups. If ther e are 5, they have thier own class.
This is what works for us. Most people (IMHO) buy boats because something becomes available that they like. Most people when they are new to cats dont set out and say I have to have this type of boat to race against these guys. Once people begin racing and enjoy it, then they specialize. At least that is what is happening here. It may not apply anywhere else, but you asked what will support our fleet.

David Mosley
www.seacats.org