Doesn't any one out there feel as I do, that debate about the preference/desire for OD or open racing is somewhat divisive and damaging for the cohesion of catamarans in general?
I'll raise my hand. Count me in.
Same story over here cat sailors had to fight for beach rights and respect. They had to join hands with sport fishers and merge into one organisation to get off the ground. Now we are still in the same organisation with them and work together in preserving the rights and permits we have. Now 35 years on, NFB is the best organised sailing organisation in the netherlands with a whole independent race cirquit and an annual race calender of some 50 events (not counting club races and other small races)
Formula 18 class would never have been born if we didn't have open class race oriented mind set over here. All OD classes would have done their best to kill it off in its infancy. Thank god our setup didn't allow that. Now we have one of the most exiting and competitive racing scenes that we can think off. Sailors can go to an 80+ boat event each month and never have to traveller more then 100 miles. And the can race all others no matter what design they bring.
I think we're blessed here.
Wouter
