Venue - Pick a scenic catamaran accessible area and the season when the winds are more or less dependable. Examples: Great Texas, Tybee 500, Hill Country, almost any regatta between P'cola and P'city
Fleet - a friendly fleet of competent racers who are open and accessible to newbies and who are also willing to take on some of the tasks of hosting a regatta. Examples are compiling lists of inside knowledge on local hotels, non-sailing attractions for families, maps or nautical charts, restaurants or marine supplies. Examples: Mid-Americas, RTI, Mug Race, GT, Spring Fever
Conditions - Wide sandy beaches, free of overhead power lines, forgiving local constabulatory, wind and lots of it. Examples: GT, Juana's, Tybee
Inclusiveness - Everyone is welcome, the only criteria for inclusion is love of sailing. Examples: Hill Country, Deep South, Ruff Rider, Spring Fever.