I agree with you Timbo, logistics have to be simple to make it attractive from a financial, time, and enjoyment perspective.

Hiram's fits the bill in all respects. Distance is comfortable yet challenging (about 40 km +/- each day), relatively easy logistics (down and back to the same spot), and nice accommodations. We'll forget that little Halloween party incident for the sake of keeping it civil here...

Macho has potential in terms of great venue, but the logistcs are difficult

KL Steeplechase is a great venue, a bit more challenging distance, the logistics are "tolerable", but it's geographically undesirable for many snowbirds that close to the holidays.

Miami-key largo is nice but logistics are a nightmare. And you can get your face eaten off by meth-heads.

RTI pensacola is quite a challenging distance/course, but everything else is top notch

Rudder Club Mug Race is second only to Hiram's in my book as far as venue (nice), course (moderate challenge), logistics (great), geography (good location for out-of-towners) and diversity (great selection of keel, sport, canoe, multi, etc)

What does "De ****" near the golf course mean? Lighthouse and hotel, yes.. But the name itself?

I just love not being able to fully understand dutch. Such a great inclusion of northern european languages into the language

<**** (poor guy) bought part of the island.
Funnily enough he was actually a Belgian
http://www.texel.net/en/about-texel/villages/de-****/

+1

I call BS on all of it. We don't have this type of event, all we have here is a list of events that don't compare, and a list of (and reference to additional) excuses.
Don't be offended, step up and make a difference. How do we make this happen?
HINT: Stop asking why people don't do these events, and start asking why people go to Texel. I can promise you that it has nothing to do with any of the excuses above.
Mike

Okay Mike, why do people attend Texel but not the events in the US?

We just had over 30 boats show up and do the Big Kahuna Kup in Glaveston yesterday. It's a small distance race in Galveston. This was only the 2nd year of this race. It was started by a man who's never raced or organized a race before. It was promoted well. He got enough sponsors for the race so there was NO entry fee! Not to mention there were FREE drinks and live music at the finish.

outdoors type people

don't have as wide a range of summer sport choices in the nederlands

that and the population density has led to a critical mass reaction that seems to be happening now

would be interesting to know what thew dutch cat scene was like during the usa boom days 1970-1980

hello,
In approximately 1985 i raced Round Texel and it was the world's largest cat race then. i think it was that way in the late 70's too. There were like 600 boats participating in those days if memory serves correctly.
In Holland in those days a bar tender could afford to race a P 16 for example. Apparently people had more disposable income over there.
No kites in '85 yet and we caught all the way up to the front of the pack on the downwind sailing a borrowed G 5.7. The boat had no mast rotation control and we suffered on the last long beat to the finish because we could not depower the main sufficiently. Around 10 boats passed us on the way up.

How boring is powerboating - everybody can be fast with it. Sailing fast has something to do with expertise, experience and sportiness, even if our petrol prices would be the same like in the US I never ever would buy a powerboat.

That is the question to ask.



That is not.



The key is to find out what drives people to events, and give them what they want. Knowing what they don't want helps to make sure they return, but people will go out of their way (and spend lots of money) if the event is something they really want to do.

So, again, why do people love Texel, and what do we need to do to get that turnout here?

Mike

I rig and launch next to a local yacht club fairly frequently. Of course you get the leaner, yachties, and dingy folk coming by to ask questions. I flat out tell them its not for them, and there's no way they could ever possibly transition to a modern beach cat. I figure the patting their back, givin' a quick tug job, and telling em' how great our boats are isn't working so its time to go the opposite direction and see if that pulls them in. Kind of a Project Mayhem approach.

"These are not the droids you're looking for."

sailing has an image problem in america. first off, you know it's cool, i know it's cool, but many folks think it's for dorks...goobers...nerds...kinda like being on the math team. secondly, sailing comes off as an elitist, one percenter activity. when i tell people i sail, some look at me like i'm a pompas butt, rich kid, know it all and they really don't care. now sport bikes, harleys, cameros, personal watercraft, nascar, college football, etc...that's where america spends its money for passtimes. the hope is that the americas cup will spark interest here and i hope is does. you have to use your brain to sail so this could only be good for the ole' u.s.a.! mayby a really cool video game would help to interest some young people, especialy if there are hookers you can kill...

Try telling people that you not only sail, but also race; then throw in that you travel the circuit, and have an RV for that purpose...

Mike