- Coffee etc. in the morning
- Lunches and water
- Beer and soda after the racing
- Dinners that people will attend
- Camping
Face it, only a few people are going to win something so you need to do some things to make it fun for everyone.
This formula as its one that has worked well for us in Melbourne. You have to couple it with good race management and making sure that people have a good time.
We try to provide free housing to everyone who asks for it because we cannot provide camping. I think you have to provide one or the other.
You need to keep the extra meal costs low as many places are unreasonably high. It also helps if there is something for spouces to do in the area while the racers are out on the water.
I am sure everyone has personal reasons, for me a factor was that both mid winters this year were pretty far north, considering possible early to mid March temperatures, while it could be nice and balmy, it might not too. I've already "enjoyed" a 40 degree mid winter's further south in Sarasota, so I hated to invest a thousand mile drive each way, with the greater possiblity of a cold regatta in the panhandle, I can stay home and sail in the cold (in my dry suit).
If a more northern club is hosting a mid-winters, a few weeks later timing could reduce the possiblity of a cold regatta, possibly helping attendance from us northerners looking to get a break from winter.
I prefer to drive my motorhome, tow the boat, and stay on the regatta site, not all venues can accomodate this, but this is also a factor for me, even though 6 to 7 mpg from Pennsylvania add$ up, and makes alternitives more cost effective, it's my preference to stay on site.
Also for me, the finances of a kid who will be going into her unplanned (for me) 5th year of college and another starting this fall, both at expensive private colleges, plays a large factor for me for a while. I might be really poor next year!!
Ed
77318
I am a new member to this website . I don't know what's been done in the past to promote the Sunfish class, but if you want to attract new members (young and old) you have to go and find them. As simple as that sounds, for example, I think you have to set up a booth at your county fair, make a float in the 4th of July parade, sponsor or co-sponsor some event at a school, offer free sailing lessons or do what ever that can spur the interest of an individual or family to find out how affordable sailing a sunfish can be.
Bill
I only attended the Masters due to a conflict and I was sorry to see few Florida folk that made the trip. I'm thinking, too long drive/too cold for Floridians.
One suggestion regarding future Masters/MW's: several other classes have had success by hosting "feeder" regattas prior to their midwinters. How about scheduling one or two regattas on the way to South/mid Florida (like Charleston-Lake Dora, Fl., etc.) so that participants driving South have more events to attend so to make the long trip more worth while? Even a combined Grand Prix series of 3-4 winter events might encourage more Northerners to make the trek.
Regarding Sunfish racing participation in general-we are obviously loosing the Opti kids to brand L due to our image problem. We need to hire a professional PR firm to work with us to change our image from off-the-beach-fun-boat to a serious racer. Vanguard will not help us, we need to work this ourselves. Ads in the marine media; heavy air flicks; racing articles, etc. etc. is needed for years to change our image. It will be costly, sure, but if we don't start soon, we will all age out and the Class could dwindle! Let's do it.