[quote=MN3][quote]This thread has meandered, but getting back to declining participation rates, I always wonder if (what I perceive as) [b]the lack of communications technology employed is a stumbling point.[/b][/quote]
Where it doesn't help - i don't think it is a cause
The interest in the sport was failing / flailing and was evident even when Catsailor.com was still well used (that site was full of die hard cat racers and several engineers). This was discussed and addressed ad nauseam. The forum used to be so busy that you could hit f5 (refresh) and there would be many new posts. that dwindled and dwindled.
As the cat sailors aged, beach access diminished, and new sports came around that were much easier to access, afford and rig .... the current state of recreational cat sailing in the US was set (IMHO).
Also, to be perfectly honest, sailing on a cat is not comfortable. Sitting for hours with your legs in front of you is hard on the body. Strapped into a harness for any length of time ... is hard to take. Also there is no room for comforts nor necessitates.
Even on boats where there is room ...
There are still lots of marina's with masts up - not that many of them move out of port often around here. Around here we are experiencing sailboats being moved out of marina$ and parked outside the marina. And mostly un-used and becoming rust buckets that eventually break free. Every big storm that comes through has a few break free.
We have submerged boats that aren't marked and have been there for years now - total environmental disaster and navigational hazard that isn't being addressed
There are still lots of yacht clubs. Not that many young people are interested in joining (around here at least).
I have seen the shift from sailing to SUP, Kayak and powerboats first hand here - and we have beach access and a plethora of cheap used cats.<!-- editby --><em>Edited by MN3 on Nov 07, 2020 - 12:50 PM.</em><!-- end editby --> [/quote]
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