Scott Correa wrote:
All a one design class needs to be successful is a sanctioning
body making it THE choice for contests. Look at the olympics.
Solings for gods sake, tornado's and other low performance
boats. Very strict rules on planform and construction. IMHO
there are much better race boats in the world than what theey use.
The key is that they use them, have contests and promote it as a
class boat.

The PW5 only needs for the sanctioning body of soaring to adopt it
and have a world championship at the venue that the other classes
are held. There are people who would fly for a world title in the class
if it was flown and promoted that way.

I agree that if you hold a contest, they will come. My observation is
that "they" are high level pilots who are already competing, and see the
another class as simply another avenue to pursue their interest in
competition. I don't think a one-design class has an extra attraction to
the new or less serious pilot, as long as they have similar cost
competitions available, such as the Sports Class, the Club Class, and
regional competitions.
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Eric Greenwell
Washington State
USA