One-Design Survey

 

by Roger Jolly

I have compiled my third one-design class survey this year. The surveys from the previous two year can be found at the following links (2003, 2002).

These surveys compare classes based on the number of boats at annual class championships. The last three years are taken for the ranking but the numbers from the last five years are included in the chart. I figure this is a relatively good measure of total class participation and the only one that could be compiled with a reasonable amount of effort. I’ve also included the states where the championships took place. In my opinion the strongest classes are not necessarily the ones that stay at the top of this list but rather the ones that do so while moving their championships aroun the country. For example the Lightning has been number one for three years running, but you will notice that the class is mostly a North East phenomenon in the US. Similarly the MC Scow is mostly a Great Lakes region class. Clases like the Laser, the Hobie 16 and the Etchells on the other hand manage to stay in the top group while moving their championships through all corners of the US. These classes likely have a greater national following than the classes at the very top of the list.

One thing all these classes do have in comon is that they are all relatively simple and easy to sail. The high tech boats like the International Moth may get all the magazine coverage but when it comes to participation the KISS principal applies.

There where very few changes in the top 20 this year. I added the Tartan Ten and the Interclub after mistakingly leaving them out of the previous two surveys. The 505 worked it’s way into the top 20 aided by an 84 boat North Americans held just before the World Championships in California this year. These three classes displaced the Cal 20, the Rhodes 19 and the Hobie 20.

Send your corrections or comments to rogerjolly000@yahoo.com

Class

 2000 (state)

 2001 (state)

 2002 (state)

 2003 (state)

 2004 (state)

last 3yrs avg.
             

1) Lightning

92 (MD)

101(VT)

110 (MI)

 66(CT)

103 (NY)

93.00

2) Thistle

xx

74(MI) 

92(xx)

94(FL)

80 (IN)

88.67

3) Laser

77(xx)

 67(CA) 

82(xx)

77(TX)

94 (CT)

84.33

4) MC scow 

109 (IN)

75(GA)

91(WI)

55 (LA)

(89) (IN)

78.33

5) Sunfish

71 (AL)

95(IL) 

98(RI)

 81(MS)

53 (NY)

77.33

6) Hobie 16

31 (ONT)

47(CA) 

68 (FL) 

70(DE)

71 (NY)

69.67

7) Flying Scott

xx

xx 

64 (Fl)

90 (NC)

54 (IL)

69.33

8) Club 420 

24(RI)

 88(RI) 

52(MN)

56(ONT)

90 (NJ)

66.00

9) J/24

53(xx)

29(CA) 

52(xx)

 53(WI)

74 (MD)

60.00

10) Inter Club

63 (NY)

49 (CT)

60 (MA)

63 (NY)

43 (MA)

55.33

11) E scow 

xx

79(MI)

70(WI) 

39(NY)

56 (MI)

55.00

12) J/22 

63(TX)

48(NY)

 60(TX) 

47(NY)

NA

51.67

13) Snipe

32(OK)

34(OR)

 44(MS) 

50(MA)

56  (OH)

50.00

14) Etchells

xx

48(MI)

38(CA)

55(MD)

53 (CA)

48.67

15) 505

45(CA)

35 (ONT)

31(CA)

30(MA)

84 (CA)

48.33

16) J/105

33(xx)

 30(xx)

50(IL)

39(CA)

52 (MA)

47.00

17) Star

33(OH)

 61(CT) 

52 (VT) 

40(CA)

44 (MA)

45.33

18) Albacore 

xx

34(ONT) 

40(VA) 

59(ONT)

34 (ONT)

44.33

19) Tartan Ten

xx

xx

xx

45 (OH)

41

43.00

20) Vanguard 15 

xx

55(TX) 

40 (CA)

51(CT)

34 (LA)

41.67