Again-I do not believe this rule change has any impact on cost of ownership except during the first year of implementation (and then only if an owner wants to have both chutes brand new).
Carl, I understand your arguments about broader cost issues-but I don't think there is much more that the class could do to limit costs. We already limit sail purchases to one set per year, and we still are not allowed to carry aramid mainsails. And about the J/70 class sail/cost limitations-they can buy as many sets of three sails as they want in a calendar year (my understanding is that the top boats buy a new set for every major regatta)and can carry as many pros as can fit-and the class is thriving because the level of competition is so high.
You are correct that if/when boats bring all new inventory and a pro to the NA's,there will be many boats that won't be able to compete at that level. But I don't think we can do much to address that problem unless we switch to an arrangement like the one used by the J/44 class, where the fleet buys full sets for the entire fleet on a regular schedule and sails are rotated between boats. But that only works for the 44's because they are all east coast based and have a pre-arranged one design event calendar.
I believe the "top amateur" trophy was dropped when fewer boats were bringing pros and the winning boat also was top amateur boat. Maybe we should bring it back?
