Nice stir Burton!
If it weren't for the original FISLY rules (design freedom) I would of never entered the class. How ever I understand the original intent of the class. Based off the Facebook I 5.6 mini page it looks like the class will be split in two. One with the original rules and one with restrictions to keep the playing field more level.
The Worlds proved that it doesn't take a big bank account to win. Ironically the second place boat was more or less a factory made open pipe framed boat with a few pieces of fiberglass. Not much different than any basic entry level boat I've seen on this forum. Who enters the International Mini class to compete? At the Worlds the top 4 placements minus my self had won 13 World or European Championships between them in the past in classes ranging from Promo, Class 5 and FISLY Class 3. Currently at the Euro's Jean P Kischner ?SP has a large lead over second place. He placed 4th at the Worlds.
From what I understand about FISLY World Championships - only the top ten competitors from each country can compete.
That being said where does an entry level newbie belong as far as racing? The only option is local club type racing until they can climb the ladder.
A nice model to follow is the DN iceboat class. It's one of the biggest one design sailing classes in the world including soft water boats. - https://ice.idniyra.org/ - I don't know what they do with novice but their scoring and race starts are broken up into 3 divisions Bronze Silver and Gold. You work your way up the ranks and have 3 opportunities to compete with your level of achievement or boat quality. You are ranked yearly. It's not uncommon to have 45 per class in the major events. Very successful by any standard.

I fear the popularity of the DN has a large part to do with the fact that it is one design, another being it appears to have surpassed that critical mass allowing it to replenish its ranks due to the popularity of it.

From an initial thought I think a division racing system could be a good idea, take the yacht and pilot characteristics out of the equation altogether. If you are faster and continually winning races, you get transferred to another division. Seems simple enough (without yet wondering how to 'define' the divisions in a standard manner)...

It would be interesting to hear from the French on this topic. Barney are you saying I 5.6 Mini class should not be included in the World Championships? From what I recall the I 5.6 mini was derived from the need to organize a racing class from existing a smattering of small boats that already existed.

You could change the design of the Mini 5.6 by making the championship sail on a shopping centre car park.... This would favour with good steering and upright seating and slower speeds rather than aerodynamics and flat out speed....

No one said that Mini yachts had to compete on the same surface as the Class5's or Class3's

Or do one day a speed trial on a large circuit and the next day a slalom course on the carpark and average the results.

Why are novice sailors competing in World or even National championships?...... in ANY class

Where is the personal responsibility of each and every sailor to know when they are and are not capable of sailing at that level?

Gizmo said..
Why are novice sailors competing in World or even National championships?...... in ANY class

Where is the personal responsibility of each and every sailor to know when they are and are not capable of sailing at that level?

I think that you answered your own question above when you wrote,

"The MINI 5.6 is there to be an introduction to the sport for newcomers, often totally inexperienced women and children and on small sailing sites. Then moving on to more advanced race classes."

NALSA/FISLY advertised the Mini 5.6 class for Smith Creek 2015. Although 2000 km away, Smith Creek is the closest land sailing venue to Alberta so I decided to give it a try. I had no opportunity to race or even test my mini before I went. I expected to finish last even though there were a number of other novices entered. Although I knew that John was going, I was surprised at the number of current and former world and national champions from other classes entered in what I thought was basically a novice class. My bad for believing what I read on forums!

For future events, however, it might be useful for NALSA/FISLY to define the intent of the Mini 5.6 class explicitly on their official websites and, if it is a novice class to ensure that the pilots are all novices.

Myself, I plan to focus on sailing my mini 5.6 on snow and ice.

As far as I could tell mini 5.6 is an entry class for novice sailors,making that they are quite easy to transport, build and sail. This said i wouldn't expect a race full of novices at a world championships. Though in the future racing formats might cater for novice and experts if required?

This is said I once turned up to a Blokart comp with my mini5.6 and didn't feel too welcome, and left feeling a bit put off...

barney831 said..

All the champions and former champions, who should not have been allow to compete in a novice class in the first place, can rent or sell their I 5.6 minis to interested newbies and go back to racing in the elite classes where they have had so much success in the past.

The whole reason that the former champions are probably in the 5.6 mini class, is that it is the only class that really allows for experimentation and development.
It is not restricted on sail area and materials used. You can throw down your own design and go race it.
Those former champions are very proficient at what they do and would probably be very hard to beat in any class.

I think this reinforces my belief that this is why they still choose the 5.6. Freedom of design.

This is the only reason I sail and enjoy minis.
I love to design, build, sail and destroy them without all the hassle of those limiting restrictions that apply to every other class.

Why would you want to keep building something exactly the same as everyone else has. Just buy a factory unit. They perform perfectly.
Bet my house or car is nothing like anyone's, that is on here.

Mini's are just an individuals concept of ideas, built to perform.
(look at the Lake Lefroy Mini)

The class is just Brilliant!!!!

Chook2 said..

barney831 said..

All the champions and former champions, who should not have been allow to compete in a novice class in the first place, can rent or sell their I 5.6 minis to interested newbies and go back to racing in the elite classes where they have had so much success in the past.

The whole reason that the former champions are probably in the 5.6 mini class, is that it is the only class that really allows for experimentation and development.
It is not restricted on sail area and materials used. You can throw down your own design and go race it.
Those former champions are very proficient at what they do and would probably be very hard to beat in any class.

I think this reinforces my belief that this is why they still choose the 5.6. Freedom of design.

This is the only reason I sail and enjoy minis.
I love to design, build, sail and destroy them without all the hassle of those limiting restrictions that apply to every other class.

Why would you want to keep building something exactly the same as everyone else has. Just buy a factory unit. They perform perfectly.
Bet my house or car is nothing like anyone's, that is on here.

Mini's are just an individuals concept of ideas, built to perform.
(look at the Lake Lefroy Mini)

The class is just Brilliant!!!!

-Same reasons I built a few of my own mini's to sail. I built my second one ( fuselage) with an electrical conduit bender and 7/8'' thin wall round tubing. I skinned the framework with camper/ trailer top alum skin. The traveler uses skateboard bearings. The sheeting system uses screen door rollers. Very obtainable materials.