I could be wrong but racing boats of the same design (as Joel White envisioned with W-76), doesn't seem as popular today.

Growing up, the only racing I knew was one design: Lightenings, Sailfish, Penguins, you know them all. And then a couple decades ago J 24 class was pretty big in my area.

Now, not so much. It looks like a smorgasborg out there on the race course.

PHRF for glass racers of all vintages and classic boat races for woodies.

Many of the beautiful wooden boats I post are primarily owned to race. These are old racers racing against other old racers, and very few are alike. It's all handicap stuff. The owners love it!

The desire to compete in sailboats still is strong today. But one design-like the W-class, maybe isn't as strong? Even the high end media stuff (Volvo, Americas Cup, ) are not one design anymore, (I don't follow much of it so I could be wrong).

Owning the fastest boat only says,...you own the fastest boat.