We have a few friends from GB that have done lots of sailing, often ocean racing. It sound horrendous to me. Very high winds and seas, all exposed sailing with few harbors of refuge.

Often, you leave your berth deeply reefed, boats on their ears - constantly, waves rolling over them for hours or a days, then you tuck in behind a seawall somewhere, and collapse. They seem to love it!

Just looking out to sea from many harbors over there, we have it all here on the East coast.

I agree, we need fun boats to sail that kids are attracted to. They don't have to be for us to grow the sport.