Found this interesting thread on the sailing anarchy forum.
Keeping a class modern
The particulars for that class are very different (boat, location, competitive environment) but the issue are familiar, and would seem relevant. Those who are members and get a DS Quarterly will have seen the membership numbers.
There was a long thread in the DS1 sub-forum on joining the DSA and now, with the active sailing season (almost) over, it would seem an opportune time to pick that discussion up again.
A couple of points to get this started:
One of the posters put nicely: "... the real question is how to keep the class strong, not modern. That can only be answered by having a full understanding of where the class fits in the sailing market it lives in."
What's the real market for the DS. for the DSA?
The SA thread has a link to a promotional video for the boat in question
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bMXumSDGP_4
which I suspect speaks to the strengths of that boat. What would be different for a DS?
Their boat is a home-built design. That means, new boats can enter at reasonable cost. For the DS, as we found out in another thread, the cost differential between a new boat and a refurbished one is prohibitive.