Beneficial to all Lotus Owners, with a regular newsletter, sharing of technical data and advice and maintenance of a register of where boats are located and their current owners.
Lotus owners generally form a long term "love affair" with their boats and a natural comradery exists between fellow owners both on and off the water. As racer/cruiser designs, Lotuses attract owners and families with a nice balance of activity on the water that may involve being archrivals on the race course, but best mates at a raft up.
The boat market continues to be flat and resale prices have dropped. With an effective national association and support, especially to encourage new owners, we can elevate the popularity of Lotus designs and demand for Lotus design boats will hold or even lift.
The Lotus designs are particularly popular as a family boat with their big volume for cruising, and safe and spacious cockpits. The association can enhance family participation by organising family cruising events, picnics or raft ups.
The number of Lotus design boats built numbered about 500 and there is excellent potential to promote the Lotus designs and "class racing" within keelboat fleets nationally. Successful sailing dinghy clubs thrive on class racing in this way.
The Lotus Owners Association is registered and affiliated to Yachting NZ. This allows the association to nationally or on a regional basis or even within a club to hold its own racing or regattas under the International Racing Rules of Sailing.