There are other factors. In a Montana summer the possibilities for recreation are endless. There are many folks who sail their C boats for the mere pleasure and peace of it. On very windy days, the Kallios, owners of a local boat shop will nearly always pop out of their bay to test the waters. We see them with four people hiked out, battens flapping, bow pounding.
Some people sail for the rush of the wind.
Our yacht club has helped to support our C fleet in several ways. We now have alternatives to the long distance races. We are allowed a five minute early gun to avoid traffic with large keelboats. This has helped our starts to be less intimidating. They have tried to schedule some of our races on separate days from the keelboats so as to integrate the crews.