To be clear, I think US Sailing has value to anyone who sails. I've been neck deep in volunteering for the organization for 15 years and I'm not done. I don't think they do everything right. I've been at odds with the last few years of moving away from a volunteer organization, but my membership is current and so is my race officer certification.
Neither the Alter Cup nor the Olympic programs get any money from dues - if you don't want to support the elite end of the sport, you can still be a member with a clear conscience.
I have been and will continue to be a multihull sailor first, and I always saw the Alter Cup as the most visible evidence to other adult multihull sailors of what US Sailing is about, at least at a level that connects more locally for most of us. I've been torn as the event that brings all classes, fleets and associations together has changed, incrementally, into something else. I've wondered, as others do, if it would serve the multihull community better to have the Alter Cup out from under the US Sailing Championships. This does not equate (in my mind) to a condemnation of US Sailing as a whole.
Yes, and to me that would likely be the RRS and my course sticker. Didn't know zero $ went to Alter Cup or Olympic campaigns/training centers, but that's not my call.
Just out of curiosity, how much is a membership?
And how many percent of the average racer's budget is it?
John,
I would fully support someone forming an organization to try and run such an event for 10 invited sailors on provided boats..... It could be for profit or as a non profit.
I suspect that this is very very hard to dp but nothing would be stopping such an effort.
Heck, I think the Hobie 16's have a private thing occasionally in Puerto Rico for invites only. There is precedent for such an event.
It would be crass to grab the name of the existing championsip but that would be my only issue.
I'm am a member of two yacht clubs, both members of USS
I'm a member of my class
My class is a USS member
My class dues (almost 100%) go to my international class
My IC pays ISAF
As far as I'm concerned my oblications to support the stucture of the sport are met and there is no need for me to contribute to another club that is known to provide very marginal support to the sport I love.
Mark - I think that the Alter Cup can remain a US Sailing event without being under Championships, which carries all the obligations of national sponsorship agreements, few of which are tailored or even relevant to our small niche of the sport. I'm not in favor of a new organization as long as there's an Alter Cup at US Sailing.
And how many percent of the average racer's budget is it?
I think it's $60/yr. I'm a member but I've forgotten exactly how much. I usually add some extra $$ for the Multihull Council and Youth Sailing.
As a percentage of racing budget?? Depends on the sailor, and how much they spend on their racing, but it's not a whole lot.
I still think the
Answer
to the Alter Cup issues (money and boats) are to get one or two BIG NAME sponsors, like Budwieser, Red Bull, Jimmy Buffett, etc. and do it RIGHT!
Get 10 (or 20) Brand New boats from a single source, to be raced by class champions (top 2 or 3 from each class) ONLY, no Political Invites, and have it at a large, very spectator friendly, venue, ie. right off the beach at some huge resort with spectators and TV coverage. Sort of like the AC 45 thing in SFO bay.
Yes, that's going to cost a lot of money, but asking a bunch of weekend pogues to pony up, obviously isn't working in terms of turnout.
Another example of what is happening at US SAILING http:/
So, how many of our Youth Multihull Sailors in US and Canada will enter?
Caleb Tarleton
www.sailsandpoint.org
My brother in law, David Hein, will be there, I think sailing with Taylor Reiss.
And how many percent of the average racer's budget is it?
We are Family Members, $90/year, for three sailors. Membership is required in several Regattas we attend. Very small part of our sailing budget.
But to what end, Timbo? What does the Alter Cup get the winners of it? And what would the BIG sponsors get in return for watching 10 teams duke it out?
They both get the same things the sponsors and winners of the X Games get.
Obviously, being counter cultural that I am, either you are referring to something kids do or some sort of Porn competition?
No, get your mind out of the gutter, I'm talking about this: http:/
And this: http:/
Or This: http://www.medcup.org/home/
Why can they draw the sponsors and TV, but US Sailing can't, or won't?
Viewership! When I try to explain racing sailboats, it comes out Kentucky Derby on snails. We ain't NASCAR.
With all the hookers and blow, I've got my own issues to deal with at work, because nobody could have landed that airplane like I did! http:/
But if we would crash into each other like NASCAR, or the AC45's, http:/
Remember the test pilot who did a barrel roll with what, the first 727?
Mike
Thanks Mike.
yes
I think Pete hit it pretty well, (Made me laugh anyways). Watching sailing is boring as sh!t. Even if you know what's going on, watching a whole race is a yawner. The AC stuff has been done really well, and I can really only take that for fifteen or twenty minutes at a time.
So I guess you've never watched an entire baseball game, or soccer game, or...the Vikings!
;^)
Timbo, you beat me to it. There isn't a sport that I can stand to sit down and watch for a whole game, sometimes not more than 5-10 minutes. I'd much rather participate.
For me, that even filters down to race management. I'd much rather have a fleet of 80 boats, or better, multiple fleets to manage; rather than one small fleet. I know a lot of race officers and mark boat guys that get freaked out by that, LOL...
Mike
umkay...how do we entice people to participate in the sport?
Like we've never discussed that question before (tongue planted firmly in cheek)...
All our woes began with the demise of B fleet...
I would venture a guess it started before then...
How many USS sailors are multihullers?
Any guess on how many NON-USS members are multihull racers in USA?
Not less than 1,000 and probably closer to 1500 or 2,000.
If you just count paid members of the class associations you get 1,000.
If you add in casual racers, you'd approach 1500.
If you add big boats, you'd get closer to 2,000.
The percentage that convert to the multihull MPP membership is paltry.
I fully agree that we are destined to die a slow and painful death if we don't do something to bring in new blood. We have one or two class championships that are growing and all others are shrinking. Fleet sizes follow pretty closely, even if you include fun sailors.
Mike
So.... in answer to what does US sailing do for its members... not its customers..
Besides the things that Multihull sailors take for granted or dismiss... like Race Management training, and the Multihull Championship Committee, or the Olympic committee.
there is also a One Design organization.... who are doing this....
US Sailing's 2013 One-Design Symposium:
A Learning Experience
US Sailing's 2013 One-Design Symposium, presented by Gowrie Group, is coming to the Cleveland Yachting Club in Rocky River, Ohio on January 11-13. Enjoy more than 20 workshops and general sessions at this premier event for one-design class racing.
Workshop and presentation topics include:
Racing Rules and their tactical uses
Growing your class and staying strong
Go Fast Tips from experts
Best resources for your class, club or fleet
Attracting young adults
Regatta overview
Class Communications
Sponsorship, Digital Marketing, Brand Management
Successful Fleet Checklist
I will say it again.... it's a club... If you value one of the things the club is about..... you should support the Volunteers.
I would bet that your local club or YRA just can't pull together this kind of program...
I attended the Annapolis OD symposium and though it was spectacular... I even wrote up lots of notes and put them on cat sailor...
Take advantage of the offer!!
Besides the things that Multihull sailors take for granted or dismiss... like Race Management training, and the Multihull Championship Committee, or the Olympic committee.
there is also a One Design organization.... who are doing this....
US Sailing's 2013 One-Design Symposium:
A Learning Experience
US Sailing's 2013 One-Design Symposium, presented by Gowrie Group, is coming to the Cleveland Yachting Club in Rocky River, Ohio on January 11-13. Enjoy more than 20 workshops and general sessions at this premier event for one-design class racing.
Workshop and presentation topics include:
Racing Rules and their tactical uses
Growing your class and staying strong
Go Fast Tips from experts
Best resources for your class, club or fleet
Attracting young adults
Regatta overview
Class Communications
Sponsorship, Digital Marketing, Brand Management
Successful Fleet Checklist
I will say it again.... it's a club... If you value one of the things the club is about..... you should support the Volunteers.
I would bet that your local club or YRA just can't pull together this kind of program...
I attended the Annapolis OD symposium and though it was spectacular... I even wrote up lots of notes and put them on cat sailor...
Take advantage of the offer!!
I've been involved with these since the one in Annapolis in 2005. They are well worth the time, but you have to do a couple of things to make it really worth it:
- Be very open-minded - they will tell you to check attitudes at the door. It's OK to acknowledge your class, but don't wear it on your shoulder.
- Don't hang out with your buddies - meet new people that have different ideas that just might work for your fleet / class.
I'll be co-presenting the
Class Communications
break out session with Laura Jeffers, the Executive Director of the Lightning Class.
Mark and Matt make excellent points here. As cat sailors, we have two direct paths to benefits through US Sailing: MRC and ODCC. There are others (Race Admin, Olympics, etc. for those interested).
Bottom line, you have to be extremely closed-minded to think there are no benefits (or, potential benefits) of US Sailing membership. You may need to seek them out, but they are there, waiting to be enjoyed.
Mike
Ha! Not sure if that was intentional or not, but I clicked on
Olympic Path
from the USS web homepage and got
HTTP 404 Page Not Found.
Ironic? You be the judge