Why belong to a sailing organization e. g. US Sailing or NAMSA?
Organization! Without it we would have chaos. So, before we ride off in all directions let's consider the benefits we've received from US Sailing, because those will need to be replaced.
standard courses - they are well defined, and available in the form of a sticker that I've applied to my front cross bar.
training - If I understand correctly, PRO , is a USS designation that must be earned through a series of training programs. The PRO can make or break a regatta! If leaving USS means losing them, they will be sorely missed and very difficult to replace.
The Alter Cup and Qualifiers - I would miss this most of all. To me it is like the Rose Bowl of Cat sailing.
This list should be much longer. I will leave additions to others.
It is true that we can replace the existing benefits, but someone will have to do it. That will take time and money. The money comes from dues, the time comes from volunteers. So, if YOU don't pay your dues, and YOU don't volunteer your time, who will?
Because we gain some tangible benefit ... if there is no benefit then it is best to put our money elsewhere that gains benefit.
No benefit here ... courses have been well defined for years. Besides, we occassionally race distance races with no defined courses (race to MM33 port rounding, then to the white tri-hull ...)
I think PRO's are like us, love sailing and racing and enjoy being around people with similar interest. Additionally, I think PRO's get better with experience ... so the more they do it the better they become. Granted prior training would be very useful ... but no substitute for
JUST DOING IT
.
Thank Your PRO after every regatta
If they don't get some tangible benefit (ie enjoyment and recognition) they won't continue to participate.
I'll never be in an Alter Cup as a racer ... I'm simply not good enough and won't have enough years on this planet to get there <img src=
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/> ... however, that doesn't mean that we can't have Nationals and Worlds by Fleet. To me this is more meaningful...one-design with peers and colleagues from around the world would be fantastic. I think all Fleets are moving in the right direction (witnessed by 100 A-Cats at this years Worlds).
Yep and participation in racing and social events.
You said it yourself in another post ... JUST SAIL!
Happy Thanksgiving tikiPete; and to all other colleagues around the world...truely we all have many things to be thankful for...the ability to sail and have friends here is one of many things I'm thankful for.
Wow well said Terry, specially your last paragraph. Happy thanksgiving and happy sailing to all.
Yes Happy Thanksgiving to all as well as to those ISAF International Jury Members and USSailing members on the RC who where a great part of the 2007 Ronstan A-Cat Worlds.
As one who volunteers (never paid) to work race committee, including Principal Race Officer duties, I make sure that the YC, Class organization or group belongs to US SAILING. It is an insurance thing. In the USA it is, unfortunately, something that even volunteers must be aware of.
Dave Ellis
Wether you like it or not US SAILING is the governing body for sailing in the U.S. The rules which we all use, protest decisions, etc. are all administered by US SAiling. I am trying to phase out after 20 + years and thanks to John Williams to stepping into a difficult job. My experience has been that the multihull community does not get involved in the politics of sailing until there is a problem. Even then it is just a large outcry, but no volunteerism. Although you can start a new organization, I don't see that that divorcing yourself from the international sailing community is productive. If we truly want to make a difference, we need to make a stronger presence within US SAILING through the multihull council. That takes bodies willing to step up to the plate and serve.
Gordon Isco
I ain't gonna work on Maggie's farm no more