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The beauty of the Internet is that these debates can now occur. We will = all have our experiences and opinions on these subjects. My opinion and experience is that the changes are at best, very = questionable with regard to what is best for the fleet.You say the Pros = must make a positive commitment to a boat: "they must sail on that boat on a regular basis". I didn't see the exact = definition for that phrase in the words that changed the Rulebook on my =
ballot sheet. It is indicated in your email: "60% of the boats regular = races". That leaves things wide open. Is that different from "at least = 10 races" which is also indicated in your email? In our fleet we get 6 =to 8 races in a single Regatta. That means that the #3 pro can get 10 = races in two weekends.Not only that, but the owner who seeks his = experience can afford to pay the Pro for expenses and salary for only = two additional weekends.=20
Wayne Berge
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<DIV><FONT color=3D#000000 size=3D2>The beauty of the Internet is that =
these debates=20
can now occur. We will all have our experiences and opinions on these=20
subjects.</FONT></DIV>
<DIV><FONT color=3D#000000 size=3D2>My opinion and experience is that =
the changes=20
are at best, very questionable with regard to what is best for the =
fleet.You say=20
the Pros must make a positive commitment to a boat:</FONT></DIV>
<DIV><FONT color=3D#000000 size=3D2>"they must sail on that boat on =
a regular=20
basis". I didn't see the exact definition for that phrase in the =
words that=20
changed the Rulebook on my ballot sheet. It is indicated in your email:=20
"60% of the boats regular races". That leaves things wide =
open. Is=20
that different from "at least 10 races" which is also =
indicated in=20
your email? In our fleet we get 6 to 8 races in a single Regatta. That =
means=20
that the #3 pro can get 10 races in two weekends.Not only that, but the =
owner=20
who seeks his experience can afford to pay the Pro for expenses and =
salary for=20
only two additional weekends. </FONT></DIV>
<DIV><FONT color=3D#000000 size=3D2>One chartered boat that competed in =
Seattle's=20
Nationals sailed two Regattas/series before the Nationals, 3 single =
races in one=20
Regatta, and one Regatta with 7 races. Who is going to keep tabs on =
which crew=20
sails how many times on which boat? It's impossible! The proposed rule =
change=20
accomplices nothing that will prevent #3 pros from jumping in, except =
now they=20
can bring along an "additional" pro. I agree that some =
boatyard=20
secretaries and equipment installers are going to get squeezed out of a =
J35 with=20
our existing rule, but that rule was just made last year, and most of us =
have=20
found a way to live with it. If it were "possible" to keep =
tabs on=20
crew per boat per race, what might work is to put words in the rule =
change that=20
the 2 Pros have to sail on the boat for 10 race "Days" per =
year.=20
</FONT></DIV>
<DIV><FONT color=3D#000000 size=3D2>The real problem that the fleet has =
with Pros is=20
that some owners feel that it is more important to win an inexpensive =
trophy=20
than it is to "learn the game"! Our rules should state that: =
"it=20
is illegal for racing boat owners to pay crew for racing services in any =
way,=20
i.e. in cash, by favors, through expenses or through equipment sales of =
any=20
kind". Reasonable beer and crew dinners for post race celebrations =
are not=20
considered payment. In reality, if the owners do not want fair, one =
design=20
racing, no rules can control this problem.</FONT></DIV>
<DIV><FONT color=3D#000000 size=3D2>Let's briefly consider up grading to =
a $1000 +=20
maintenance carbon fiber spinnaker pole. Several boats in our fleet do =
end for=20
end jibes. We do them on our boat with a 140 pound, 5' 5'' foredeck, in =
winds up=20
to about 35k. If the carbon fiber pole is only 12 lbs lighter and is =
hung on a=20
topping lift, how does that make it easier for smaller foredeck persons? =
The=20
loads on the pole that require concern are those imposed by the sail and =
the=20
wind. The crew must work that problem with the provided equipment and =
crew=20
coordination. If that is the case, then why go to a $1000 + maintenance =
hi tech=20
pole? Because the 12# reduction in weight on the bow reduces the moments =
of=20
inertia and makes a favorable change in the boat's dynamic response to =
wave=20
action. The pole doesn't do the crew thing, but to some degree it does =
improve=20
boat performance. Some "win" oriented owners with the money, =
will want=20
these poles to get that little leg up! And then the rest of us =
will also=20
have to get the "Legacy" pole. </FONT></DIV>
<DIV><FONT color=3D#000000 size=3D2>Any change to our rules that creates =
a further=20
difference in our boat configurations, has to be detrimental to fair =
"One=20
Design" racing. What is the goal of this fleet?</FONT></DIV>
<DIV><FONT color=3D#000000 size=3D2>Sincerely, without =
malice,</FONT></DIV>
<DIV><FONT color=3D#000000 size=3D2></FONT> </DIV>
<DIV><FONT color=3D#000000 size=3D2>Wayne =
Berge</FONT></DIV></BODY></HTML>
------=_NextPart_000_0008_01BE6F3C.9873CF40-- Received on Mon Mar 15 21:23:54 1999