In reply to Will_R in the second Alter Cup there were 20 Hobie 18s supplied (I believe that was the only time there were twenty boats available -- which unfortunately opened the can of worms we now deal with) and they took the winner and runner up from each area.

But to answer Mike and others, twenty teams is NOT good. That is too many teams and just because someone figured out a way to put 20 teams on 10 boats does not make it a great way to handle things.

Some have said that it is great to have all the elite there, but that is not the reason for the Alter Cup. Again, if you want that, have another event before or following for the elitist sailors.

With the ten area teams, there is no problem on who goes and who doesn't go. But, when you start getting into selecting other sailors, how do you do it? Popularity? Who made the most posts on the Forum? or just someone off the beach? That destroys, weakens and dirties the water for the Alter Cup.

Just look at all the other US Sailing Championships and you will see how they are all set up. We take what has been established for eons and then stamp it and screw it up with our own cat-intelligence and then wonder why the Alter Cup is no longer sanctioned as a US Sailing Championship and wonder why multihulls remain as outcasts.

Again, for those that think it is wonderful to have nothing but rock stars there, fine. But do it at a different event that can precede or follow the Alter Cup. The trophy could be the Tucker Trophy.