I really can't believe what I'm reading.

I have dreamt about winning the AC since I was a teenager. I'm looking at the trophy right now, and the trophy Gordon Isco handmade has some names on it who are legends of the sport.

To me, it's a big deal to represent your area or class in the AC. You are REPRESENTING the sailors in your area or class. To make it to the AC means you are the BEST sailor in your area or class. That's not enough "incentive" to race in the AC? You are not only sailing for a championship, but making a statement about who you are, where you come from, and the other sailors in your area or class. If you win a qualifier as a ladder to winning the AC, the championship resides in your area. I think that IS a big deal.

Look, if you don't think you are good enough to compete to win the AC that's fine. I knew I didn't have a real shot the first AC I qualified for, but when I looked around and saw the caliber of sailors there.....Olympic medal winners, world champions, multiple time national champions, world class naval architects and sailmakers, I was in awe. I just wanted to learn from these guys and have fun doing it. We caught a beat down, but that only made me hungrier.

I get the feeling that a lot of sailors don't do the qualifier either because they feel they aren't good enough to be competitive or win the AC, don't have the time or money to go do it, or they are against DPN racing. If you are in any of those three categories feel free not to participate and let the sailors with a shot race. If your heart isn't in it don't even try, but don't try to sway people away from going to the most prestigous US Sailing multihull event.

I recommend to all cat sailors to try to qualify though, you never know what might happen or what you might learn from going to the AC. I will tell you this, you will come away from the AC as a much better sailor than you were when you started the week.

Wow, did I just write that much?