This was written by Bob Webbon to the US A-Class fleet after the hugely successful world championship regatta in reference to ISAF’s recent decision to drop the multihull discipline for the 2012 Olympic Games (a discipline that has been in the Olympics for over 30 years with the US winning four silver medals in that history). US SAILING instructed its voting representatives to vote against the multihull. Bob was the regatta co-chairman for the world championship regatta.



It's all about diversity! It's all about being ugh, American!

I hope everyone is having a nice laid back Thanksgiving. All of you were just outstanding at the Worlds. Yes, I was wired; but so many of you helped to keep things rolling along - it really turned into a great high for me and Carol and all of those organizers who put in so much work. It would be great to leave it at that - a great battle at the top between several wonderfully talented sailors and those of us in the cheap seats having an opportunity to watch. But, unfortunately it was more. It was a reality check on just who we are and why we do what we do.

I've thought a lot about the ISAF and US Sailing's vote at the “meeting” and like you my feelings have run the gamut. But I've finally come to these conclusions.

If you look at us we love sailing, not just multihull sailing. Look at how many of us have experience in all disciplines of sailing, not just multihulls. It's actually ironic that those who have worked so diligently against multihull sailing in the US really have so little experience in all disciplines of sailing. We are the sailors who are most diverse. We can as easily flop onto a large keelboat, sport boat, fast dinghy, or sailboard, while those who don't want to understand us haven't a clue how to sail a fast multihull. Multihull sailors quickly embrace what is new and challenging without prejudice. But what's even more impressive, we can slow down and still play the game while the rest are just lost when they try to follow us. There are just very few Howards (reference to Howard Hamlin) out there. I know all this sounds a little esoteric but I think it's pretty obvious what camp is stuck in the mud.

Of course like all of you I've felt we should actively fight back. I've felt we should withdraw at times. I've wondered about our ability to change what has become an arcane system. But, I now feel there is really an obvious direction.

Those who oppose multihulls being showcased in one of the planet’s most celebrated venues are actually laying the groundwork to their own demise. When I describe what's happened to pure novices, to the man and woman, they all feel watching boats doing 5 to 6 knots versus watching boats doing 20 knots is a no brainier. The common sensibilities of the real viewers will win in the end. The groundwork that is being set is really doomed. Slow boats are just boring to the masses.

So this is my personal response. I will continue to bring the joy of sailing to as many of those folks who seem interested. It doesn't matter whether our Sea Scouts are on rotomolded Picos or my contemporaries are contemplating that beautiful A-Cat. My advantage is that I'm not confined by a constrained attitude that restricts my ability to really enjoy all of the sport, not just a regimented segment. It seems pretty obvious to me that as we move further into the future and composites become more and more available, foiling, flying and basically hauling butt will become more and more the norm. Those who insist on living in the past risk just that, the past. I predict soon those who live in the past might come back to the well again and ask us to please bring your wonderful sport back. Remember, that's how it all started, they asked us.

I strongly support those who must fight the fight. But even more importantly I'll do more by always supporting the diversity of our sport. It's just frankly hard to believe that a separatist, segregationist stance would be supported in the United States of America! I'm just glad my class and my friends detest this approach and find all the arguments supporting this truly outdated stance absurd.

Bob