Hi Mark -

I like the way you think, but the reality we're facing is that the majority of the members of the Board at US SAILING got exactly what they wanted in Portugal. Incidentally, some of them truly believe that the current slate of events is actually best for the US; therefore, we are unlikely to see any change in position unless we continue to see other countries do what NZL has done. Right now, the Olympic Committee and the Board (by extension) will point out that every country votes in its best interest - it will take a sea change before the current course varies. Henderson's letter indicates Olympic sailing is NOT in jeopardy - ISAF insists that the 2002 and 2005 IOC recommendations do NOT require them to drop the keelboat events; taken together, these documents cut the legs from beneath the RYA letter. Further, the RYA delegation was in favor of changing the ISAF Council voting procedure on events. For them to criticize how things turned out is being made to seem like "sour grapes."

Continued discussion using a reasoned tone is making a difference, but we have a lot of damage to undo as well as a lot of lobbying. We also are supporting international efforts leading up to the March ISAF meeting however we can.

One thing that everyone can do - get smarter on this issue. What do you know about the Star class? Can you name any Star sailors? How much is a new boat? Remember - getting a multihull event back into the Olympics most likely means eliminating the Star. Great articles in the October issues of both SAIL and Sailing World magazines - required reading, IMO, for anyone who wants the Star class to trade places with us in a few months.

Nothing about this is black and white unless you stand pretty far back, and if you get that far back, you probably just don't care one way or the other.