Did anybody READ the Article? It very nicely makes my point.
Does ANY one read the rule book.
Here is the not such a nice way to explain it to you..... since you guys refuse to look into the issue.
Pro ??.. my definition someone who is compensated for their actions. What is so hard to understand. EG.... Take prostitution... as Spitzer so nicely demonstrated... it doesn't matter how much you pay her... she is identified as a PRO and whether he paid her an apple, 10 bucks or 10,000 doesn't change anything. How much stuff you get is not the point.
Every one has their OWN definition. So.. What is the REAL definition in sailing.... not everyone's opinion!
ISAF puts it this way.
Definitions of this Code
Work includes:
employment, self-employment, payment by fee and
any ad-hoc payment ; or full time and part time work; or for services supplied, whether in person or through a partnership or limited company.
Pay and its derivatives means: the receiving by a sailor of; or the acceptance by a sailor of an offer to give money, money's worth, remuneration, gratuities
or compensation in any form. Pay does not include:
a grant towards; or provision of; or reimbursement of money not exceeding the amount of reasonable expense incurred for entry fees, travel, accommodation and meals in connection with and necessary for a specific event.
ISAF uses these definitions to create three categories for clubs and classes to use AS THEY WANT.
22.2.1 Group 1
(a) Except as provided below, a Group 1 competitor is a competitor who has completed the qualification period and:
(i) takes part in racing only as a pastime, and whose work does require knowledge or skill capable of contributing to the performance of a boat or boats in a race or series; and
(ii)
has not been paid in connection with participation in racing. So.. Jake and Todd... You are or were into Cat 2 or 3 ... this usually gets you called "a PRO"
Paying for your crew's costs to get to a regatta does NOT make that person a PRO.
ISAF sailor classification Rolf's point is that cat 1 and the Cat 2/3 sailors should have different events. The Yacht Clubs that I work with run events for Category 1 sailors. Doesn't matter if its a laser or 70 foot racing yacht. Nobody is flaunting their sponsor logos and ignoring the advertising restrictions. They overlook the Cat 2/3 issues and leave that up to the class to enforce.
I am much less rigid on this issue then you think. It would be nice if we did not have the BLATANT disregard for their rules. Simply ditch the advertising. Then you just don't ask about what category sailor you are. (If you used your plain sail in the regional regattas and your NASCAT sail for the event that you got sponsored for you are golden. You would not have put the stickers on and off... right!)
I am not as hard nosed as Rolf who would have you guys racing in your own class.
You will find that the article explains WHY people built a new class and STRICTLY controlled the rules for Cat 1 sailors.
This is the discussion worth having. Not what constitutes being a pro.
