Well I got my renewel letter the other day, for a new $60 2009 rulebook. I was thinking about the ever present problem of funding for US Sailing, which I think survives soley on membership funding, no public support.

My question is, why have they not applied for Public funding via our Government, like they do in many other countrys? I know the Isreali gov. funds a fantastic sailing program there. I think the RYA gets public financing as well. And then there is the Olympic funding thing...

It would seem to me that in this day of rapidly increasing oil/gasoline prices, a good case could be made to our Democratic Congress that a nation wide, publicly funded sailing program would be of some great benefit, especially when it comes to giving "inner city youth" something to do all summer, other than selling crack, that does not rely on forign oil sales to us. Sell it as the combination of Solar and Wind energy to produce fun and excitement with no carbon footprint. Too bad Gore isn't in the White House!

So, Jake, JW, or any other US Sailing reps. in the know, do you have any info. on what has been attempted as far as getting Uncle Sam to pony up for some of this? It would be great to have a nation wide program, with sailing centers in every major city with water, were anyone could walk in and get on the spot training, rent a boat, a membership card like a driver's licenses, that would allow you to rent anywhere once you have completed the course.

This $60 rulebook thing is getting old and members still can't rent at any of the US Sailing Centers. <img src="http://www.catsailor.com/forums/images/graemlins/confused.gif" alt="" />