ACTUALLY I agree wholeheartedly That Regattas are expensive. After the Gas and the Food and the vacation days you burn, Then come the regatta fees.
But Don't Blame the Regatta Organizers.
I know WE try to keep costs affordable at Tommy Whiteside, but by the time you get a Tee shirt and breakfast for 70 people two days in a row, and preorder 100+ meals and hors d'oevres and pay the band, It all adds up prodigiously. Oh, There's also BEER expenses. All in all, $40 barely covers it. And just to put in in perspective, there are only 3.5 active SEACATS left that somehow pull this off every year.
BUT, It all gets done, usually at the last minute with the help of Columbia Sailing club and Lake Murray Yacht Racing Asssociation and Lake Murray Sailing Club and every favor we can call in and every sponsor we can beg.
But the first thing is to get the newbies out.
EMSA CLASS RULE SUGGESTION Why don't we as a DIVISION Vote to give the first regatta free to someone new. I'm not saying we automatically give them Tee Shirts and Hats and Dinners, just a free venue to race, it costs us nothing to make the offer. Just invite them to come join the experience and see if it is for them. If they want Hats and Dinner Tickets they can buy them before or afterwards (Most folks will) But let them sail in the event without a fee just to get them on the water and see if they like it.
Just my Suggestion. We need to do something different. BTW, I commend the KEOWEE BWYD folks for taking this to the extreme with this weekend's event. Way to go guys!!!
CARY