A "My Way or the Highway" attitude is unattractive no matter which side brings it to the table.
It seems as tho HCA is willing to try, making an attempt to move your direction.
Maybe not quite hard enough or far enough for your taste, but an olive branch has been extended.
To publicly take such a hard line was counterproductive.
There are people within HCA-NA that are interested in trying to work on and support some sort of compromise.
Your words make it clear that unless you get to rewrite the HCA rulebook to suit yourself, YOU are the one that is not interested in trying to find some sort of a middle ground.
To be sure, You have valid points, however, at this point in the process, you could have made them less publicly, or more gently.
The art of negotiation is a process.
Harsh words and an unforgiving attitude will only serve to delay or destroy any hope of progress.
Well, if you look at all the posts on this subject, going back to last spring, you will find I have been sweet and nice as pie. But, there are some that don't get the point unless you put it across strongly.
Mimi started this thread hoping we could race Waves together somehow. And it was headed in that direction.
Then, suddenly, Mike, who had been under an impression that IWCA wanted to merge with HCA, and did not understand the situation, made a post that I had to finally get straightened out. And there are lots of folks out there that still do not understand the situation.
Again, IWCA is not asking anybody to do anything, it is not asking anyone to rewrite rules. SIMPLY PUT, if a regatta organizer (I don't care who it is, what organization it is, what yacht club it is) invites the Wave Class, we would expect to be allowed to come and race, with:
*rudders perhaps from a 1985 Hobie 18 on the boat
*a sail that is pretty.., maybe not that fast or colorful, but one that looks good to the eye
*a trampoline that may have not been mfged by Hobie
*a mainsheet that is not that horrible blue crap that stiffens up and won't run through the blocks
*a sailor that is under 125 pounds and won't have to add weight.
This is just a basic courtesy of any hosting regatta organizer. If you invite someone to a party, you should not tell them what to wear. Or if you do, don't be surprised if they are a no-show.
Once more, no one is asking anyone to change a rule.
Rick
