Maybe Race Organizers and Rule authors should avoid mentioning US Sailing prescriptions, especially the prescript for Rule 40 which is blatant material prejudice at best. I hope US Sailing will rule on the side of sailing athletes rather than unsafe USCG practices and fiscal politics.

We simply require that beach cat competitors wear a pfd while racing. I have not seen throwables on beach cats since the early '80s.

An informal discussion during the Sunfish Midwinters resulted in preference of the Zhik or other such product. My grandson campaigned a Laser and 420 with a flotation vest from Hawaii this past summer. I guarantee that hit the spot with a member of the US Sailing Laser OD team.

Now that youth cat sailors are hitting the big time, US Sailing should look at things that will enhance athletic performance not profit - making performance.