Hi John
Do you really think that the members of the committee did not evaluate the attractiveness of a BYOB championship to the usual Alter cup crowd, the F16 Class, and the rest of the community BEFORE the event moved forward??
The dominant point of view on the championship committee asserted that the championship and trophy are of real value to sailors and they would compete for the championship on BYOB. We took our best shot scheduling the event and ID'ng boats for private charter.
I know that calls were placed to previous champions (well, some of them, anyway whistle ) to ask why they weren't attending. I know what several of them said; a BYOB event isn't attractive as the Championship. I'm seeing that message got diluted somewhat in the translation.
The message got diluted???
1. Difficulty in obtaining a boat.
2. Schedule was too full and expensive this year, with the F18 Worlds on the other side of the country.
These are reasons that I can address on a committee moving forward.., As a committee member, I would judge that we over estimated our solutions or they were not good enough.
"a BYOB event isn't attractive as the Championship" begs the question... what do you mean by attractive?
The minority point of view on the committee asserted that the "special" Alter cup sailors would not compete because they were not getting a good enough deal compared to the highly subsidized charter boats of past years.Sadly, you just confirmed this assertion had a lot of merit.
Not attractive enough event is honest... However, Nobody has a pot of money that can be accessed year after year to make the event
more attractive by providing boats to this group of sailors. The money needed to solve your problem does not exist for us or any championship in the country and we can't solve it by giving you stuff...
you write
It was the pervasive attitude on the committee that our job was to host a quality event as long as possible under the tightening constraints of sponsorship that did nothing for the sailors or the host's bottom line. I take it back - we got cool hats.
MY ATTITUDE on the committee is that the job is to organize a quality event
for ALL Groups of sailors in the US... (Sloops, Spins and single handers), the host Yacht Club and their volunteers AND the organization staff that maintain the event year after year, under the constraints of 2012. (I also don't believe in fairy god mothers who promise lots of free money from unnamed sponsors )
For the record... I have NOT gotten a cool hat... or anything other then heartburn.
You guys have a chance to get many more boats for next year, though it may only be a flash in the pan due to location and the fleet being considered. It will certainly be conducive to a much more marketable event for the future if you can take advantage of the situation - I can't imagine this year's sponsors are thrilled, or that prospective sponsors are very impressed or motivated.
flash in the pan?.. chance? Thanks for the vote of confidence.
The committee got what they wanted this year - it's impossible to say that past committees who posted full rosters to over a quarter century of events were failures.
I have no problem giving you and past volunteers a pat on the back...happy now! now MOVE ON.
Take what lessons you can from this year and be humble enough to apply them.
Once again... What are your recommendations for BYOB events.
I will humbly await a cogent answer.
Perhaps something more then...."Your offer was not attractive enough for me".. or
We have a fundamental disagreement that the sailors have an obligation to "step up.
Yes we do have a fundamental disagreement because I say that the sailors, yacht clubs and USSA staff and volunteers ALL have an obligation to step up. There is no free lunch and
racing is a partnership among these players. It is not a buisness deal or a charity.
