Matt and Ding have made my points with regard to the fleet/design.
Mark, while I disagree with you on the boat design, you make excellent points on the fallout of disasters. I've said it here before, everyone is Mr. Macho about taking their own risks, but as soon as someone dies, it's a race between the family's lawyers filing lawsuits vs. the Coast Guard calling US Sailing HQ. Nothing good happens after that, which is why we (ROs) try so hard to avoid ending up there (aside from wanting our friends/fellow sailors to be safe).
Support boats are a real issue for OA vs. ROs, at all levels of the game. Sad to see it at this level, especially with the history.
Don't get me started on the hypocrisy with the trapeze safety systems/rules.
