I have heard enough of this "Spin" on what the "guidelines" said.

They where very clear and VERY specific.

Per Rob's first post in this thread:

"The x-class should be only one start for all non-Hobie boats."

This unequivocally states there there should be one and "only one" start for all X-boats. How can anyone say that statement is not exclusionary. Lumping people together based upon one feature is the very definition of prejudice. Why would an I20 come back if he knew he was going to be racing once around in the last start with a bunch of "dead boats". That "guidline" is CLEARLY rude, insulting, exculsionary, and does nothing to help cat sailing.

"The X-class must provide a scorer to figure out handicaps and do handicap scoring, this may include someone to take times at the finish".

DO WHAT? "MUST provide"! I want to see someone "spin" that statement into something "inclusive". It's like being invited to dinner, but you have to bring your own plates and silverware. How is that not treating someone "like a second class citizen"? Disgusting!.

Where does this crap come from about "B&C fleeters will be sailing two leg races or at least not waiting around for hours while everyone else races"? Don't use the X-boats as a scapegoat for that.

I have seen that happen in HOBIE only regattas. That is poor race management by the RC. The way to solve that problem is get an PRO that cares enough to figure out the relative speeds of boats and to simply have reverse order starts.

Don't use "quality of racing" as an excuse either. That is dependent on the Race Competence of the organizers. I have seen some very nice people run very poor regattas because they didn't take their job seriously.

As Commodore of Hobie Fleet 97, I felt "dirty" when I first read the "guidelines".

They ARE rude.

They ARE insulting.

They ARE exclusionary.

They ARE counter-productive to all cat sailing.

They ARE embarassing for those of us who have been asked to accept them.

As long as I am associated with NAHCA, I will ignore these "guidelines" and continue to apologize to my fellow SAILORS for this debacle.

SPIN THAT!!