SE > I will keep explaining it until you understand. Even though we both know you won't agree.
RJ >I do not understand what this policy is excluding anyone from. If we did not make any provisions for them to race
SE >"IF"? No "if" to it. That is EXACTLY what the "guidelines" state. By saying that the X_boats MUST provide their own timer and scorer, you are saying that the Hobie fleet WILL NOT "make any provisions for them to race".
RJ >The purpose of the guideline is to include non-hobies, orphan Hobies and everyone in more than 95% of all NAHCA regattas, and it does that.
SE >BULL!! It is excluding anyone who doesn't bring their own timer and scorer or make sure there is one at the regatta. How in the Hell does that encourage a newbie to just show up at a regatta and give a try? That guideline ensures that newbie Hobie owners will be helped and encouraged by the Hobie Fleet and that X boat newbie are shunned.
RJ > How would you make it more inclusive?
SE > By ignoring it.
RJ >It says to provide good racing for ALL THE CLASSES
SE > It means all the Hobie classes. It specifically states that there should be "only one start for all non-Hobie boats." doesn't it? Explain (spin?) to me how they are supposed to have "good racing" if you have a mixed group like I20s, A-Class, P16, G-Cat, etc all in the same start when everyone else is starting in similar groups? It's "inclusive" allright, it includes them all in one start.
RJ >And lastly, I do not think it is rude to ask someone to bring something to the party.
SE > It is rude to single out a person or group of people and REQUIRE THEM to bring something while no one else is REQUIRED to bring anything. Once upon a time blacks were REQUIRED to be property owners in order to register to vote.
RJ >The open boats sailors are not asked for anything else in terms of volunteering to help the event organizers or the class.
SE > My isn't that big of you. You assume that the Fleet or organization sponsoring the regatta has only Hobie members. What do you ask of the non-NAHCA Hobie sailors? What about the Hobie sailors who don't belong to a Fleet or NAHCA?
RJ >I think by providing a fleet or class for boats to sail in is inclusive.
SE > SPIN, SPIN, SPIN. This guideline does not and was not intended to encourage Hobie Fleets to ADD an X boat start to their regattas. All of the language in it is limiting and restrictive. It's purpose is to convince Fleets to LIMIT X boats to a single start.
SE >Explanations
RUDE - Any rule which treats a similar group of sailors as second class is rude.
INSULTING - Any rule which makes the sailing experience less for a group of sailors is insulting.
EXCLUSIONARY - Any rule which makes it more difficult for a group of sailors to race by requiring additional equipment, expertise or assistance is exclusionary.
COUNTER-PRODUCTIVE - The fact that these guidelines WILL hinder, limit, restrict, prohibit, and prevent many people from attending cat regattas. DUH! How will we attract the newbies with X boats to our races? Do I tell them to teach somebodies wife or some of the kids to learn how to keep time and calculate portsmouth handicap?
EMBARRASSING - The fact that these guidelines are public knowledge and will be published in many locations. We (NAHCA members) will be held up as pompous and arrogant.
SPIN - Trying to convince us that forcing(recomending?) all the Hobie Fleets to CONDENSE all the X boats into one start is spin.
TRUTH - This is a NAHCA rule foisted upon us by the new regime. As was stated in his campaign article, he wants to make Hobie Regattas more "HOBIE" and purge them of all the unholy X boats. That is the source of this crap, plain and simple.
