I just started racing a few years ago. I have only done a couple local buoy races and a lot of distance races all over Florida. I have considered racing more buoy races for the broadened experience. After reading all of this, I don't think I will be doing any buoy races that I have to transport my boat to.

For me, sailing is about dealing with a wide variety of situations. Distance racing is great. You have a start line and a finish line. Unless some MAJOR weather comes in at the start, the race is started and continues unless all participants decide to quit.

I have been in races that had both extremes in wind conditions. This is part of the fun/draw. Survival sailing is as much an art/skill as light wind sailing. I did the Hogsbreath 100 a few years back when only 9 out of 19 boats finished. The whole first day of the race was done in 30-50+ mph winds. Looking back on it, it was one of the most fun races I did. I also raced in the Mug Cup race this year where only 3 out of 280 boats finished in the allotted time. I did not finish in time but I completed the course. I probably learned more that day about racing than I had in all my previous races despite my technical dnf. A few people bitched but no protests. I have a feeling that the rules will be modified for next year to prevent this but we all knew what the rules were going in.

One of the statements that most surprises me is that if the wind does a 180 shift, you would discontinue the race. This makes absolutely no sense to me. It goes against all I have learned about sailing. It is good I find out about this now, instead of on course.

To me, it just seems that there is entirely too much whining and BS in buoy racing. I am glad I followed this thread so closely. It made me realize that I need to continue my distance racing schedule except for a few buoy races that are done at my local sailing club.

Note: If an official cannot make a call on something as basic as to determine if he should start a race or not, you might as well have a wind meter starting the race and eliminate the personnel. The protesters were unsportsmanlike (Not displaying the qualities or behavior befitting a good sport)which has nothing to do with the rules.