Steve,

If you had met either Trey or I, you'd know that this arrangement wouldn't really suit our long term goals of Team Velocity.

In our "charter" or "mission statement" we strive to promote competitive and recreational sailing to the masses. While $500 goes a pretty long way for a Tybee campaign (it covers entry or gas right there) we're not about to sell ourselves short for a dollar at the expense of not only our integrity, but that of the race, the other competitors, or sailing in general. Call us a bit high and mighty, but I don't think a mouse humping a mouse would give us the "good" kind of publicity in a manner which would benefit our program or the other sponsors that appear on our sails and hulls.

I consider each one of the race officials and fellow competitors in that race my friend, and would rather be short $500 than meet the ire of their displeasure.