We all owe a debt of Gratitude to Rick and Mary for the opportunity to read and distribute information in Catamaran Sailor Mag and website. Their recent treatment of the mandatory US Sailing membership is truly a work of art, in the printed magazine. Everyone had the oportunity to express views, and the magazine did it without bias. Something a lot of news mags could learn from. Yes, Mary gave her points in an editorial view, but everyone had their say. I am currently in that state of having received the training from US Sailing, but unable to certify. I have taken both the basic and advanced race management courses. The latter was taught by Tom Farquhar, a current principal in the RRS rewrite for 2009. I passed the basic (For club level) with flying colors, but I barely squeeked by the advanced course. It is a tough course, with national level candidates sqirming in their seats. These are quality classes, with quality leaders. But..., I still face the issue of certification. Since I do not belong to a Yacht Club, I cannot get a flag officer recomendation from a club, my only lacking credential. I have joined the scuttlebutt club,(by the way suggested by Tom Farquhar at the class), but it has no flag officer, I am also a member of the Space Coast Catamaran Association, but they are not a member of US Sailing. US Sailing offers great training, and I believe a national level association is really necessary, but my view is the same as that of the US Government: A bureaucracy simply grows on itself, feeling its own importantcy above those which it intends to serve. I spent 26 years in government and 18 years in industry, at one time, serving as the senior USAF launch director for space vehicles. I have learned that a bureaucracy can manage almost nothing, (But to a last soul will swear it does), and will grow as stated in the Peter Principal. I also have learned that large companies also fit into that category. With all that said, I say to US Sailing, please state clearly, and not in beauracratic (We will represent you) terms, what will you do with the funds developed by mandatory memberships. Or in other terms, what have you done for us lately, except great training programs? The little guy who just wants to sail and race when time and dollars permit, demands those answers. I can be reached at wgreen3262@bellsouth.net
<img src="http://www.catsailor.com/forums/images/graemlins/confused.gif" alt="" />

Well, NAMSA is a paid member of US Sailing, and it is an incorporated sailing association, and it has officers, so I wonder whether US Sailing would accept a recommendation from Rick, who is currently the president. NAMSA pays the same dues to US Sailing as the yacht clubs do.

I've been wondering (and hoping) the same thing, since I also did the basic course a couple of weeks ago. Still, although I passed the test I still have the experience criteria to get through before it becomes an pressing issue.

One day I want to beat Rick sailing just so I can stand up on the tramp and yell at him like Patton did to Rommel in the movie:

"Rick, you magnificent b*****, I read your book!"

"Sailing Drills: How to Sail Better, Faster, Smarter"

Just follow Rick til he hangs a rudder on the A-mark's anchor line. No problem....I've done it a couple of times.

Let's get back to the object of this thread, which (I think) is the capability of catamaran sailors to get race officer certification through US Sailing, when said sailors do not belong to a yacht club.

Do you have to spend hundreds of dollars to join a yacht club in order to get somebody to recommend you for a certification? Will NAMSA work? Will belonging to the Hobie Class Association work?

And why do you have to belong to ANYTHING (other than US Sailing) to get certified as a Race Officer if you take the courses and pass the tests?

Reply to Mary: I do not see any reason why NAMSA will not work. I must have a membership # for NAMSA's membership in US Sailing. I will be down on Thursday preparing for the Hogs Breath and will bring a letter for Rick to sign and, an application for membership. I already have a subscription to Catamaran Sailor Mag, but will provide full membership fee. Then I will submit to find out what other requirements will pop up. I have the list qualification requirements and have met all, so we will see.
wgreen3262@bellsouth.net
I really do thank you and Rick for the opportunhity to publish NOR's and other important info concerning upcoming races. It is a blessing to all competitors and race managers.

No. I have my Race Officer Certification through CRAM. Any organization that is a member of US SAILING will qualify.

Here is the exact verbiage from the USSA website:

"be recommended by a flag officer (or equivalent) of his local sailing organization, which must be affiliated with US SAILING"

I've often wondered how much the "local" part of that matters. It could be hard to argue that Scuttlebutt, NAMSA or HCA meet the "local" requirement.

I think the general theme we've been working under is that Hobie fleets are "affiliated," since the class association is a member.

Buy a Hobie, join a fleet. <img src="http://www.catsailor.com/forums/images/graemlins/smile.gif" alt="" />

Mike

Something discriminatory about that "local sailing organization" clause. Can't quite put my finger on it. <img src="http://www.catsailor.com/forums/images/graemlins/smirk.gif" alt="" /> <img src="http://www.catsailor.com/forums/images/graemlins/grin.gif" alt="" />