Mark,
I was not being critical of your rules -- I meant my question very literally.

Yes I know that was my reason for explaining it, If big business enters that series, they can recoup their investment, help a charitable organization, or give back to the employees at ground level, who work so hard to make that Corporation a success. In the end everyone is to benefit from it. I think this to be a good rule.

Seriously now - I really don't want to talk down to someone who wants to further the sport but I'm having a really difficult time reading the intentions of this event. The "My race, my rules" comment is brash and bordering on juvenile. It makes me wonder of what maturity the person is that is trying to put this race together and why...but I'll try to be constructive.

To better understand what you are trying to accomplish - WHY are you trying to put this event together?

A couple more comments:

+I think competing in a cash event and organizing it are 100% in conflict

+The suggestion to have an escrow company handle the funds is a good one. Do so with a defined committee and bylaws is the only way to handle people's money and ensure a degree of fairness to those people. The escrow company basically handles the issuing of funds based on a set of rules and requirements that both parties agree on (a contract). If one person in the contract fails to meet their obligations usually an alternate resolution would likely be predefined. You can draw up a contract that says the organizing body gets 10% of the race funds or a set figure or whatever...you can also guarantee that if a certain number of entrants aren't received by a certain date that the entire entry fee will be returned in full or in a certain percentage. The escrow company actually handles the funds and acts as an unconflicted 3rd party.

"My race, my rules" is a great way to ensure that you are racing alone.

Yes, you already explained the WHY of that rule. What I still don't understand is the HOW of it. How do you enforce a rule like that? <img src="http://www.catsailor.com/forums/images/graemlins/confused.gif" alt="" />

Yeah, but as I keep asking, HOW do you enforce a rule like that? Are you not going to give them the prize money until you know exactly where it is going and have some way of making sure it goes there? <img src="http://www.catsailor.com/forums/images/graemlins/tongue.gif" alt="" />

Mark,
How much is a spinnaker going to cost for the corporate entrants?

Are you going to require all 12 to be made by the same loft? Do you know what loft you are going to use?

And at the end of the season, does the corporate sponsor of the spinnaker get the spinnaker back, or does the owner of the Ultimate 20 that it was used on get to keep the spinnaker -- part of the payback for use of his boat?

Or do you keep the spinnakers for use in the next regatta?

I just don't get it. I guess my brest of knowledge is just not big eough. Best of luck anyway.

I assumed that, since the boats are not being donated for the event by the manufacturer, you will be paying charter fees to the owners of the boats.

For that matter, I would think the boat owners would want to sail in the event, too.