In Defense of US Sailing

In the heat of the moment, a defense of US Sailing may seem out of touch with reality … Since I have thrown many a rock at them… I am sorry to say that as I make their defense ... I am really just making an indictment of ourselves!

Consider how little credibility we have as a group of catamaran sailors to US Sailing and all of the average sailors who make up the organization.

When John W goes to the meeting and says... I represent thousands of multihull racers.... and somebody notes... Yes... but you only have xxx members of US Sailing current on their dues. Half of the Hobie class racers don't pay their Hobie class dues.. and the Nacra Class association has virtually no paying members... What kind of credibility does he have?... How much power have we afforded him to speak with on our behalf?

When the membership chair of the Hobie class notes... well it looks like under half of the sailors that come to our Hobie sanctioned regattas are current dues paying members of the Hobie class... (oh... 35 dollars or so) and we need to improve on this! (last year’s membership report) Why would the national sailing organization count on us to do anything at all. Heck.. we don't support the volunteers who run our classes! So, If most catamaran sailors are not adult enough to join the national sailing organization for another 35 lousy dollars...(much of which they get back in regatta discounts) Why do you think they should listen to us?

In fact what they hear from the rank and file is… “US Sailing is a waste of money” and whines like " What do they do for us? What do we get? " We sound like children!
We prove every year that we don't take or want ANY responsibility for the health of our sport. So our attitude is “atta boy John... you tell em!” Should we be surprised when he gets the "Talk to the Hand" treatment?

If we don't join, support or participate in the management of the Yacht Clubs in your region; Why do you think the Yacht clubs would count on us as a group of catamaran sailors to make good on any promise or commitment? US Sailing gets much of what gets done through the volunteers at these Yacht Clubs. How could US Sailing count on us to do anything in the real world if all we do is talk, and complain and refuse to be part of the program? Consider... Who could US Sailing come to in your local sailing group and ask.. Do you have the resources and commitment to host an Alter cup qualifier? Could you host a junior catamaran training camp? Could you organize and support a community sailing program for catamarans? Hello!… we have just a few clubs who step up to the plate. Most of us are missing in action.

When one of the "elite" catamaran classes schedules a North Americans at one of the most prestigious and best run Yacht Clubs in the country and then pulls out with a week to go because nobody will participate. Do you think anybody noticed? Do you think we got a pass on that fiasco?

How about when the Nacra Class association is essentially non-existent and solely depends on Jack and the factory dealers to organize and host their nationals. Why would any national sailing group count on us to do squat? How can a prominent catamaran class run a mid winters and have one of their sailors swim a mile plus to the beach while his boat floats down the coast and nobody on the RC or water notices? Do you think anyone in the larger community notices these minor details and makes some judgments about our collective responsibility?

When the US Sailing championship ladder events are poorly supported... How can we argue that we are deserving of more initiatives... we can't take advantage of what we currently have!

If all we are known for is “talking about” junior sailing programs and believe that somebody else should build this program for us... Why should they listen or respect any position we put forth?

US Sailing is a volunteer organization...by no means are they perfect! I even argue that they are supremely incompetent in some critical areas. The Olympic submission is but another example of their arrogance and disregard for us. BUT... we as a sailing community have not done much to earn much respect OR do much to help ourselves. In short if we act like children... its hard to be treated with respect or counted on to keep our word.

This is not just a chicken or egg problem for us. Despite all of the crap, we MUST have a seat at the table. Issues like the Olympics matter to us…. No membership clout, no volunteers to run programs, etc etc … look what can happen! (I am not saying that our lack of membership clout caused this fiasco.)

You might consider that the first step to a solution is to actually join the party and pay some dues to US Sailing. We will have paid for a seat at the table with some clout. The next step is to not only pay your local dues but ACTUALLY do something at your local level. Pogo… noticed… I have seen the enemy… It is us!

Rant over
Mark

I admit to bristling slightly when I read this topic title but Mark does make some valid points. As catsailors, we tend to be "nomadic" and lean toward bucking the system...yet we do depend on it for certain things. It's kind'a like if you didn't vote for the US Presidency than you don't have a right to complain (although I would probably argue to the contrary in the current situation! <img src="http://www.catsailor.com/forums/images/graemlins/grin.gif" alt="" />). Point is, don't run away from US Sailing with a particular finger held high in the air over this. The time right now is to JOIN and voice an opinion that has a membership number and a paid due behind it. We are a significant percentage of the sailing community but as evidence by these decisions these people are making, we don't show up on the radar.

What Mark is referring to is an incident that happened on the first day of the A-Class Midwinter Race Week this past January. The competitor in question fell off his boat but his boat DID NOT capsize and sailed away from him. It did not float to the beach, it SAILED to the beach. From a distance, nothing looked abnormal and that is the reason no rescue boat dispatched to the sailor. Our race committee and volunteers that week were EXCELLENT. Please stop the SPIN on this incident.

While there are always two sides of the story and Mark makes some valid points, it still does not excuse the proposal by US SAILING. I believe the attitude that is embedded within that organization has created a lot of the problems Mark references.

We now have excellent volunteers working very hard in the A-Class and the response we have gotten from our sailors in terms of attendance at events and paying their class dues has been awesome. Yet US SAILING still cannot recognize the boat for inclusion in their insurance program.

I AM a member of US SAILING and feel stabbed in the back.

Bob Hodges
USACA President

Mark,

First you say at 03/22/07 05:47 PM:



Then at 03/22/07 10:02 PM, less than 5 hours later...



and in the same post...



So in the matter of the Tornado Olympic class, should we join US Sailing or not Mark? Why should we listen to your ranting and taking shots at various classes when you display such childish inconsistency?

To paraphrase his majesty in 'Amadeus':

"You are passionate Mark, but do not persuade."

Chris

Create US Multi sailing and collect the funds for yourselves. Create your own strong lobby group and push the Olympics and anything ewlse that way.
Why pass multi money into Mono attitudes??!!

I agree with you, Mark. And my first inclination was that we should all join US Sailing en masse, like "That'll show 'em!"

Trouble is, they don't have any way of knowing how many dues-paying members are multihull sailors, except for the people who sign up through the Multihull Council's Golden Anchor program.

I addressed this problem with US Sailing several years ago, and they said they were going to add a category on their regular membership form to check for "Multihull."

My bad, I didn't follow up on that, so I don't know if they added a category and I don't know if they have tried to keep a database of the TYPES of boats people have. But I do know that right now I cannot even find a regular membership form on the US Sailing web site to print out. And if you join on-line at the web site, there is no field whatsoever for type of boat.

So if anybody does want to join US Sailing, which I have always urged people to do, please use the Multihull Council's Golden Anchor form. It gives you a discount on the membership price, and also makes sure you are known as a multihull sailor.

Interestingly, when I do a search on the US Sailing web site for "Membership form," it takes me to the Multihull Council Golden Anchor Form. And right now it seems to be the ONLY form that is available to download and print. Cool.

I will not rejoin US Sailing. This is not an emotional response. Rather, it comes from my belief that we represent a minority view and we would be better served through our own efforts and organization.

To that end, I recently joined GYC.

They only had three dry slips available and two were taken by Cats! <img src="http://www.catsailor.com/forums/images/graemlins/grin.gif" alt="" />

Do you guys want to run away and try to setup our own village or would you rather show up in the middle of US Sailing town with pitch forks and torches?

I'd rather pay my money to GYC, who have already done quite a lot for me.

But Jake, you surprise me! Ya gonna bring a fork to gun fight!?

Seriously, a coalition of already active clubs seems the reasonable thing to do.

Pitch forks and Torches. Or, put another way coffee and donuts and labor to do something.

Come-on, you, in the general sense of you, really think you have the time or energy and desire to have a splinter organization form, storm, norm and do something?

Right on Mark! Thanks for pointing out the US proposal's short comings in the first place.

Chris, Hey man, Marks my whipping post, not yours, get your own! <img src="http://www.catsailor.com/forums/images/graemlins/smile.gif" alt="" />

A very wise and thoughtful friend of mine once told me that to make a difference in the sailing scene we need to join’em and then work from within to affect change. A politically correct mutiny if you will. This is happening in the Chesapeake. A few years ago a few A-Classers decided to join the local sailing “recognized” sailing club. Two of their members, now are board members. They both have helped bring the Nacra 20 fleet to the club. I am on the One Design Committee and change is a brewin’. I haven’t done anything special other than offer my house for meetings, made good coffee, provided a clean bathroom, openly disagreed to old-establishment kind of thinking and support any progressive thinking even if it doesn’t immediately help my fleet. Hopefully, one of our N20 Fleet members will be the Clubs one design rep to CBYRA, the overarching sailing organization for the bay. He will work with Mark to affect CBYRA thinking.

Patience. Its incredible how this sailing change parallels my work at work. Everybody want immediate change of someone else! When you start looking at them and they realize it is them you are looking at as needing to change they all of a sudden want to ease up on that there “change” throttle. Patience. “Ah, boss-man, since you are having me affect this change agency wide, ah, why don’t we start with your office and you can set the example.” Can you here the crickets…. I can. Patience. Back to sailing, some of the one design committee didn’t see the value of having a Portsmouth start. Battle not won, but started. A membership committee has now suggested a Portsmouth start as something to be considered and the one design committee hasn’t put up any barriers.

Mark, thanks for keeping yourself occupied!
<img src="http://www.catsailor.com/forums/images/graemlins/grin.gif" alt="" />

GYC is a US SAILING member organization... as are most YCs. <img src="http://www.catsailor.com/forums/images/graemlins/wink.gif" alt="" />

Jamie Diamond has a theory and I know I've posted it before - five more consistent attendees at meetings and multihulls could take over USSA. Not kidding.

You do get a lot - it isn't just about the discounts and the West Marine coupon. But some of the stuff you get is stuff you have to actively seek out, like education, certification, resources, etc. Insurance is a big deal (Bob - I want to get more info on the A-cat insurance issue). Liability coverage for your club or RC or committee boats or charter boats... the place is a resource bonanza, honest.

Anyway - Mark makes good points, but I certainly can't blame anyone for feeling otherwise. It is supremely difficult to draw a line from Olympic funding we get from winning a medal, to a Wednesday night beer-can race in Hoboken... most catsailors just want to do their thing, and I really think most folks enjoy the sense of being a little finge or renegade in the blue-blazer prep-school world of yachties. At Alter Cup next month, I have to wear a coat and tie to dinner... I'll have to unpack some old boxes to see if I still have either, and if they're all early-90's Miami Vice pastels. <img src="http://www.catsailor.com/forums/images/graemlins/tongue.gif" alt="" />

I know that GYC is a US Sailing member. I'm skeptical however of the benefits to the individual sailor.

Progressive has done very well with my boat insurance (now that Allstate is non-renewing my homeowners, they'll get the cars too!)

West Marine is almost a total waste of time, at least at my local store.

You too huh?

You have a US SAILING-trained, Recognized Race Officer, your volunteers need not fear lawyers should you ever stub your toe on the patio, your club hosted last year's Area D South event and will be doing so again this November, and they have submitted a bid to host the 2008 Championship. The list is likely longer - that's just off the top o' me noggin'. <img src="http://www.catsailor.com/forums/images/graemlins/grin.gif" alt="" />

Yes, I know. What if US Sailing just decides to drop Alter Cup? They have a history of arbitrary decision making.

GYC and US Sailing established their affiliation before I came on board. A check from me isn't going to change that.

Dropping out is the only sure way I have of registering my disapproval. Every business knows you have to keep the customer satisfied. . .except US Sailing.

multi sailors have always been counter-establishment, so I guess this situation is the fuit of our effort (or lack thereof)

I'll have to go with you on that JW and Mark. If you're going to bitch, you'd better be a member.

NAMSA tried to "start our own village" that catered primarily to multihulls. It directed its efforts at exactly what everyone is whining about, but looking at the numbers, very few actually stepped up to the plate to encourage change. A herculean effort was put in place by those that did, but when it came time for people to join up, interest and support waned.

I guess $35 per year is too substantial a price for sailors. That's about two Harken 8mm micro blocks, isn't it?

Maybe Mary's suggestion is best: Join under Golden Anchor to be listed as a multihull, and then the sheer numbers will require us to be dealt with as an equal, not a red-headed stepchild.

I've never dissed all that US Sailing offers, just never had the need to take advantage of it. My fault, not theirs.

And yes, join your local yacht club too, especially if it's built by sailors like you. The yacht club here is mostly powerboats, and the membership fee is around $60,000 per year (plus monthly food/bev. minimums). Now, that is something a little too pricey for me.

The sail club, however, is much more reasonable ($50 per year?), and while I don't have all the time to go to the meetings, I still want to support my local club (and they've got a handful of bigger multis and tris)

So, for less than $100 per year (a modest dinner for the family) I've supported TWO organizations, and then have the right to complain about stuff!

Cough up your dang money and vote... Or shut the heck up.

Chris,
Passionate yes... childish inconsistency ... I don't think so... I count on you to read carefully and use your brain! One more time in the same post so that you get it.

USOC is not US Sailing. So... there are two posts which address two separate issues.

Write to the USOC and protest US Sailing's decision.
The issue is not Tornado class... It is Multihull or no multihull. You just need to be red white and blue here to write to USOC. It was a point of clarification. NOT an argument. I agree with Bob H that US Sailing screwed us over here and we need to rectify the situation.

The second issue is US Sailing. A volunteer organization with some paid staff who are charged with the focus on Olympic sailing. No money cross from membership dues to the Olympic side. I am not defending or excusing their decision, decision making process or the lame attempt to explain their position on the Olympic classes. The leadership is wrong. Go sign the petition!

I am making an argument in that second post. US Sailing is a volunteer organization and so it is just like your local club which requires volunteers to make things happen. So, the first place to look for solutions or problems is in the mirror.

I am saying that when you look in the mirror you might notice our collective lack of participation (membership in national class and MNA). You also might notice how we might look to the larger community. I assert that when yacht clubs look at our recent past behavior... they see nothing but lame excuses. I gave three examples. (Alter qualifier attendance, Tiger Nationals and A cat mid-winters) (Note... I ran one of the less then stellar Alter qualifiers last season so I am not excluding myself here).

Don't shoot me... I just looked at us from the point of view of an average yacht club or racing big boat sailor. Now ... if you think that the emperor (cat sailing) looks great in his birthday suit strutting down the promenade... OK, you are welcome to your opinion... In my opinion I just think we are naked!

ps. I would love to hear your defense of the Tiger class and St Francis and why you don’t think this reflects badly on our standing in the larger sailing world.? All I have heard are lame excuses and even worse… nobody was responsible! It's your class!

Your a product of the man. Im making a JW/US Sailing "1984" video right now.

Chris - your Blue Blazer is waiting for you! <img src="http://www.catsailor.com/forums/images/graemlins/laugh.gif" alt="" />

BK, JW et al.

Under the heading of support your local club, does a GYC vs SCCA make any sense? Maybe as part of the Harken series?

Just comin' on board here, so maybe it's been talked about before.

Product of the man? Dude. I see what you're doing right now and you should be ashamed.

What your size? I'll have them cut one for you. Mines standard gov't issue. Save the club some money that way. Have you been to the subject clubs website and looked at the Board Picture? Our two cat-sailing Board members must have forgotten their Blue Blazers on picture day!

While your there, check out the A-classers webpage and ours as well. Look at the picture at the top. What do you see?

BTW, it was your idea that started our local movement. <img src="http://www.catsailor.com/forums/images/graemlins/wink.gif" alt="" /> It just took three or so years to get the YOUR idea moving, someone else to put their toe in, some more being prodded and that brings us to today.

It may need to be XXXXXXL if it needs to cover my ego! Just funnin' on the blazer, although I think they'd look fine with ratty shorts and a Hawaiian print shirt! One that would fit me properly might resemble a straight jacket...

You guys have a website? Way cooool!

Actually, as much as I like to take credit for other people's work, the idea for infiltration came from none other than Art Stevens when he brought Fast and Fun to town. "Nice club, you guys should join up and take it over" - I think that's almost an exact quote, maybe slightly paraphrased, after he saw the "club in question" and toured the impressive facilities of the WRCRA (I don't believe we even had our wonderful porta-potti at that point, but maybe a fresh load of oyster shells on the launch ramp).

I do freely admit to spreading Art's gospel. Ironic seeing that I haven't joined...

Chris - so where's this Nacra20 website your talking about. I can't find any mention of the Nacra20 anywhere on the WRSC website.

John, you put on that jacket and a tie and you are a "Sell-out"! I say you go in flip-flops, dirty shorts and smelly red Hawaiian shirt, sloppy drunk, and tell them to "Accpet Multihulls or DIE!" Then throw up on the Chairman's shoes... <img src="http://www.catsailor.com/forums/images/graemlins/grin.gif" alt="" />

Better put my aluminum foil hat back on (p.s. its shaped like a duck).

And we wonder why we're not taken seriously :P

I was thinking the same thing. Actually, I think that a lot when reading the forums. <img src="http://www.catsailor.com/forums/images/graemlins/grin.gif" alt="" />

It isn't the money. Set it at $1 or $1000 and you will still have the same problem. Whenever people are presented with a bill that is "optional" a large percentage of them won't pay.

Reading between the lines, I think US sailing have made life worse for themselves because a significant proportion of the greater sailing community perceive no value for them (actual reality doesn't matter). This is 100% a failing on US sailings part as they either don't provide any value to the sailors OR they have failed to communicate it effectively.

Next - how to get those who see benefit but still don't contribute to cough up.

I refer to the Australian model because it is the one I know and it seems to work. Yachting Australia and it's individual state affiliates do offer an extraordinary level of support to Australian sailors both directly and via resources for clubs to successfully host regattas.

YA (Yachting Australia) collects it's fees via the individual clubs who collect the money. There would only be a handful of clubs in Australia who are not affiliated with YA. Whenever a regatta is run in Australia, as a condition of entry, all sailors are required to hold a membership of a YA affiliated club. All members get a YA silver card which verifies this and is required for entry to all regattas.

The system is not perfect and I'm sure there are some who slip thru but overall it does work well.

Of course this doesn't solve our Olympic problem. As a wider conspiracy theory - does this mean that any sport where the good ol' US of A isn't a good chance of winning will eventually be out??? <img src="http://www.catsailor.com/forums/images/graemlins/shocked.gif" alt="" />

Tiger Mike

Send me the pictures and maybe I show you. <img src="http://www.catsailor.com/forums/images/graemlins/smile.gif" alt="" /> It is right in front of you nose Adam!

You know, I have worked extensively in fundraising and with foundations through my profession and though it is not easy, it is attainable to setup sailing foundations and get fundraising efforts together. On another subject, reading though alot of these threads on this issue, it is pretty clear why WE are not taken that seriously. It needs to start here, with us as a group of concerned sailors. We need to get serious and lead the way instead of keeping the role of outcasts, mis-fits and the number of other thoughts given towards the multihull community.

Yes, again I am a US Sailing member and I am so that I can have a voice in this and other issues that concern me and this sport.

Some good points from Mark S.

Another thing that has hurt "us" is the Hobie edict--Hobie way or the highway...I know it really bristled my local yacht club when they heard about it. Of course a company or class can do what it likes...but consequences follow.

WHy don't you layout the "Hobie Edict" for those of us who do not clearly know about it.

"The Hobie Edict", put succinctly, is that Hobie Fleets cannot run "open regattas" and still use the "Hobie" name. This was phased in during 2004 and became Hobie Class policy in 2005.

I you want an extensive read, go here.

BTW, this has nothing to do with US Sailing or Multihulls / Tornados in the Olympics.

A regatta sanctioned by the HCA can only have Hobie brand Catamarans - no open classes. At the time, the majority of all our catamaran regattas in the USA were structured under the HCA.

Definately limits participation from any other classes and puts an emphsis on owning hobies. For some reason, I have never cared for them anyway. I do know that Hobie has done a great deal for the sport by making affordable cats available and by exposing them to the general public. I just am not a big fan of the boats, thats all.

I'm not going there again. <img src="http://www.catsailor.com/forums/images/graemlins/smirk.gif" alt="" />

Dang, and I just finished nuking the popcorn. Who says reruns aren't fun to kill time...

Maybe we should follow NASCAR's lead with the COT, Car of Tomorrow. Make everyone sail the same exact Cat, only allowable change is the trim and color.
Caleb

And just like NASCAR, we can put stickers and graphics on the boat to make them LOOK like the boat they are supposed to be! Just paint the outline of a Hobie Tiger on the side and voila! A Hobie Tiger as far as the sponsors know...