GBCA Discussion Forum

I am staying non-spin... the spinnaker will get in the way of the umbrella..

does anyone know of spectator boats going out on Saturday?

John does have good concern, if Tom and Larry decide to race one design (hense the spirit of the NOOD), the L70 class looses 2 boats, which kills the class... finding 2 people would be much nicer than 7...  Is there any way to scavange up some of the other boats that rate 70-79 that could race? maybe get rid of the other restrictions... but, it is their class... 

anyone remember the original question???

I am guessing that with the number of views and no responses, no one knows what we truely get from US Sailing or they don't want to say... The majority of people I have talked to (the ones whos opinion I trust) are tired of US Sailing; paying money and getting nothing in return... in many of the race committee seminars or training, you have to pay for those also... In regards to the rules, they have gotten the racing rules so complicated that many people don't want to read them because they get confused easily...  I do understand that the rules, like laws, are written because an issue came up and one or more people decided to manipulate the existing rules...

cheers...
Scott

KathyR,

I would suggest that you do your research before you jump on the "... you dont' do anything" band-wagon... I will have to say that John does his part in the community... For years I don't know, he has done race committee for the Wednesday Night Races (& your welcome to come out on the boat and help there); where he has assisted with course set up, boat check in and scoring... I know he has done it for more than 5 years, but I will use 5 as a round number: 6 series per year, 4 races per series: 24 races/year *5 years = 120 races... Who in this area can say they have helped with 120 races?  He is very aware of what goes into a regatta, he has done more for racing than we will know...  Doing race sommittee for the Wednesday Nights is an intergrated process, Buddy and his crew makes sure everything is as perfect as possible ( I am not as much)... I recommend every racer on Galveston Bay come out for 1 week and see what is involved and how to run a proper race... Galveston Bay has gotten a bad reputation (nation wide) about their races... This group is working on fixing that... With that, I will have to say that Dwight and his crew has been doing a spectacular job on changing that as well...   

back to the topic...

Evan,

I don't think the issue is the 109's being left out... this hasn't been an issue because in the last few years, the 109's had enough for a class and they did not consider being in the L70 class... in the beginning of the class, when the rules were being discussed, the group decided on a SA/DISP ratio to have as a cut off... That had to be changed, because it excluded the J35...  I think the original intent of the class was good, narrow the qualifications to make the class one-design-ish... Not have boats too far on either side of the spectrum... But, times have changed...  It really doesn't matter to me what the rules are for L70, I just think that it does not make much sense to limit the entries when we are struggling for entries...  If we wanted to end this discussion real quick, change the rating parameters to 70-79 PHRF...  That shoots out the 109's automatically... Which brings the issue of the 10R...  Has anyone tried to get Mike out?  I am trying to get more boats out so we can increase the participation on the water... In regards to the party, we all know which club(s) cater to the party and have the regatta as a cover...  It would be really nice to have all three clubs work together (use each strength) to put on a stellar regatta... maybe the NOOD needs to be that way?  make it a Galveston Bay effort rather than HYC or LYC event...

Even with that being said, we need to get the kids out... We need to invite them on the big boats and have them involved... once they race Lasers and V15's for several years, where do they go?  Many of them do not have the opportunity to sail a big boat... They don't have to drive, have them crew even... They are our future... We have been lacking and it is showing...

cheers...
Scott

I am looking for crew for the Singlehanded regatta...

cheers...
Scott

Ok, this is a basic question to help inform everyone that is not heavily involved in the organization... It was stemed from one of our own, Pablo, getting his rules published on Sailing Anarchy...

What does US Sailing do for us?  Realistically? 

I don't agree with the direction US Sailing has gone, but maybe someone can shed some light for all of us on what we are "supporting" and paying for...

cheers...
Scott

That was exactly my point... if a boat has a certain rating, how sails are hoisted and the other physical dimensions, are factored in... therefore, a boat with a chute launcher, gets penalitized for that convience... isn't that why carbon masts are deducted?

I like the idea... could even have it where they sail the same course; 3 tacks on the windward... take the tacktics out of it... basically do a "speed" run course... This would take a long time and lots of effort...  Great idea, just not very practical... With crews learning the A-boats more, they should progress through the rankings, but not the entire class should dominate the top of the class... Sorry, but there is not one group that is that good... There is something wrong with a rating when in PHRF fleet they are dominating the class, but in a different one-design, they struggle to get into top 1/3... In the one-designs, the top sailors (ones that have one nationals/worlds) get beat every so often (it does happen)... So, shouldn't the results in PHRF vary as well?  The Level 70 fleet used to have some close racing and everything came down to the last race, usually with 2-4 boats tied for a placement...

My main point is; can't we all get along?  I grew up with this type of segregation racing multi-hulls... I actually do laugh because the sport boats are now experiencing what the multi's have experienced for the last 30+ years... It does feel like the phrase "... we don't want your kind here..." 

can sport boats and traditional boats sail competitively together, no... the designs are too different... depending on the wind strength, everyone will perform differently... Like racing against the J30, when the wind blew over 18, your racing for second place... just the difference is greater now...  But, even with the traditional boats, there tends to be a performance difference with wind speed, so that cannot be an excuse...

I say, if the rating fits, sail it....

cheers...
Scott

Very true....

which brings another topic: why do we chose to sail but, make it someone elses responsibility to telll us not to?  I am thinking of when the weather gets bad... 

Bee, I agree fully... I have been running Asymmetricals for 19 years now... but, my point/question is two fold (for the fleet); if a class is going to limit who can sail, they should not complian about low participation... And, the rating of the boat should factor in the "ease" of sailing the design provides...  not fully suggesting the 109's should have a lower rating and not eligible for the class, that is another point... but, if a boat falls into the rating range, why not let them in?  I have always been up for a challange and limited because it is an uphill battle (that's why we sailed a light air boat in 25-28 knots of wind)...  I personally think the 109's are rated too slow, but that is another committee's decision... but a boat shouldn't be limited because they have a sprit or their SA/DISP ratio...  The M24 has fought this battle for years... I think we are limiting our selves and killing the sport... things change, and we have to adapt to that... I remember comments about an A-boat will never win because they cannot sail down wind... That was a long time ago and proves that sailing does evolve, even when it is held back...

cheers...
Scott

Shouldn't that be the decision of the parent/skipper?  Sounds like government telling us what is best for us... I am sure Jay, or someone else that sails with their kids, are already sailing single handed with kids on the boat... there are many times I have taken people out, they knew nothing, and sailed the boat single handed... If things are being expected to be a disaster, should they be going out? 

cheers...
Scott

One thing that has never made sense:  the level 70 class has been hurting for years & they would rather exclude A-boats instead of having them join for a larger class... The "anti-sportboat" rule was in place when there were 8-10 70 boats racing every regatta... That is not the case now... The class has been suffering and people want to become picky on the participants?  If the ratings are correct, the symetrical boats "should" have a large advantage on a windward-leeward course?  Even if they have a 10 second/mile "advantage", wouldn't smart sailing make the field even?  20 seconds in a race is nothing, many give that up at the start, and mark roundings, and bad tacks... I think at this point, with the economy and the participation falling, we do not need to be picky on who to allow to race...  Just my thoughts...

cheers...
Scott

Jay,  I understand the issue... I have no problem if they were on board... but, I think there should be a provision for kids under "x" age... We should encourage kids to be on the water... if they don't count as crew for PHRF, then???

How much interest is there for GBCA to sponsor, and restart, Junior Skippers?  I will run it if that helps... I feel that we need to have the option out there... I'm sure I can talk Matia into rounding up some interest... the main question would be available boats...  would boat owners be willing to donate their boats?  them present of course, but that would be worked out between them... 

cheers...
Scott

This brings up my point for years, why do people have to be told to wear a PFD? can't they think it might be a bit safer to wear one?  maybe I still remember helping pluck Sandy out of the water after a rum race and taking her to the ER... The skipper is responsible for the boat and crew safety... the crew can even take responsibility for their own safety and wear a jacket  ... If the weather is bad or light, it is the skipper's responsiblity to sail or not sail... they have to sail according to their crew's ability... The R/C cannot stand around waiting for perfect conditions, people are out and subjecting themselves to more danger circling the starting line waiting for someone to make a decision they agreed to do... I did not realize there was a race committee for a TGIF race... yes, they are still TGIF races to me... people need to watch the cells on the Gulf Coast... I was eating dinner, across the bay and saw it building... I am glad no one got really hurt from this...

cheers...
Scott