Hi, Mary,



Seems like somehow I keep coming across like I'm arguing with you - - I have so much respect and gratitude for you and Rick for all you do for our addiction/sport/hobby, arguing with you would be a hard thing for me to do.



I'm trying to explain myself here, not trying to prove anything.



All I meant to say originally was that some people think of a race as an opportunity to harness all their assets, inventiveness, fitness, money (ability to get more $ from others is part of that), craftmanship, and sailing ability - together to put on the very best effort they can mount.



Others think an ideal race is where people test only their boat handling and race-strategy skills, while minimiizing other variables.



I can value and enjoy the effects of both aproaches.



I think our misunderstandinng arose when I cited some races as restricting age, gender etc. I only meant by way of that remark to point out that some folks like to compete against people with *roughly* the same set of physical advantages or chronological experiences. Not to prove this is better, just that this is something some folks like. So call 'em subdivisions, or call 'em 'races' (as I incorrectly did) the fact that you can earn a trophy by outsailing all the other [young/ senior/ women] is attractive to some people, which is all I meant to suggest.



John Williams heartwarming comments about the environment at the Worrell makes me even less likely to be judgemental about "sponsorship" - not that I ever met or heard of a 'sponsored' catsailor I didn't like.



Again, sorry I sounded oppositional.....