Ok guys here is my rant

I have raced "Cats" for 25yrs in all sorts of races/formats ...beach starts, bouys, and distance races. Currently I am Vice-Commedore of organizing A "HOBIE POINTS" Regetta at my Yacht Club and am doing the planning for this event and also a "OPEN" Cat Start in the club's "annual One-Design Regetta. It is ALOT of work believe me and we want to put on a "topshelf" event. Sometimes I am wondering what exactly did I get myself into!!!

All food/beverags must be odered by Wedsday afternoon for delivery on Thurs/Fri so our Chef can start preparing food. (we do not want to do FROZEN BURGERS PATTIES...) So how do we do it with out a "head count". Last year another class of boats asked my club to "host" their East Coast Masters Regetta telling us that the boat count would be 75-85 boats ... 35 showed. Joe, our chef, had prepared food for 100+ people ... he served slightly less then 50 poeple.

Yacht Clubs and fleets do not have deep pockets and are not "profit centers" out to make $$$$'s. So is it fair to them to have to assume this type of risk. Would you do this to your Mother/wife and at the last moment; "Honey I 've just invited a crowd over for dinner w/o notice.

Having been a cook I can tell you it is not an easy thing to feed a huge crowd w/o notice.

I didn't even bring up the topic of "TROPHIES" (how many???)

So we have to ask ourselves what is fair to the people/organizations that host our regettas out of the kindness of their hearts.

Also, sometimes it taks upwards of an 1/2 to register on site ... I'm notorious for being late for the first start, so what do you think it is worth to me to have that extra 1/2 hours to get my boat together? And do not forget all the extra volunteers needed to "man" the registration tables and input the data into the scoring programs at the last minute ....

More simply and bluntly:
YOU LAZYNESS (and/or) PROCRASTINATION IS CAUSING ALOT OF OTHER PEOPLE MAJOR AMOUNTS OF EXTRA WORK AND POSSIBLY MANY $$$$$!!!

Pre-registration will and must become manditory.

Please note that I'm a "CASH" kind of guy, hate creditcards and am not much of a computer guy ... but REGUIRED Pre-registration is coming very soon

OH, we will not turn anyone away that shows up but there will be a "LATE FEE", ( which I propose to donate to the Junior Sailing Programs).

HarryMurphey
H18mag/#9458, Fleet54/Div11
P19mx w/spin /#86, CRAC
ROCK HALL YC: Vice Commedore of Catamaran Class

ps; I'm a highly ranked ameutur procrastinator ... I'll turn proffesional someday when I have the time to file the required forms ....