John,

This may not mean much to you but I will write it down anyway.

I strongly admire your dedication to the cause when using the "internal path" as presented by the MHC. We have been in strong disagreement in the past whether this was the best path to take, but that is totally irrelevant with regard to appreciating and admiring your total commitment in this way. In fact I would have loved to have been made out the fool if that had meant having the multies reinstated. I had planned to publically admit to being exactly that if you had indeed pulled it off.

My admiration also extents to the UK sailing body and those of other countries that came to support the UK initiative.

I also believe the Dutch representative voted against multis the second time and that is an absolute disgrace in my opinion.

I never like to admit to sceptisme being right, but from the start I never believed that the powers that are would change their tune beyond a more marktable version of the orginal exclusion. That is the way these things go.

I think we must learn from the kayak example, as compared to being a member of the rowing association and as a seperate association.

I feel that going at it alone may well be initially bad but will be beneficial in the long run. Sometimes you have to pack your bags and go. I feel that the volunteers will come when the need arises. Never in enough numbers but sufficiently so to make the break-off work. Indeed, the amount of dedication and effort you have just spend on MHC and US sailing will go a very long way into getting the other organiation going. At some point we must realize that one of the two is the better investment.

But for now, my hat off to you. A damn shame not much "return of investment" was achieved.

Wouter