Why should we lower ourselves to other classes who are doing this poorly? It is embarassing in this day and age that real-time coverage isn't the NORM.
This can be low-budget; for example, in 2006 at the Hobie 16 NAs in RI, Lori Mohney did live updates from my RV via a wifi connection, being fed information via VHF from the water (Mimi). As Matt can attest, this had been common practice at major Hobie Cat events for many years prior to 2006.
This is a service to all sailors interested in the classes. If we can't attend a major event, we want to be able to read about how our friends are doing. This has nothing to do with sponsors, growing the class, or anything else. True, all of those things can be wrapped in (an up goes the cost and difficulty), but at the end of the day, WE are the primary audience, and that's who we should be focused on pleasing.
If SA can figure out a way to profit from this, more power to them, but it looks to me like they're eating volunteers to make it go.
