I was just wondering if it is necessary, or even prudent, to have a rules review every single year?
No it will not be necessary anymore. Pretty much this rules discussion was caused by a pressing issue in the class. Otherwise we wouldn't have it. The 2002 F16 class ruleset has proven to be very stable and dependable. With each passing year there is less and less that can possibly be reviewed.
I understand that from time to time the class rules should be reviewed to see if there are any improvements that can be made or problems corrected, but in the classes infancy and development, might it be wiser to review the rules on a more spread out basis such as every two or three years?
I will not have any problems with that as long as it doesn't limits the ability to quickly react to unexpected developments. The trick we have in the F16 class is that we rule on things before they have well penetrated into the class as a whole. If we limit such reaction to 2 or 3 years we'll create alot of problems.
I am however, very willing to run with your proposal to schedule the general REVIEWS over say 2 to 3 years. The current rules certainly allow that.
Do you want to press this proposal further ?
I know I'm not the most verbose member of the class by any means, but I do check the forums almost every working day (sometimes more than once) and I do read (almost) everything. But from outside the class it must look as though every year we rewriting the rules.
You are correct but we decided that the F16 class will do everything out in the open and that may have drawbacks we just have to accept. If people are scared away so easily and on a misconception even, than I don't think much of them as class members as well. It is a hard decision but the valuable members of the class do educated themselfs properly on what is going on and see the smaller issues for what they are, small issues.
My argument here is that at a certain point the class must demand of its members to make an effort and learn what is going on. We are not a Single Manufactorer One Design class (SMOD) where "daddy" takes care of all things.
Regular readers of the forum will know that this is not the case and that the rules change only in very small degrees if at all, however I can see outsiders looking into the class and saying "oh, they still haven't figured out the rules yet so I don't want to get into that class yet."
Personally I know that all serious competition are currently in this phase ; From carbon masts in the Tornado class to non furling fully battened jibs in the F18 class. The A-cat class is currently breaking their heads over how to become the fastest baot on the water again and even the Hobie 16 class is debating the spinnaker issue. I-17's have the issue of standardizing the boats over the world and the different size spinnakers in the F17 class. And so on.
If people get scared here with us where everything is out in the open and they can participate and influence the voting. Then the sure are scared away from any of these other classes where the decisions are made behind closed doors by the whigs.
The new sailors should rather see the special character of this F16 class. I promise everybody that we'll listen to all arguments and will take into account all of them. We are a sailors driven class. Not builder driven or ISAF whig driven.
Perhaps we should change the 'rules' so that there is only a difinitive review every 3 years or so or if there is a major change in some way (like the world supply of aluminium drying up or something)?
I am fearful of the including a rule like that because these things always come back to hunt you at a later time. However an agreement outside the class rules will have the about the same value for us F16 officials. IF we all all agree that the next review will be in teh winter of 2007/2008 then there must be some important and pressureing matter if the body of class heads is to break this agreement.
Would that suffice Andrew ?
It also might make less typing for you Wouter?
And I'm very interested in that, believe me !
Wouter
