The International class could do all of those things but will it promote the sport in the countries that receive the strongly worded email or stern phone call? Will that action move the agenda of class forward or will it alienate the up and coming countries from the class?

Sending an email or giving a stern phone call to a bunch of volunteers serves absolutely no purpose. This isn't an employee employer relationship you can't give volunteers ultimatums, the volunteer is always doing you favor and the volunteer holds all the cards and they and they alone will decide if they want to play or not.

Again, I really don't think it would be in the International class’s best interest to give the National classes a dressing down for not participating this year. Mark don't you think it would be a much better approach to send and email or make a phone call simply asking how the International class could help overcome the obstacles that keep some teams/countries from attending Worlds? The carrot really is the way to go don’t you think? This whole beat em with a stick approach reminds me a lot of another organization I'm involved with.

I am still waiting for the real issue that Paul sees.

Mark gives a list of things that "could" happen, but probably won't.

I mentioned that the ISAF requirements are being met, so the class doesn't have to worry about that.

Realistically, this is not unlike other classes, where EU teams don't come to the US for Worlds, and vice-versa. The economy isn't helping, either.

EDIT: Economy and currency exchange values aside, one (if not THE) root cause of this is the overlapping racing seasons of the US and EU, and pitfalls of a BYOB regatta. In other words, do you really want to be without your boat for the enitre summer while it sits in a container going back and forth across the ocean?

I'm not seeing an emergency, or anything at all to be excited about.

I'm saving my popcorn for a better movie...

Mike

I agree.

Dave you make some excellent points about volunteers.

The A class had some public grumbling about how the Yanks blew off the Aussi Worlds... I have no idea if the International class echoed this complaint to the US class. The US Class did organize a container to the upcoming worlds in No Europe this time.

Your point about volunteers is well made. The way I see it is that many volunteers are running a huge event like a F18 worlds... So, it is demoralizing that all of the effort to pull off a successful event is ignored by important chunks of the class. You want the message delivered... Hey... we are all in this boat/class together... we busted our butts... and we support your event. So...what about you?

Now... how do you take the sentiment of the class volunteers and turn that in a message directed at the no shows... I choose to call it a reminder of your responsibility. You could also call it a big stick.

I have often wondered if a national class should include a container charge so that the national class could subsidize racers going to worlds. Now the cost may still be too high for the individuals and you don't fill the container or send it. BUT...it is very clear you are supporting the Intl Class agenda with some $$$.

Seriously??? What is demoralizing about a 100 boat regatta??? And, where is the data that shows Euros coming here in droves when we host a Worlds???

Mike

For us... 100 boats is fantastic... those guys were looking at 200.... (assuming Europe is = to their part of Europe).

But, I don't think the number of overseas competitors is the real issue.. Rather it's the representation of the top sailors from overseas participating that matters.

The A class Worlds have been twittering about whether Gasby will be racing or not. Superstars matter! The US class trumpets that two of the top three US Sailors will be racing on US platforms at the upcoming worlds.

The standard pre worlds write up for any class will trumpet the talent and where they come from... broad international support is a big deal!

I would bet that a container each from North and South America would have done the job!

Mike discussed how long your boat is out of action. A winning plan is to ship your boat and then sell it in the region of the worlds. Fly home and get a new boat! If the market and the exchange rate are off... that is a factor.
Dealers who broker this would certainly help the international trade!

I am not even sure if there is an F18 class in Brazil. Only saw one custom boat more or less abandoned in the Yacht Club of Rio and one in sailing conditions in Buzios.

You raise an interesting point there, the 2012 worlds are in september which means that euro boats will have to be in containers by august at the latest.
Our season runs until the end of october which means you will miss out on half a season.
This wont be such a problem for the pro teams since they will either ship a 2nd boat or rent one.
IMHO the absolute best time to do a worlds outside europe is between november and march.

It's certainly not a new problem. The Hobie classes have dealt with this for generations. It could be argued that the H16 Worlds are only so successful because the boats are supplied.

Mark would probably say that means that a 100 boat BYOB event shows more support than a 200-boat rotating format on supplied boats. Knowing many of the sailors, I would disagree, but it's an interesting point.

Mike

No... I would not get too caught up in the size of the regatta debate. I go back to my competition/ world wide participation point... When the worlds gets the top 30 sailors in the class from around the world going head to head... I would declare that an overwhelming success whether you include zero other competitors or 170 other competitors.

Now the scale of the parties and the worlds experience could depend on those other boats but that is a separate point.

Here is a somewhat related question.... Is a worlds truly a championship if the past world champions don't compete (and have not retired)?

The stock reply is ... well... you hold the championship and the champion is the winner and world champion.. But we are human.... So...what do you really think?

You try to make things so complicated!

You hold a championship. The winner is...~sigh~..."the champion".

+1

Ok, that is the standard answer ... Back to the original post...



If that is the case... Why would some one care if a few nations did not post....(It's not about the number of boats is it) This is not the Olympics after all where if your country failed to pay for your rep you could be pissed..

Nope.... IMO, this post is really about the top competition who did not show.

You guys are just whistling past the graveyard....

Right in the middle of sailing season in FL. How convenient for Ding. The whole world at his back door looking for a place to sail....

You want funky lake sailing? Host it in Clermont

You want crazy lake sailing? Find a way to put it in Lake Okeechobee. (Bonus points for any sailor who doesn't spot an alligator bigger than their boat)

Coastal Ocean and its associated surf? Anywhere along the east coast

Less violent pseudo-ocean conditions? Pensacola (colder) to Marco Island (warmer)

You want tropical paridise? Port Charlotte (west)to the Keys (south) to Palm Beach (east)

Wind, sea and temperature conditions vary from 80F and 10-12kts with light chop, to a Nor'easter driving 30+kts along with huge surf (east coast) and temperatures that fall to near freezing

Jan-March seems close to "peak" season in Florida, both for sailing and tourism (so prices might be up), but for a 100+ boat fleet, deals can be made.

Containers can be shipped throughout the state. Jax, Miami, Ft. Lauderdale, Tampa, have container terminals from quick memory. Rail service can get almost everywhere else

Right... that is why the Miami OCR is in late January and follows Key West.

The Euro olympic sailors will package a training camp around the ISAF grade I event and another 3 day event into that 10 day or so period.

What you need is a facility that can handle the containers and base camps of the these teams... including coach boats.

Mixed multihulls coming your way shortly!

I'd think Miami and Sarasota have a good amount of space to handle something of that size.

What kind of acreage would you think is feasable to host 100+ boats, half of which would be from outside USA?

In some ways, who cares what we "want" to happen, we can't force people to show up.

If you want to know what impresses me, it's not a handful of rockstars coming from Europe, it would be more like a minimum of 10 boats per country. Same in reverse. If a handful of US boats go to a Worlds in Europe, that's not really impressing me as the country's class supporting the event, that's a handful of individuals that chose to go.

Not realistic with overlapping seasons, but that would impress me.

Of course, there's really no point to this part of the discussion. We can make it as enticing as possible, but even if the event were free, with free boats, logistics and airfare included, people would find reasons not to go.

Mike

a sad +1 on that....

wow.... I thought I had a high standard for Worlds success.
I don't understand your point of view at all. (say more)

I think of Worlds participation (container required) as rock stars, and full on campaigners plus a few rank and file sailors who are going to Worlds for the experience/vacation in some cool spot in the world. The cost and other issues will keep participation way way down... I would be happy with a single full container from the continent!

I would be impressed by measuring participation when the worlds show up in your part of the world. Getting 80% of your class's regional racers to post would be outstanding. This would measure the hard core support in your neck of the woods.