To be clear, I think US Sailing has value to anyone who sails. I've been neck deep in volunteering for the organization for 15 years and I'm not done. I don't think they do everything right. I've been at odds with the last few years of moving away from a volunteer organization, but my membership is current and so is my race officer certification.

Neither the Alter Cup nor the Olympic programs get any money from dues - if you don't want to support the elite end of the sport, you can still be a member with a clear conscience.

I have been and will continue to be a multihull sailor first, and I always saw the Alter Cup as the most visible evidence to other adult multihull sailors of what US Sailing is about, at least at a level that connects more locally for most of us. I've been torn as the event that brings all classes, fleets and associations together has changed, incrementally, into something else. I've wondered, as others do, if it would serve the multihull community better to have the Alter Cup out from under the US Sailing Championships. This does not equate (in my mind) to a condemnation of US Sailing as a whole.

Yes, and to me that would likely be the RRS and my course sticker. Didn't know zero $ went to Alter Cup or Olympic campaigns/training centers, but that's not my call.

Just out of curiosity, how much is a membership?
And how many percent of the average racer's budget is it?

John,

I would fully support someone forming an organization to try and run such an event for 10 invited sailors on provided boats..... It could be for profit or as a non profit.

I suspect that this is very very hard to dp but nothing would be stopping such an effort.

Heck, I think the Hobie 16's have a private thing occasionally in Puerto Rico for invites only. There is precedent for such an event.

It would be crass to grab the name of the existing championsip but that would be my only issue.

I'm am a member of two yacht clubs, both members of USS
I'm a member of my class
My class is a USS member
My class dues (almost 100%) go to my international class
My IC pays ISAF

As far as I'm concerned my oblications to support the stucture of the sport are met and there is no need for me to contribute to another club that is known to provide very marginal support to the sport I love.

Mark - I think that the Alter Cup can remain a US Sailing event without being under Championships, which carries all the obligations of national sponsorship agreements, few of which are tailored or even relevant to our small niche of the sport. I'm not in favor of a new organization as long as there's an Alter Cup at US Sailing.

I think it's $60/yr. I'm a member but I've forgotten exactly how much. I usually add some extra $$ for the Multihull Council and Youth Sailing.

As a percentage of racing budget?? Depends on the sailor, and how much they spend on their racing, but it's not a whole lot.

I still think the "Answer" to the Alter Cup issues (money and boats) are to get one or two BIG NAME sponsors, like Budwieser, Red Bull, Jimmy Buffett, etc. and do it RIGHT!

Get 10 (or 20) Brand New boats from a single source, to be raced by class champions (top 2 or 3 from each class) ONLY, no Political Invites, and have it at a large, very spectator friendly, venue, ie. right off the beach at some huge resort with spectators and TV coverage. Sort of like the AC 45 thing in SFO bay.

Yes, that's going to cost a lot of money, but asking a bunch of weekend pogues to pony up, obviously isn't working in terms of turnout.

Another example of what is happening at US SAILING http://sailingteams.ussailing.org/News/2012/2013_Youth_Worlds_Qualifier.htm

So, how many of our Youth Multihull Sailors in US and Canada will enter?

Caleb Tarleton
www.sailsandpoint.org

My brother in law, David Hein, will be there, I think sailing with Taylor Reiss.

We are Family Members, $90/year, for three sailors. Membership is required in several Regattas we attend. Very small part of our sailing budget.

But to what end, Timbo? What does the Alter Cup get the winners of it? And what would the BIG sponsors get in return for watching 10 teams duke it out?

They both get the same things the sponsors and winners of the X Games get.

Obviously, being counter cultural that I am, either you are referring to something kids do or some sort of Porn competition?

No, get your mind out of the gutter, I'm talking about this: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9A_x4D5rRdQ

And this: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dasROL6feAc

Or This: http://www.medcup.org/home/

Why can they draw the sponsors and TV, but US Sailing can't, or won't?

Viewership! When I try to explain racing sailboats, it comes out Kentucky Derby on snails. We ain't NASCAR.

With all the hookers and blow, I've got my own issues to deal with at work, because nobody could have landed that airplane like I did! http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MlFMZ5D8FNc


But if we would crash into each other like NASCAR, or the AC45's, http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Jvk4D-GlUgE we'd get more viewership!

Remember the test pilot who did a barrel roll with what, the first 727?

It was a 707, pre 727 days. "Watch This!" http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=AaA7kPfC5Hk

Thanks Mike.

yes



I think Pete hit it pretty well, (Made me laugh anyways). Watching sailing is boring as sh!t. Even if you know what's going on, watching a whole race is a yawner. The AC stuff has been done really well, and I can really only take that for fifteen or twenty minutes at a time.