I've only been fortunate enough to hear stories around the tents, but the one about wooing the olympic committee, by example, to secure the PRO position for the '96 games was incredible. You all are very lucky to be in this mans presence.

Doesn't matter who it is, they'll unfortunately have a target on their back, for some bad apple to shoot at.

John

That is the point that I'm trying to make. PU is able to run amazing courses, however there are others of the same caliber, that PU has trained, that he knows are good, but he will not release his virgin death grip on so that they can gain experience, and it comes without the little power trips he continues to play.

MJ44: Are you working on an event with Paul now?
How many events have you sailed that he has run?

1) no
2) over 20

So What exactly are you complaining about?

FYI, The Tornado Class insists on using Ulibari... They know what they will get... His standards will match the class requirements for world class racing. In fact, they have refused to leave the beach at an international regatta when Ulibari was replaced as PRO by someone who they saw as incompetent.

If your point is that he is uncompromising that may also be true. At a Spring Fever regatta he held to the 5 knot rule when perhaps the situation warranted a slightly looser hand given that it was not a championship level event and people just wanted to go sail boat racing... But.. you knew his standards before you went racing. You choose.

If your point refers to his leadership of the Hobie Class... well that is entirely different and falls in the realm of politics.

The comments about him not allowing anyone else in are interesting.
I actually had complaints as to why he was at our event when he spent so much of the time running around in a skiff while others ran races from the RC boat.
What I found prior to the event was:
He wants the NOR right.
He wants the Sailing instructions right.
He wants to now the marks, flags,horns, white boards etc. are in order.
He wants to know that he has enough mark boats with qualified people on them to properly set a mark.
He needs to know he has the right people on the RC boat to record scores etc..

He wants things done right, imagine that...

If someone like Mark S or Mike Walker or Pat Limburner is at the event he will gladly let them run flags and keep time while he drives around the course with a radio and fishing pole.

(PU spending lots of time in the skiff)

His job is to crown a National Champion on the race course.
My job was to run an event were everyone was treated like champions.
These two things can at times conflict and you have to comprimise.
At the 97 Womens Nationals he was willing to sacrafice some travel expenses to be sure that every women at the event recieved a red rose at the awards banquet.
He is not perfect, but the good he has done far out weighs any negatives.

Well, I have known Paul since 1971. He has done more for Hobie Cat and Catamaran racing than anyone I can name. The remarks by Pat, Matt, Bob and Mark are right on. Paul has earned the highest level of Race Management and International Judge, making him a much sought after PRO for major regattas including the Olympics.

Paul was also our first local Hobie Cat Dealer, and earned the repetition as the person that grew Cat Sailing in the Northwest, and trained the people that continue our success today. Our family bought several Hobie Cats from him, and he was always very supportive in our sailing and racing growth. As a direct sailing competitor, Paul was always very fair, and helpful in training new sailors.

Over the years, I have raced in many local, regional and national races run by PU, and can vouch for his excellent race management. Safety and running a good event are the hallmarks of his regattas.

Last week, Paul ran the U.S.Youth Multihull Championship in Miami. All of the reports indicate he ran an excellent event, getting off eighteen races, with rotating teams under challenging conditions.

When Paul does return to the Northwest for local regattas, he always helps out where required, even if it is only helping to set marks.

Personal attacks by anonymous people such as MJ44 have no place on this or any other Forum.

Caleb Tarleton

Interesting.

Firstly , I have to say I read this forum regularly , but until now have never commented.

I think MJ44 has many valid concerns.
I have raced many regatta's under the Race manag ment of PU and find his skills of course managment quite a reasonable level, however PRO's have a discretionary power and this has to be questioned in many cases with PU. The idea that the Tornado Class insists on him as PRO is pure politicaly motivated as the Tornado class managment and he do each other favours.
You see the point is, PU is one of the most pathetic brown nose politicians I have meet with his highest motivation to created friends in ISAF and International classes so he can be invited ( all expences paid ) to be on a committee or run thier race for them .
The sailing is a far second priority to climbing the political ladder.
Ask any Tornado team from the 96 and 04 Olympics or the Spanish / Cadiz Worlds committee if he would be first choice ????? I very much doubt it.
Sorry to be so blunt on my first post.

Hmm.... I believe at Cadiz... the Tornado fleet INSISTED that PU be put BACK in charge of he Race committe when the powers that be force him out and replaced him with an idiot Race committe which wanted them to race in the dark.. Hardly the actions of a the brown nosing polictical hack that you assert.

In Miami, this year... US Sailing insisted that the Tornado fleet race in the ocean and PU used his discretion to keep the fleet in Biscayne Bay when his saftey criteria were not met. He responded to a petition by the Tornado sailors asking that they not race in the ocean under the circumstances. Hardly the suck up flunky of US Sailing that you claim.

These facts speak to his concern for saftey of the racers... which in my view is the first priority of any PRO running a race that I want to compete in.

Obviously you have no idea what you are talking about...
So, what the hell is your agenda?

Where are you getting your wild butt assertions? I have a name and email address... What's yours? Or are you just a spineless nitwit?

(Oh... and by the way... PU and I have gone several rounds over other issues and I am hardly a personal friend.. but you are just dishing out BS and it pisses me off)

My name is Mitch Booth,
I have first hand experience under PU's race managment control at 2 Olympics, and countless other events.
You are right, The " Class" did insist on the return of PU to power during the Cadiz Worlds and this is another good example of the politics between PU and his friends at ISAF and the Tornado Class. The discresion used at this years Miami regatta NOT to race the last day stinks.
Just another example of a declining credibility.

Ok, I've got my popcorn and cold beer. You may continue. <img src="http://www.catsailor.com/forums/images/graemlins/smirk.gif" alt="" />

I just heard a paperclip crash onto my carpet. <img src="http://www.catsailor.com/forums/images/graemlins/grin.gif" alt="" />

PU still owes me fifteen mast chips from the H16 Nationals at Coyote Point about twenty years ago.

With PU it is more about the politics than the races. He ran the Santa Barbara Tiger worlds into debt with his power trip BS. Demanded all this extra stuff including insisting that his wife be flown out to the regatta to run a stopwatch when there where locals who could have done it.

No I will not deal with all the bs that will come with me giving you my name

Holy crap. This aint what cat sailin needs. Anon poster stirrin up the pot. 11 total posts plllll!
I suggest that all legit posters abondon ship.
In the words of the "Who" "forget them better still".

The name is Bond, James . Now that was as good as "Is it live" Snieder. Mitch Booth that's the Bomb. Who is the other mystery guest Reg White..

HAHAHAHA

This thread is now doing its 360 penalty turns. Someone called in his or hers re-inforcements.

Who wants some?

Hey Mike, if I bring you 15 mast chips next spring, will you call it even? Maybe throw in a couple for interest?
Caleb

For all of us interested bystanders "down under", WHO IS PU? and did he have anything to do with the dictatorial running of the Hobie nationals at Adelaide sailing club in 2000? (or was that just our own "local" little "Hitler")
(Oh, and (the real) Mitch Booth sailed at those nationals as well)