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Mexican:
The Southern Cross Cup and the FoS both used New Tack as their regatta / event managers.
New Tack's client (ie. the entity who engage them to run their regatta / event) for the Southern Cross Cup are the local owners of TP52's. They make all the decisions about their regatta / event.
For the FoS, New Tack's client is the RGYC. New Tack's client is not the entrants to the regatta. This is where the similarities between the two events end. New Tack are following the direction of their client: RGYC.
To reiterate, if anyone has a gripe with the cost and format of the FoS, you'll need to influence the RGYC directly or indirectly through their key stakeholders (eg. the City of Greater Geelong, the sponsors and the State Government of Victoria). You're wasting your time blaming New Tack.
Gee, well there is the problem Mexxy.
You see mate, I always thought that the "key stakeholders" were the owners and crews of the competitors yachts. This event is not like some fucking rock concert where the band plays no matter who attends, if their ain't no boats then your "festival of sail" is just a bunch of fucking unemployed Geelong Bogans wandering around looking for a fight.
I mean think of it Mexxy, There is a crew to organise, food and drink to be purchased and a boating asset worth between $10,000 and $3,000,000 or so to be punted down to Geelong - and we aren't the "key Stakeholders"?
Ever heard of the marketing terms "buy In" and "ownership" Mexxy? I'll bet those stupid RGYC, Geelong Council and State Government pricks convinced themselves that "Festival of Sail" was a "Brand" right? A "brand " that they owned.
That came through loud and clear when Scandia first sponsored the race; the yachting population was immediately divided into "Grand Pricks" yachtsmen welcomed into the corporate tent and the rest of us great unwashed boaters. Each year you progressively alienated more of the Victorian yachting community till we were just a fucking sideshow, a pleasant backdrop for the Bogans to look at, with no real stake in the proceedings. That is what your "branding" has achieved.
You see Mexxy, in days gone by every yachtsman in the Bay had "Ownership" of the Geelong regatta and we dutifully "bought in". We organised bought and paid for food, drink and accommodation each year because it was something everyone did as a matter of course. We went because everyone went.
And this year you fucked it up even worse than last time.. No passage race and sailing during a work day as well.
Let me tell you what the original highlights of Geelong regatta actually were:
1. Passage races from every point in the bay, the course, starting order and start times chosen so that everyone arrived at the Hopetoun channel at once. For those on board that provided fun and games at the narrowest point and it was not unusual to see several unwary players go aground. The spectacle of about a thousand yachts (which is something like the numbers that attended in the late 1960's) arriving en masse was pleasing to the watchers. - But you fucked that all up now haven't you?
2. Then there was the fact that all yachts held "open house" and you caught up with people you hadn't seen all year, wandered off to get drunk together and eat something. Now replaced by acres of commercial food stalls.
3. Then there was the Sunday afternoon race for the teams in the inner harbour. The action at the gybe mark produced several magazine covers. I was there when Police Car broke its vang. All that is gone now - replaced by boring up/down races in the outer harbour.
4. Then there are the prices of everything. We didn't mind buying beer tickets, but today prices are just gouging.
So tell RGYC, the City of Geelong and the State Government to take their "Brand" and stick it up their arses.
What's the quote? "Don't argue with an idiot. They'll only drag you down to their level and beat you with experience every time...."
Nice rant, however, you've made some sensational assumptions which have no basis. When you say "But you fucked that all up now, haven't you?" I presume you think I'm somehow involved with New Tack, RGYC, et al.
Nothing could be further from the truth. I've been racing at Geelong Week (as I still think of it) for over 25 years as a crew and have seen the same changes you rant against. And I do agree that the event has taken a turn for the worse from a sailor's perspective. The difference is that I see myself, and the sailors who race at the event, as the customer of the event. The reason I've termed RGYC, the City of Greater Geelong, the sponsors and the State Government of Victoria as the key stakeholders is because they're actually in a position to make decisions regarding the event.
The only decision you or I have to make is whether we buy the product. This year, I did not.
So we can vote with our feet and not turn up; as many did this year. The point I'm trying unsuccessfully to make is this may not be enough to change the course of the event. I'm absolutely certain ranting on the internet is not the solution. It's also clear, to me at least, that bagging New Tack will not change the outcome. So how do you influence a change in the event for the betterment of the sailing customer?
You need to influence the people and organisations who actually make or have a huge influence over the decisions made about the event: RGYC, the City of Greater Geelong, the sponsors and the State Government of Victoria.
By the way, I've told you a million times before: don't exaggerate!
Mex
(or Mexxy to my fans)
The Club Captains have provided advice to RGYC on some changes to the divisions and how they are scored that will hopefully offer the Port Phillip keelboat community a reason to participate in the regatta again. Whether those suggestions find their way into the NoR will be interesting to see.
I hope you have more success in those discussions with RGYC than your predecessor had...
