Doolittle (or why can't the para's compete?)

[BrightAyes]

So Ed and Cayard both think it's despicable the "International Paralympic Committee has voted not to reinstate Sailing in the 2028 Paralympic Games in Los Angeles". #metoo. Now. Do something about it. No. Not whining about it until 2032 (current plan). Do SOMETHING positive. How about World Sailing and US sAiling both sponsor a "World's Sailing Event" for the paras? Hold our OWN five ring circus. An event for sailors, by sailors? Hell, the IPC and OAC pretty much could care less about sailing in all its forms. Soooo. Stop asking people who don't care to care. Do our own.

 

[Glenn McCarthy]

It's about money. The Olympics makes tons of money. ParaOlympics doesn't. ParaOlympics uses the facilities created by the Olympics.

Once US Sailing and ISAF voted to end the use of Keelboats in the Olympics, it ended ParaOlympic Sailing.

Why? Building the infrastructure for cranes, deep water to launch is required for keelboats used in ParaOlympics. But doesn't exist anymore as a leftover from the Olympics.

Funny, the same US Sailing that voted to get rid of keelboats in the Olympics now wants to complain about the loss of ParaOlympics?

 

[Hitchhiker]

So Ed and Cayard both think it's despicable the "International Paralympic Committee has voted not to reinstate Sailing in the 2028 Paralympic Games in Los Angeles". #metoo. Now. Do something about it. No. Not whining about it until 2032 (current plan). Do SOMETHING positive. How about World Sailing and US sAiling both sponsor a "World's Sailing Event" for the paras? Hold our OWN five ring circus. An event for sailors, by sailors? Hell, the IPC and OAC pretty much could care less about sailing in all its forms. Soooo. Stop asking people who don't care to care. Do our own.

When you type #metoo, do you want us to pound you or………….

 

[sunseeker]

So Ed and Cayard both think it's despicable the "International Paralympic Committee has voted not to reinstate Sailing in the 2028 Paralympic Games in Los Angeles". #metoo. Now. Do something about it. No. Not whining about it until 2032 (current plan). Do SOMETHING positive. How about World Sailing and US sAiling both sponsor a "World's Sailing Event" for the paras? Hold our OWN five ring circus. An event for sailors, by sailors? Hell, the IPC and OAC pretty much could care less about sailing in all its forms. Soooo. Stop asking people who don't care to care. Do our own.

Why don’t you step up and offer to raise all the necessary money to hold that event.

 

[atnan]

How about World Sailing and US sAiling both sponsor a "World's Sailing Event" for the paras?

Isn’t that exactly what the 2022 Para World Sailing Championships in Japan were? And I’m pretty sure US Sailing sponsored Cristina Rubke to represent the USA at that event.

 

[BrightAyes]

Thanks for replies, to which I say:

1. #metoo yes pound away, slight sarcasm intended
2. What, me pay? Naw, all my funds are committed to life-long support of my schizophrenic adult child. At $50,000 annually, that's pretty much my retirement. Thanks for the offer however!
3. US Sailing killing keel boat and then, SHOCK!, no paras allowed. Yeah, how hypocritical of them.

 

[MR.CLEAN]

Good opportunity to see whether the 'get the sailing out of the olympics so it can thrive" folks were right or wrong

 

[BrightAyes]

Isn’t that exactly what the 2022 Para World Sailing Championships in Japan were? And I’m pretty sure US Sailing sponsored Cristina Rubke to represent the USA at that event.

How about Gates/Musk/Bezos put their $$$ where they say their heart is...or STFU. Any one of them could bankroll an ongoing event in perpetuity. Just need Cayard to go begging cap in hand and make it happen.

 

[Meat Wad]

Please read before flaming me.

Finally a thread worth commenting on. And maybe I'm the only one who really knows why Sailing will never be in the Para Games, unless drastic regulations are approved to determine who is disabled enough to be in Disabled Sailing.
How do I know this? I lived it from the time I was released by my Neurosurgeon to go and join the world (6 months out of rehab and 3 months after having the rods removed. Here is proof of them.

The Countries:

1. The first world countries of GBR, FRA, GER, USA and AUS (to a certain extent) and even CAN can all look in the mirror and say to themselves, "we fucked over the disabled community.
   
   1. The classification system to determine who is disabled enough for disabled sailing should first require at least a loss of at least 40% of your functioning body (my opinion from experience).
      The whole level of functionality is funced up. People like Damien Seguin FRA, Helena Lucas GBR, Heiko Kroger GER and Dee Smith USA, should never have been allowed to be classified. They are all 95 to 99% functional. Meaning they can live normal lives. And they do outside the fake world of Disabled sailing. Those countries and the USA should all be embarrassed to have allowed the them to push aside the truly disabled. This is something the IPC has noticed too.
      
      
      
   2. Those first world countries have also priced out the the emerging Nations by paying these people ridiculous amounts of $$$ to do nothing but sail. Once you get on one of these first world Paid to Play teams, it is almost impossible to knock them off unless you are sponsored to the hilt or you have tons of your own money. Because, see #3
      
      
   3. There is no feeder system for the Para's like the College system for the Oly's. The Para's rely on accidents and Neuro issues. I never even heard of disabled sailing until I fell and blew out T-11. Thankfully I still have 2 working arms.
      
      
2. Boats and Teams
   
   1. The old Sonar was a fun boat but really for us in the USA, it is and East Coast boat. You buy your own or charter one. The problem I found with the Sonar was no standardization of equipment. You had to MFG your own mods or pay someone too. Some of the top US sailors I knew knew had backing from some very notable companies because of people the knew.
   2. The 2.4 was really fun but it had foot steering. Yes there was a Mod for hand steering but the people who had 1 or 2 working legs had a real advantage. Especially in light air when they could scull with their feet and no one could see. I saw this in one event where the boat in front of me at the mark was all the sudden 2 boat lengths ahead when I was right on their transom.
   3. The Skud, what an over priced POS
   4. The real problem once again is $$$$ for equipment. The IPC as noticed this too. Even if the boats are supplied at the events, you must still own one to practice. Lots of $$$$ not just for the boat, Access to the waterfront, storage, sails and all the gear. How about the sip and puff electronics that are not allowed because sailing is a pure sport?
      
      
   5. The new boat the RS Venture looks pretty cool, though I have not sailed one.
      I hope the Para level sailing requires all Skippers to be at least 60 to 70% loss of functionality and they must all use sip and puff steering (no exceptions). the Crew as stated above should all be at least 40% loss.
      There are just too many fake disabled which we see everyday using handicap parking. The IPC has noticed this too.

Of course this is my opinion from experience, I probably spent close to 30K, took years to pay off and not once did USsAiling ever help me in fund raising, even though I asked for help.
So I finally said F this because it was obvious that USsAiling cared more about the least disabled and a 2 female team (that did not have an ice cubes chance in hell). On the US side, Betsy Alison helped to kill Sailing in the Para games. I do not know the layers in the other countries, only the sailors some of which I have immense respect for.
After I left disabled sailing, I kept sailing. Kicking butt in my local area with my boat, A Zap 26, which I still want to sell. I'm just to old and it is too hard to get around on a boat anymore, 25 years post. Also my land sailing which is very disabled friendly.

Here a few pics from me disabled sailing, my boat and land sailing.
2.4mR in Chicago. I had too much fun sailing with the Judd Goldman Group. too much


Kicking ass on an SC27 in Ventura



Rolling in 2nd place Overall behind Scott Young
1st place in Light/Middle weight.
Yea, we are doing about 30 knts into the leeward mark.

 

[Meat Wad]

How about Gates/Musk/Bezos put their $$$ where they say their heart is...or STFU. Any one of them could bankroll an ongoing event in perpetuity. Just need Cayard to go begging cap in hand and make it happen.

View attachment 571690

Why the F should anyone pay so you can play? You and I chose a sport that is way to expensive even for most able people. Which I why I am pretty much done with it.

Who the F are you anyway? Everyone knows who I am.

 

[MR.CLEAN]

Any one of them could bankroll an ongoing event in perpetuity.

could, of course. but why would they?

 

[sunseeker]

How about Gates/Musk/Bezos put their $$$ where they say their heart is...or STFU. Any one of them could bankroll an ongoing event in perpetuity. Just need Cayard to go begging cap in hand and make it happen.

View attachment 571690

I’m sorry for your family situation. Things like that are very challenging.

Yes, there are plenty of wealthy people who could fund certain things, but why should they? Just because they are wealthy isn’t enough reason.

Cayard can’t solve the problem either, because this is an IOC problem, not a US Sailing problem.

 

[BrightAyes]

Well EAT MY WORDS. Direct from the US Sailing email I just received:

Selection Procedures Announced for Para Classes at 2023 Sailing World Championships

US Sailing is excited to announce selection procedures for Para Classes at the 2023 Sailing World Championships. In addition to the Olympic classes, the 2023 Sailing World Championship will also hold events in four Para Sailing classes for the first time ever.

 

[Monkey]

could, of course. but why would they?

Terry Kohler sort of did. We have purpose built facilities, purpose built boats, purpose built gear, room to handle world events, and everything needed to run them. We have all this on his dime. SA’s previous owner had issues with North Sails. Maybe Terry felt that it was better to dump the money into disabled sailing than ads on SA. Sure, the return probably sucked, but he was truly a rich guy out to bring sailing to everyone. On that note, we’d happily host. We’ve got all the facilities, experience, and a cheap venue.

 

[sunseeker]

Terry Kohler sort of did. We have purpose built facilities, purpose built boats, purpose built gear, room to handle world events, and everything needed to run them. We have all this on his dime. SA’s previous owner had issues with North Sails. Maybe Terry felt that it was better to dump the money into disabled sailing than ads on SA. Sure, the return probably sucked, but he was truly a rich guy out to bring sailing to everyone. On that note, we’d happily host. We’ve got all the facilities, experience, and a cheap venue.

There’s a couple of guys in the sport that have made a long term difference, and Terry is for sure at the top of that group. I’d also include Ding Schonmaker, who donated the land for the us sailing center in Miami. Malin Burnham built a really nice, functional building for SDYC’s juniors. These are the places that thrive.

 

[MR.CLEAN]

Terry Kohler sort of did. We have purpose built facilities, purpose built boats, purpose built gear, room to handle world events, and everything needed to run them. We have all this on his dime. SA’s previous owner had issues with North Sails. Maybe Terry felt that it was better to dump the money into disabled sailing than ads on SA. Sure, the return probably sucked, but he was truly a rich guy out to bring sailing to everyone. On that note, we’d happily host. We’ve got all the facilities, experience, and a cheap venue.

Terry spent millions and millions on the sport, and during his entire spending campaign, every aspect of sailboat racing kept shrinking.

He clearly didn't do it to 'fix' sailing (and if he did, he was awful at it), so why did he do it?

 

[Monkey]

There’s a couple of guys in the sport that have made a long term difference, and Terry is for sure at the top of that group. I’d also include Ding Schonmaker, who donated the land for the us sailing center in Miami. Malin Burnham built a really nice, functional building for SDYC’s juniors. These are the places that thrive.

I’m curious if that’s where our Elliots went to play in the winter. I know they wandered off to Miami. Our various versions of customized boats all stay home though. We’re happily a little Midwest club/sailing center, but we have some crazy abilities. I don’t want to deny credit, Harken is wildly involved with our boats as well. In this post it sounds like a bunch of corporate propaganda, but these are all rich guys I personally know spending money in bad ways to help the cause.

 

[sunseeker]

I’m curious if that’s where our Elliots went to play in the winter. I know they wandered off to Miami. Our various versions of customized boats all stay home though. We’re happily a little Midwest club/sailing center, but we have some crazy abilities. I don’t want to deny credit, Harken is wildly involved with our boats as well. In this post it sounds like a bunch of corporate propaganda, but these are all rich guys I personally know spending money in bad ways to help the cause.

Funny you mention the Elliot’s, they are in Park City, and I just saw they were put up for sale.

 

[Monkey]

Terry spent millions and millions on the sport, and during his entire spending campaign, every aspect of sailboat racing kept shrinking.

He clearly didn't do it to 'fix' sailing (and if he did, he was awful at it), so why did he do it?

Terry didn’t care about making money off the sport. He was filthy rich before he bought North Sails. Yes, I’m biased. He was a friend of mine, I worked for him, and did a lot of miles on his boats. He even fired me once, and I still won’t speak ill of him. He just brought the capital to NS to modernize them. Now that he’s dead, if you want to see how he felt about sailing, come join any of the events we host in Sheboygan. He paid for them. We have a multi-million dollar fleet of power boats to use just parked in storage, a few one design fleets available, all kinds of disabled sailing accommodations, all on his dime. You’re welcome to crash at my place. It’s got a great view of the facilities he built.

 

[Monkey]

Funny you mention the Elliot’s, they are in Park City, and I just saw they were put up for sale.

We dumped them after the Olympics. They’re high maintenance.