Lasers - Applying a Blow Torch

[Bill5]

Actually, I am Bill1. Bill4 is an alias so as not to reveal my identity. Oops...

Anyway - if Easter was closer to the ACL Music Festival I might just head down there. Now THAT would be fun!

 

[Wess]

Wess....

Your life will be empty Easter Weekend unless you grab a bunch of fellow Marylanders and travel to Texas for the Easter Laser Regatta.

Maybe you can even meet the new International class secretary .... He has sailed the event about half the years

That's a long drive for a Laser racing that I can do right here! Thus the beauty of Laser (vs Aero) fleets.

 

[Wess]

The beauty of lasers also includes the fact you can visit any of 300 North American sailing venues and sail in a fleet in any given year.

That's what makes it so incredibly amazing the builder and class promotion is so utterly pathetic they only cause about 300 new boats a year in the entire USA snd Canada

Less than 30% of what we sold in the year after 9-11.

The reason I have ragged on them for thirteen years is they refuse to get the hell out of the way and let somebody who gives a damn take over.

Every year 1000 more people do not take up Laser sailing because the class management is not doing its job as well as it was done from 1999 to 2002.

You bet your sweet ass I rag on them. They need to step aside and drag young enthusiastic people into the class management.

45 years ago the ILCA hired a twenty something Jeff Martin to run the game

This year they hired an old fart in his fifties whose job history includes running the J-24 class office while membership dwindled and dwindled some more.

The best cure for enthusiasm is old age.

The ILCA is run by ancient people who are content with riding our dying game to its death

We need to make them pass the torch or, although it may not be the Aero, something promoted by enthusiastic people who refuse to accept failure will soon come along and kill Laser sailing

You get riled up way to easily Gouv so carefully consider this...

I think Laser sailing is as good now as it was in 99-02... maybe better. Honestly.

And this mess with PSA, BK, and LPE - to get back to the topic of this thread - was handled masterfully by the class association. I get that most all whiners posting here will disagree but virtually none of them are class members and most don't even race in a Laser. Had we followed the path laid out in their various BK loving lunatic rants the class would likely not have had access to Lasers the last few years.

Happy New Year!

I do hope you guys have a good Easter Laser regatta.

 

[BobBill]

There is one thing most of us neglect to consider, even, perhaps PS suits. The aging of Laser Sailors (or any forum) is eclipsed by rocketing population growth and, within, that cohort, large segments having no knowledge of past references of any sort. It is this life condition which drives businesses to ignore current and past fan preferences to "pack 'em in" as it were...sort of a prequel to "build it and they will come," mentality, although they are already present.

Why would someone interested in funds only, care about gamesmanship, rules, esthetics or anything, for that matter, besides the bottom line?

That motive is often present in licks here and adverts...

 

[Wess]

There is one thing most of us neglect to consider, even, perhaps PS suits. The aging of Laser Sailors (or any forum) is eclipsed by rocketing population growth and, within, that cohort, large segments having no knowledge of past references of any sort. It is this life condition which drives businesses to ignore current and past fan preferences to "pack 'em in" as it were...sort of a prequel to "build it and they will come," mentality, although they are already present.

Why would someone interested in funds only, care about gamesmanship, rules, esthetics or anything, for that matter, besides the bottom line?

That motive is often present in licks here and adverts...

Do you mean that all these kids coming from population growth, having learned to sail Lasers in junior programs, will instead of buying a cheap used Laser and joining a large established fleet an existing infrastructure...

will instead want to organize a group buy, spend 2-3X as much, and do all the work to establish a new fleet, race in a smaller fleet, and pray they have critical mass so their boats have some resale value when they have to move for a new job because that's more fun?

 

[BobBill]

Simply stated, numbers negate most other factors...and even diminishing returns, depending on factors in those constructs.

Let it go, no need to hijack...could be topic all by its little self.

 

[Wess]

Simply stated, numbers negate most other factors...and even diminishing returns, depending on factors in those constructs.

Let it go, no need to hijack...could be topic all by its little self.

Wasn't trolling and agree numbers can negate all but I believe those numbers have $ signs.

Look at what it took for Open Bic to make a dent in the Opti space. Takes a heck of an investment to dislodge a competitor as well established and entrenched as Laser is.

OD ain't about the boat - its about the fleet. Takes money to move a fleet.

 

[BobBill]

Wess...we are resonant; precisely the point, the dollars that are spent by all these people...and we forget what it will cost to keep us in line...

 

[Wess]

Wess...we are resonant; precisely the point, the dollars that are spent by all these people...and we forget what it will cost to keep us in line...

Not following your point maybe. Agree that OD by its nature is resonant if you like that word. But its driven by the sailors as much or more than the builder/designer. As an OD sailor I want to go where the sailors are. I think even Gouv would agree that point. You lost me though with the costs to keep us in line?

 

[BobBill]

No problem...we are digressing...population dictates...more people, less care is taken to please, as items sell anyway, kind of thing.

 

[Wess]

No problem...we are digressing...population dictates...more people, less care is taken to please, as items sell anyway, kind of thing.

All good. I agree the concept; just think it applies less here given class standards/construction manual set a level of quality to be able to sell. Price too has limits as used boats are readily available. Best...

 

[aroy]

The beauty of lasers also includes the fact you can visit any of 300 North American sailing venues and sail in a fleet in any given year.

That's what makes it so incredibly amazing the builder and class promotion is so utterly pathetic they only cause about 300 new boats a year in the entire USA snd Canada

Less than 30% of what we sold in the year after 9-11.

The reason I have ragged on them for thirteen years is they refuse to get the hell out of the way and let somebody who gives a damn take over.

Every year 1000 more people do not take up Laser sailing because the class management is not doing its job as well as it was done from 1999 to 2002.

You bet your sweet ass I rag on them. They need to step aside and drag young enthusiastic people into the class management.

45 years ago the ILCA hired a twenty something Jeff Martin to run the game

This year they hired an old fart in his fifties whose job history includes running the J-24 class office while membership dwindled and dwindled some more.

The best cure for enthusiasm is old age.

The ILCA is run by ancient people who are content with riding our dying game to its death

We need to make them pass the torch or, although it may not be the Aero, something promoted by enthusiastic people who refuse to accept failure will soon come along and kill Laser sailing

My name is Andy Roy, and I'm the NA Laser Class President and a member of the World Council. I started sailing Lasers in about '74, and have raced in five Laser Worlds and seven Masters Worlds events. I have followed this thread from time to time over the past years and there has been some excellent discussion and debate, but unfortunately also some posts that are inflammatory and/or include unsubstantiated remarks. As a target of your criticism, "Gouv", I feel obligated to respond and hopefully I can provide a little more insight for you and others about the Class Association (albeit from my perspective). I attended my first World Council meeting this past October in Dallas, where I was able to better get to know each of the WC members, some of whom I've known for quite some time. I was also able to get a good understanding of the workings of the class and of the many responsibilities. Here are a few of my observations:

- In any group, team, committee, etc., it is more than likely at least one member will be a pain in the rear. The WC does not have one of these. I left the meeting impressed with every member of the WC, including the three builder representatives who, perhaps remarkably, seem to me to get along very well with each other. Throughout the 3 days of meetings there was an excellent spirit of co-operation and consensus. The meetings were professionally co-chaired by Tracy and Eric, with obvious advance preparation by both. (The only unusual thing about the meetings, however, was the need for the group to take an inordinate amount of bathroom breaks and also a mid-aft nap break, since just about all of us on the WC qualify as old farts.)

- The Class is in good financial shape and class membership levels have been fairly stable.

- The new sail introduction, although long overdue through no fault of the Class Assoc, is great news and more technical developments and progressive rule changes are in the works.

- The Class probably has the top person on the planet for the job serving as its Class President. I have the utmost respect for Tracy. He is an active racer, has true passion for the class, makes reasoned arguments and decisions, and class members are being extremely well served by TU.

- Similarly, we are being well served by Eric Faust as our Exec Sec. Eric has extensive class management experience and he will respond immediately to any question any class member wants to ask him. He's solid and I really can't say enough about him.

- The WC members voted unanimously to establish a new position to enable Jeff Martin to stay aboard on the WC. That's how valuable we think he is. The work he has done for the Class, starting I think in 1975, has been amazing and he continues to provide valuable contributions and work effectively with the not-so-easy-to-work-with ISAF/World Sailing organization on behalf of the class. Moreover, I doubt there are two better PROs anywhere than Jeff and Hugh Leicester (another WC member) to run our World event race courses. Jeff has been the PRO at (I think) every Laser Worlds since 1976!

- Thinking more about what Jeff and Eric have done and continue to do, there is really no other class that remotely compares to the Laser in terms of what has to be organized on day to day, year to year bases. Other classes typically have one annual world championships to plan. Laser has numerous World events held in far flung places around the globe: Open, Youth Radial, Masters, Women, etc. .... and all which require careful contract negotiations with the host site and also arrangement and transport of charter boats to/from each of these events. Moreover, over the past several years they've had to deal with the added complication and distraction of the Kirby-LP legal dispute.

- If anyone who follows this thread somehow believes the WC or any member of the WC has been favoring either party in the dispute, I have news for you. Nothing could be further from the truth. From the beginning it has been the WC's objective to remain absolutely neutral in the dispute between the commercial parties, and in the meantime continue to put forward its best efforts in keeping the business of the class operating well. I read a recent post here, hopefully it was a joke, about Eric making a pact with Rastegar F. from LP. If that person only knew how absurd that is.

- The Class continues to see strong participation at many events. Is there another sailboat class where I can step on a plane with one checked bag, arrive at a beautiful sailing venue, such as Hyeres France, cut away the plastic on my brand new charter boat that's identical to my boat at home, and proceed to race in tough competition on superbly run race courses against 86 others in my 10-year age group with a total of 499 competitors out on the water? What class is in second to the Laser in this regard, I ask?

- Are numbers growing like they were in the hey day of the class? Of course not. With demographics against us and when kids can go kite boarding or do other trendier activities, it's tougher to attract young sailors. But that by no means the situation is dismal! The 4.7 to Radial to Standard rig progression option for kids is fantastic. At the recent Orange Bowl youth regatta the Laser Radial fleet easily met the 100-boat entry limit cap. At the just completed Youth Worlds in Malaysia the Laser Radial Boys and Girls fleets saw, respectively, 66 and 54 entries (one entry per country). In comparison the largest fleet in any other class (420, 29er, RS-X, etc.) was 33 in the Boys 420.

- Could the Class be doing more to promote Laser racing? Perhaps, but remember that promotion costs money. For example, we'd love to update the NA Class website, but this will cost money that's difficult to allocate from the budget (budget figures available on the web site, and suggestions or recommendations are welcome).

- In addition to my comments above about the WC, on the NA Class Association front I also can't say enough about the job done by our Exec Secretary, Sherri Campbell. Along with Jerelyn Biehl they do a tremendous job on the behalf of class members. Again, I believe we are being well served.

So Gouv, if you think the World and/or NA Class Association is "not doing its job, and (we) need to step aside and drag young enthusiastic people into the class management", I would be pleased to "pass the torch", as you suggest. Hell, at 58 I'm definitely in the "ancient / old fart" category as you point out, so I'm way, way past what you would approve of as being suitable for the Class. So let me suggest that you or any other class member encourage anyone interested in serving on the NA Class Exec to contact Sherri. I'll resign and we'll put the youthful candidate(s) up for election. Problem solved and we can prevent Laser sailing "from being killed", as you opine.

(I'm also curious how you arrived at the declaration that 1000 people every year don't take up Laser sailing because of the "pathetic" job we in the class association are doing?)

 

[Bruce Hudson]

The beauty of lasers also includes the fact you can visit any of 300 North American sailing venues and sail in a fleet in any given year.

That's what makes it so incredibly amazing the builder and class promotion is so utterly pathetic they only cause about 300 new boats a year in the entire USA snd Canada

Less than 30% of what we sold in the year after 9-11.

The reason I have ragged on them for thirteen years is they refuse to get the hell out of the way and let somebody who gives a damn take over.

Every year 1000 more people do not take up Laser sailing because the class management is not doing its job as well as it was done from 1999 to 2002.

You bet your sweet ass I rag on them. They need to step aside and drag young enthusiastic people into the class management.

45 years ago the ILCA hired a twenty something Jeff Martin to run the game

This year they hired an old fart in his fifties whose job history includes running the J-24 class office while membership dwindled and dwindled some more.

The best cure for enthusiasm is old age.

The ILCA is run by ancient people who are content with riding our dying game to its death

We need to make them pass the torch or, although it may not be the Aero, something promoted by enthusiastic people who refuse to accept failure will soon come along and kill Laser sailing

My name is Andy Roy, and I'm the NA Laser Class President and a member of the World Council. I started sailing Lasers in about '74, and have raced in five Laser Worlds and seven Masters Worlds events. I have followed this thread from time to time over the past years and there has been some excellent discussion and debate, but unfortunately also some posts that are inflammatory and/or include unsubstantiated remarks. As a target of your criticism, "Gouv", I feel obligated to respond and hopefully I can provide a little more insight for you and others about the Class Association (albeit from my perspective). I attended my first World Council meeting this past October in Dallas, where I was able to better get to know each of the WC members, some of whom I've known for quite some time. I was also able to get a good understanding of the workings of the class and of the many responsibilities. Here are a few of my observations:

- In any group, team, committee, etc., it is more than likely at least one member will be a pain in the rear. The WC does not have one of these. I left the meeting impressed with every member of the WC, including the three builder representatives who, perhaps remarkably, seem to me to get along very well with each other. Throughout the 3 days of meetings there was an excellent spirit of co-operation and consensus. The meetings were professionally co-chaired by Tracy and Eric, with obvious advance preparation by both. (The only unusual thing about the meetings, however, was the need for the group to take an inordinate amount of bathroom breaks and also a mid-aft nap break, since just about all of us on the WC qualify as old farts.)

- The Class is in good financial shape and class membership levels have been fairly stable.

- The new sail introduction, although long overdue through no fault of the Class Assoc, is great news and more technical developments and progressive rule changes are in the works.

- The Class probably has the top person on the planet for the job serving as its Class President. I have the utmost respect for Tracy. He is an active racer, has true passion for the class, makes reasoned arguments and decisions, and class members are being extremely well served by TU.

- Similarly, we are being well served by Eric Faust as our Exec Sec. Eric has extensive class management experience and he will respond immediately to any question any class member wants to ask him. He's solid and I really can't say enough about him.

- The WC members voted unanimously to establish a new position to enable Jeff Martin to stay aboard on the WC. That's how valuable we think he is. The work he has done for the Class, starting I think in 1975, has been amazing and he continues to provide valuable contributions and work effectively with the not-so-easy-to-work-with ISAF/World Sailing organization on behalf of the class. Moreover, I doubt there are two better PROs anywhere than Jeff and Hugh Leicester (another WC member) to run our World event race courses. Jeff has been the PRO at (I think) every Laser Worlds since 1976!

- Thinking more about what Jeff and Eric have done and continue to do, there is really no other class that remotely compares to the Laser in terms of what has to be organized on day to day, year to year bases. Other classes typically have one annual world championships to plan. Laser has numerous World events held in far flung places around the globe: Open, Youth Radial, Masters, Women, etc. .... and all which require careful contract negotiations with the host site and also arrangement and transport of charter boats to/from each of these events. Moreover, over the past several years they've had to deal with the added complication and distraction of the Kirby-LP legal dispute.

- If anyone who follows this thread somehow believes the WC or any member of the WC has been favoring either party in the dispute, I have news for you. Nothing could be further from the truth. From the beginning it has been the WC's objective to remain absolutely neutral in the dispute between the commercial parties, and in the meantime continue to put forward its best efforts in keeping the business of the class operating well. I read a recent post here, hopefully it was a joke, about Eric making a pact with Rastegar F. from LP. If that person only knew how absurd that is.

- The Class continues to see strong participation at many events. Is there another sailboat class where I can step on a plane with one checked bag, arrive at a beautiful sailing venue, such as Hyeres France, cut away the plastic on my brand new charter boat that's identical to my boat at home, and proceed to race in tough competition on superbly run race courses against 86 others in my 10-year age group with a total of 499 competitors out on the water? What class is in second to the Laser in this regard, I ask?

- Are numbers growing like they were in the hey day of the class? Of course not. With demographics against us and when kids can go kite boarding or do other trendier activities, it's tougher to attract young sailors. But that by no means the situation is dismal! The 4.7 to Radial to Standard rig progression option for kids is fantastic. At the recent Orange Bowl youth regatta the Laser Radial fleet easily met the 100-boat entry limit cap. At the just completed Youth Worlds in Malaysia the Laser Radial Boys and Girls fleets saw, respectively, 66 and 54 entries (one entry per country). In comparison the largest fleet in any other class (420, 29er, RS-X, etc.) was 33 in the Boys 420.

- Could the Class be doing more to promote Laser racing? Perhaps, but remember that promotion costs money. For example, we'd love to update the NA Class website, but this will cost money that's difficult to allocate from the budget (budget figures available on the web site, and suggestions or recommendations are welcome).

- In addition to my comments above about the WC, on the NA Class Association front I also can't say enough about the job done by our Exec Secretary, Sherri Campbell. Along with Jerelyn Biehl they do a tremendous job on the behalf of class members. Again, I believe we are being well served.

So Gouv, if you think the World and/or NA Class Association is "not doing its job, and (we) need to step aside and drag young enthusiastic people into the class management", I would be pleased to "pass the torch", as you suggest. Hell, at 58 I'm definitely in the "ancient / old fart" category as you point out, so I'm way, way past what you would approve of as being suitable for the Class. So let me suggest that you or any other class member encourage anyone interested in serving on the NA Class Exec to contact Sherri. I'll resign and we'll put the youthful candidate(s) up for election. Problem solved and we can prevent Laser sailing "from being killed", as you opine.

(I'm also curious how you arrived at the declaration that 1000 people every year don't take up Laser sailing because of the "pathetic" job we in the class association are doing?)

Thank you Andy for taking the time to write on this thread.

There are several issues and several questions that the ILCA elected to remain silent on prior to the Kirby action. These actions have resulted some ILCA members choosing not to renew their membership, and a number who intended to join/rejoin the ILCA, not. Now there is legal action, there is a legitimate reason to remain silent on matters relating to the case. As these are central to how the ILCA has performed poorly, and central to Kirby's legal action, it's unlikely that you are able to address the issues by answering the questions. These include:

• Questions about the validity of the vote for the fundamental rule change, specifically misinformation about contracts being historical, calls made by the UKLA to delay voting, and media reports on the eve of the vote stating that the vote is no longer needed. (these have been questioned since 2011).
• Minor questions relating to the establishing whether or not votes cast were in fact by members as claimed.
• A commitment to publish properly written ILCA Exec meeting and World Council meeting minutes for members to view. (I can verify this through active members I know).
• A commitment for the full personal and personal financial disclosure of Laser officers and staff of their past and current relationships with: Laser builders, Laser trademark owners, the Laser designer and their owners and representatives. Any relationship with any supplier of Laser parts. This should be made available to members.

These are in no way intended to be accusatory, but steps that help lead to an ILCA that I wish to actively support.

Also central is the fact that in spite of Jeff Martin being a signatory to the IYRU Agreement on behalf of the ILCA, statements were made as if the agreement was never existed.

In any group, team, committee, etc., it is more than likely at least one member will be a pain in the rear. The WC does not have one of these. I left the meeting impressed with every member of the WC, including the three builder representatives who, perhaps remarkably, seem to me to get along very well with each other. Throughout the 3 days of meetings there was an excellent spirit of co-operation and consensus.

I am genuinely surprised to hear that Bill Crane and Chris Caldecoat are getting on very well with each other. Remember that Crane in affidavits alleged a conspiracy (his word) by PSA / Kirby to take over the world production of Lasers.

How is the sponsorship situation with Bill Crane and the ILCA-NA? Over the last few years there have been many mentions of Mr Crane not responding to requests relating to sponsorship with the ILCA-NA. That does not seem indicative of a good relationship.

While 'Gouv' at times make comments 'out there', I believe that he's usually more right that not. When talking about membership, Gouv usually talks about ILCA-NA membership numbers which went up while Fred Schroth was the Secretary, then declined after he was replaced. It has recovered, but not to the level it was when Fred Schroth was ILCA-NA secretary. The global membership has risen yet again (very slightly) to a new high.

Perhaps the point he make on age can be viewed a different way - the demographics of the World Council does not reflect the demographics of the ILCA membership (age and gender). Is there anyone on the World Council under the age of 50? As for female representation, there is some way to go before the World Council can lay claim to being representative of women's sailing.

My hope is that you continue to contribute to this thread. What we have in common is that we care about the boat that Kirby designed.

 

[aroy]

Thank you Andy for taking the time to write on this thread.

There are several issues and several questions that the ILCA elected to remain silent on prior to the Kirby action. These actions have resulted some ILCA members choosing not to renew their membership, and a number who intended to join/rejoin the ILCA, not. Now there is legal action, there is a legitimate reason to remain silent on matters relating to the case. As these are central to how the ILCA has performed poorly, and central to Kirby's legal action, it's unlikely that you are able to address the issues by answering the questions. These include:

• Questions about the validity of the vote for the fundamental rule change, specifically misinformation about contracts being historical, calls made by the UKLA to delay voting, and media reports on the eve of the vote stating that the vote is no longer needed. (these have been questioned since 2011).
• Minor questions relating to the establishing whether or not votes cast were in fact by members as claimed.
• A commitment to publish properly written ILCA Exec meeting and World Council meeting minutes for members to view. (I can verify this through active members I know).
• A commitment for the full personal and personal financial disclosure of Laser officers and staff of their past and current relationships with: Laser builders, Laser trademark owners, the Laser designer and their owners and representatives. Any relationship with any supplier of Laser parts. This should be made available to members.

These are in no way intended to be accusatory, but steps that help lead to an ILCA that I wish to actively support.

Also central is the fact that in spite of Jeff Martin being a signatory to the IYRU Agreement on behalf of the ILCA, statements were made as if the agreement was never existed.

In any group, team, committee, etc., it is more than likely at least one member will be a pain in the rear. The WC does not have one of these. I left the meeting impressed with every member of the WC, including the three builder representatives who, perhaps remarkably, seem to me to get along very well with each other. Throughout the 3 days of meetings there was an excellent spirit of co-operation and consensus.

I am genuinely surprised to hear that Bill Crane and Chris Caldecoat are getting on very well with each other. Remember that Crane in affidavits alleged a conspiracy (his word) by PSA / Kirby to take over the world production of Lasers.

How is the sponsorship situation with Bill Crane and the ILCA-NA? Over the last few years there have been many mentions of Mr Crane not responding to requests relating to sponsorship with the ILCA-NA. That does not seem indicative of a good relationship.

While 'Gouv' at times make comments 'out there', I believe that he's usually more right that not. When talking about membership, Gouv usually talks about ILCA-NA membership numbers which went up while Fred Schroth was the Secretary, then declined after he was replaced. It has recovered, but not to the level it was when Fred Schroth was ILCA-NA secretary. The global membership has risen yet again (very slightly) to a new high.

Perhaps the point he make on age can be viewed a different way - the demographics of the World Council does not reflect the demographics of the ILCA membership (age and gender). Is there anyone on the World Council under the age of 50? As for female representation, there is some way to go before the World Council can lay claim to being representative of women's sailing.

My hope is that you continue to contribute to this thread. What we have in common is that we care about the boat that Kirby designed.

Mr. Gantt, I'll be glad to respond on a couple of your points:

Yes, I of course realize there are some people who declined to renew their membership over the dispute, and this is unfortunate. I have spoken to several of them over the past few years and I believe I convinced at least a few to rejoin based on what I felt were their misconceptions of the situation. But I want to avoid debate on this issue since, as you point out, Kirby named ILCA in his lawsuit and all of us on the WC were advised by the ILCA's outside legal not to comment on the case.

As for questions about ILCA members and their relationships with builders, etc., I can only say that it is my firm belief that all current members of the ILCA have the utmost integrity and honesty.

Regarding Bill Crane, I like him. He gets it. I'll only remind you of the obvious: it's not his company. I'd be willing to bet that he'd love to go back to sponsoring the ILCA, but it's not his call.

Regarding the makeup of the WC, hey, I'm all for seeing younger people and females become our class reps and sit on the ILCA. Again, I'd be happy to be put out to pasture and make way for a younger, bright (brighter? LOL) and engaged competitive Laser sailor, male or female, who expresses sincere interest in joining the NA Exec. It's quite simple: all someone has to do is contact Sherri and put their name up for election.

 

[Gouvernail]

Andy,

You are one of those guys who raced at the highest level and years later came back to support and care for the game that gave you so many personal rewards.

I appreciate that.

You also have been around long enough to have seen rises and falls in participation in every aspect and level of the game.

When I rag on the old guys and suggest they replace themselves ASAP I mean it and continue to promote it for a number of reasons

1. Most of our management sailors at all levels at all clubs are people who started managing in the seventies and eighties. Until recently, It was guys from the sixties as well but those guys have been doing a lot of dying.

I am convinced the very best managers are those who begin while they have sufficient enthusiasm to work through their ignorance

2. If we don't start training replacements and get them into the habit of long term management, the game will die behind us.

I am guilty. I have hosted my Easter regatta mostly alone and with help only on the regatta weekend itself for 32 years. I started as a 30 year old. We really NEED a thirty year old with my 30 year old enthusiasm to come help out and take over. I should do that soon because if he or she faiks, I can pick up the pieces snd find a second, third, fourth and fifth replacement until one sticks with it

>>>> I don't want you to step aside. I want you to go grab some kid and push him or her into your job and hold the door shut until the banging on it stops and the Stockholm Syndrome in the form of loving the job sets in.

You can afford to be a little less selective each year you wait

3. The game mushroomed, when as young sailors, we took all our friends sailing on the new affordable fiberglass toys. We need young guys doing that dragging. We need affordable toys.

We prosperous old guys have let the toys creep up in price. We prosperous old guys have let our comfort be bought at the expense of the least expensive path to the water.

4. Sherri is one of the sweetest ladies on the planet. She does professional work for the class at a bargain price.

Allan Broadribb was too damned old to do the job but his fabulous sense of humor extended his functionality.

I was too damned old but my fanaticism extended my functionality. Sherri is a Mom. A damned fine Mom. We need a ball of fire who needs a guy like you to a occasionally sit down with the kid and remind that kid the paperwork has to be done too.

We need somebody who posts a dozen times a day in forums like this and spends hours on the phone with last sumner's fleet captains, regatta chairs, regular regatta attendees, sponsors, dealers, and whoever the hell will listen to the endless enthusiasm gushing forth.

I tried to phone or visit every single fleet captain and regatta chair at least once because I thought it HAD to be done.

I still do.

We need not just a cheerleader but a relentless one who relates to the sailors.

5. You have a huge list of lifelong accomplishments. I want the people who are dedicated to being known for out doing you

It had been 14 years since Tim Landt published his pack of lies about me and the class finances. Eric Faust was too chickenshit to stand up and tell everyone he shared my office and knew the lies to be utter and complete bullshit. His excuse was something about being taken down with me in an unstoppable flood. The fact is he didn't wish to risk burning the bridges to someday having a full time paid job in sailing management.

The organization Allan handed to me and upon which I spent about $100,000 building was simply taken apart and killed by those who came in behind me.

They wanted to be in charge but NOBODY showed any interest in doing the work to actually replace me.

No one ever did.

Nobody goes to 35 regattas a year, posts all over the Internet, leaves newsletters in yacht clubs and dealerships, brings a soccer ball and football for windless days .... Or when a sewage spill postpones midwinter.

I had set up the class with $30,000 in assets only three years after being handed $12,000 and $19,000 in obligations.

I had 3106 paid members and CORK with its annual membership boost was only days away.

Everything I busted my ass and spent all my money building was wasted and has never been rebuilt.

Vanguard and the enthusiastic NA Class sold over 1100 Lasers in 2002 and for the first time in twenty years individual small sailboat sales actually increased in North America. Strange how that boomlet coincided with yours truly pushing Lasers.

The response from the Laser Class?

Listen to that lying sack of shit Landt. Don't even take the time to PEEK at the annual reports or question where the fuck that lying fukwit got his bullshit

No!

The reaction was, "oh boy!! We can be in charge !!!"

Then

"Oops! How do we do this? Where did all the members go? Why don't we have any money?"

Has there ever been any effort to apologize for fucking me over every way a man can be raped by those he thought were his friends??

Hell no!!

And posts like this are pretty much all I still do about it.

I will do my damdest to host another fabulous Laser regatta Easter Weekend.

In the years when I had full on class support we kept growing a little bit every year and had multiple years over seventy boats.

You asked about my 1000 missing sailors??

About fifty a year haven't had the chance to sail at the Easter regatta because we can't seem to put together the crowd like we used to

I feel hindered rather than helped

I do not believe the class is being used as the TOOL I think it should be for making the game happen

I also don't have another $100,000 to come fix it

That frustrates me because I can't afford to say, "Get out of my way and I will show you how it's done."

I already did. 35 consecutive months of membership growth

14 years later NOBODY has tried to study what I did in an effort to know everything I did and add more great ideas and eclipse my records

The class has had only one absolute rule of management, "Do not do anything that might give that guy the idea we know he cares, suggest to the world the idea we appreciate his efforts, or ever did a damned thing right!"

At least that's how I see it

And many of my friends tell me I am way less pissed than they would be.

Ok

I can stop now

 

[JimC]

It's quite simple: all someone has to do is contact Sherri and put their name up for election.

Doesn't happen though, does it? Especially these days. Its a problem right across sailing I think, that in general the admin has been done by effectively the same generation for the last thirty years. It seems clear that we can't wait for people to sign up to replace our generation, we've got to somehow go out and get them.

 

[Wess]

Note to those who keep reminding me to chill:

(Wess, Grinder, others who know who they are)

You are correct. Sorry!! Thanks for caring!

Please come sail at Easter

Gouv,

My reasons for not coming have nothing to do with you. My wife and I have a kid at USNA and sponsor many others so have a fair number of commitments here at home (where I can also sail). I do wish you (and the Easter regatta) well. Love your passion even if I disagree some actions. We wants similar things; just have different ways of getting there. Be well and happy new year.

Wess

 

[Wess]

It's quite simple: all someone has to do is contact Sherri and put their name up for election.

Doesn't happen though, does it? Especially these days. Its a problem right across sailing I think, that in general the admin has been done by effectively the same generation for the last thirty years. It seems clear that we can't wait for people to sign up to replace our generation, we've got to somehow go out and get them.

Wow the thread got somewhat rational and fact based. Seems like 2016 really is a new year.

I agree it does not happen. Having done my share of class organization and event planning (not in Laser) I suspect social media and threads like this are part of the reason.

 

[NYBOZO1]

Have I mentioned that I think you ought to chill?

Happy New Year Gov!

Mark

 

[JimC]

For some reason we are the generation who have refused to pass responsibility on to the kids.

I don't believe for a second it is the other way around.

Neither, I think. We're the generation who don't know how to pass responsibility, and we've raised a generation who don't know how to take it. I think by and large people need to be invited these days, can't wait for them to volunteer. Interestingly I've noticed it of myself of recent years, although part of that is due to a lot of scar tissue between shoulder blades.