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During a recent US Sailing training seminar, I noticed that the US Rx's slipped by the 2025 update on the website. We just completed that update. Please post in this thread if you find any errors in the US Rx's.
I have oft wondered if events in the US should be allowed to charge a protest fee for a protestor who is not a member of US Sailing. A modest $15 or $20. A lot of work goes into the rules, and the training of judges. The non MNA member lodging a protest is getting something of a free ride.
I have oft wondered if events in the US should be allowed to charge a protest fee for a protestor who is not a member of US Sailing. A modest $15 or $20. A lot of work goes into the rules, and the training of judges. The non MNA member lodging a pr...
A nominal charge of $15 or $20 would just be grit in the wheels. It would have no meaningful effect on recovering US Sailing, or even the local club's costs and it would deter protests.
On a related note, in the ILCA Class, we have a significant "free rider" problem: sailors benefit from our class rules (and the supply chain of builders and sailmakers) but only have to join the class to race in major championships. As a local district secretary, I'm continually exhorting my fellow sailors to join the ILCA class; my appeals have limited effect: of the 200 known sailors in our district, only about 60 are ILCA members.
Often, the only way to get sailors to join is to have a forcing function, e.g., in order to sail in an ILCA Pacific/Atlantic Coast Championships/Midwinters/Nationals/etc., you have to be a member of the class.
I see a $15/$20 for non-members, less than a US Sailing membership ($80/year), which helps defray judge expenses, as very reasonable. In the Bay Area, bridge tolls and gas can easily cost $20. And we're not even talking about meals.
As for "grit in the wheels", how does this add complexity, given the widespread availability of payment options like Venmo, PayPal, Zelle, Apple Cash, and Square (or good old cash)?
, in the ILCA Class, we have a significant "free rider" problem: sailors benefit from our class rules (and the supply chain of builders and sailmakers) but only have to join the class to race in major championships
Al, That's not what the ILCA Class Rules say.
9. CLASS ASSOCIATION MEMBERSHIP No person is permitted to race in any Fleet, interFleet, District, or other sanctioned event unless at least one member of the crew is a current member of the International Laser Class Association (a member of a District Laser Association duly established in accordance with the Constitution is a member of the International Laser Class Association).
ILCA Handbook 2025
FLEETS - Normally sailing clubs or small groups of ILCA class sailors sailing together on a local basis. Fleet activities are normally coordinated by a Fleet Captain who has been elected by the sailors in that Fleet.
As for "grit in the wheels", how does this add complexity, given the widespread availability of payment options like Venmo, PayPal, Zelle, Apple Cash, and Square (or good old cash)?
Its charging any fee that doesn't work economically that is unjustified
I was on a panel for an OD US Nat'l Champs where the Class protested each boat that wasn't a fully paid member of the class. That ended up being highly effective.
@Angelo I'm intrigued by your strong opposition. I haven't given it much thought. @John Allan, I was trying to come up with a number that would encourage USS membership, and help me pay for the meals I provided for my judges, while at the same time did not discourage serious protests. If it discouraged frivolous protests, you will not find me shedding any tears. What number would you tout? A US dollar buys more sandwiches than an Aussie dollar, but not as many as it used to.
It might be easier to enforce than requiring USS membership for regatta entries which oft gets very unpopular feedback....and nearly derailed one USS president (and prominent judge )
Justin re: "@Angelo I'm intrigued by your strong opposition."
I, and the judges I serve with, do not receive any compensation from US Sailing. Therefore, a non-US Sailing member boat before my panel is not getting any more of a "free ride" than another.
Also, there is no requirement that a PC have any USS Certified Judges on the panel. Certified and uncertified judges alike ... we volunteer to the OA typically ... not US Sailing (unless USS is the OA).
Finally, I don't want to be bothered managing who's paid-up or not .. and managing funds. What a royal PITA that would be.
For Appx's R, U and V, the entire Appx is replaced/inserted with the US Prescription.
Jest sayin
Often, the only way to get sailors to join is to have a forcing function, e.g., in order to sail in an ILCA Pacific/Atlantic Coast Championships/Midwinters/Nationals/etc., you have to be a member of the class.
I see a $15/$20 for non-members, less than a US Sailing membership ($80/year), which helps defray judge expenses, as very reasonable. In the Bay Area, bridge tolls and gas can easily cost $20. And we're not even talking about meals.
As for "grit in the wheels", how does this add complexity, given the widespread availability of payment options like Venmo, PayPal, Zelle, Apple Cash, and Square (or good old cash)?
9. CLASS ASSOCIATION MEMBERSHIP
No person is permitted to race in any Fleet, interFleet, District, or other sanctioned event unless at least one member of the crew is a current member of the International Laser Class Association (a member of a District Laser Association duly established in accordance with the Constitution is a member of the International Laser Class Association).
ILCA Handbook 2025
FLEETS - Normally sailing clubs or small groups of ILCA class sailors sailing together on a
local basis. Fleet activities are normally coordinated by a Fleet Captain who has been elected
by the sailors in that Fleet.
I was on a panel for an OD US Nat'l Champs where the Class protested each boat that wasn't a fully paid member of the class. That ended up being highly effective.
CA should check each entry for CA Membership, give entrants a chance to pay up, and reject any entries that don't comply.
@John Allan, I was trying to come up with a number that would encourage USS membership, and help me pay for the meals I provided for my judges, while at the same time did not discourage serious protests. If it discouraged frivolous protests, you will not find me shedding any tears. What number would you tout? A US dollar buys more sandwiches than an Aussie dollar, but not as many as it used to.
It might be easier to enforce than requiring USS membership for regatta entries which oft gets very unpopular feedback....and nearly derailed one USS president (and prominent judge )
I, and the judges I serve with, do not receive any compensation from US Sailing. Therefore, a non-US Sailing member boat before my panel is not getting any more of a "free ride" than another.
Also, there is no requirement that a PC have any USS Certified Judges on the panel. Certified and uncertified judges alike ... we volunteer to the OA typically ... not US Sailing (unless USS is the OA).
Finally, I don't want to be bothered managing who's paid-up or not .. and managing funds. What a royal PITA that would be.