Alan;
I am sorry that you were angry. I agree with Bob that a meeting at the end of a three race day is the wrong time. But more than that I have serious questions about the scheduling process. This is the forth time that we have hassled each other about what the race schedule should be. I have not observed that it has made much difference to anyone what we have chosen. It is clear that a fraction of the fleet does not want to do the entire HDA series and does not want to have to feel guilty about not being there. It is also clear that for a variety of reasons an equally large fraction of the fleet misses some of the races that are identified as counters. I think we need a more flexible season schedule. Setting the current schedule is not fun and does not help the fleet.
This fleet was created to do several things.
We have on occasion had fun. We have certainly gained recognition of the SF Bay Fleet as a fleet. We do not have to explain who we are. At times it is apparent that we are closer to a one design fleet than a handicap fleet. I think that we should expand from where we are. I would do that by creating a season champ for the fleet on a year round basis. In terms of scheduling to be the season winner one would have to do 6 races in the HDA schedule; 3 races in whatever winter series we choose; 2 out of 3 special events we choose and one final event staged by the fleet especially for the fleet. Which of the HDA, Winter Series races or special events competed in is up to the participant. This way personal needs or the condition of the boat could be accounted for. Since participation over a years set of races is uneven, I would weight the results, for fleet standing, of each race by the number of boats in the fleet competing. In a race with 12 entries the score would be as finished. If there were only 6 entries a third place finish would be 3X(12 / 6) . A DNS would be scored 14. This would encourage people to participate in high turn out races and prevent using low turnout races to win a series.
Alan has said no one has specifically identified the races they want to compete in. I think many people are more certain about what they don't want to do, than what they want. I suggest flexibility.
If we have a non race day meeting, I vote for holding it at Encial CY. That is the easiest place to get to from the South bay. Also from a personal prospective I am finding long days on the water harder to cope with. I am also beginning to feel the inflation pinch that comes with being retired 9 years. As painful as it is it is unlikely that I will move up in the fleet. For these reasons I have not been particularly vocal about fleet planning. I do strongly suggest that we allow as much flexibility as possible in the schedule.
Lloyd Burns
Prime Mover
Received on Mon Oct 29 16:29:13 2001