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The 2002 Olson 30 Nationals were recently completed in Oxnard last week. The regatta was won by the boat owned by a guy named Rick Flucke. Not steered by Flucke. Owned by Flucke. Steve Reed, a sail designer who works for North Sails, steered Flucke's boat. The owner buys North Sails and got the North pro to come steer his boat in the Nationals, which they won. How nice for Flucke and Reed. And how bad for the rest of the owners, and more importantly, the health of the class.
In a day and age when every viable one-design class has owner-driver rules and professional restrictions, it is amazing to find that the Olson 30 class does not. There is little point to go into the reasons why such rules are in effect, other to say than they level the playing field, get owners more involved with their boats, and they work. Other than Flucke and Reed, who benefits when a pro like Reed comes in, steers, and wins? The answer is nobody. It's bad for everybody else. Wake up Olson 30 class. Institute the same type of owner-driver rules that govern the other classes. To not do so is to ignore what is best for the fleet. And it's bad form. 07/14/2002 |
