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The Star class is falling - falling apart that is. The news is president Riccardo Simoneschi signed over control of the star class rules to ISAF on July 18,2000 without polling or telling the members. This secret was revealed three weeks ago when the 2000 ISCYRA-ISAF agreement showed up on the Star internet site. The site administrator posted a message saying someone hacked into the site and posted an unauthorized contract. The class has tried to cover it up by erasing the agreement and all related messages from the web site. The agreement gives ISAF the right to change all Star class rules and that's exactly what ISAF president Paul Henderson has been doing. At the November ISAF meeting in Cyprus, he axed the star rules for World Championship qualifications and enacted new rules. This summer more than 30 Americans raced in the worlds but under the new ISAF rules the maximum is 6, and only 2 for many countries. Star sailors were surprised that ISAF had the gall to think they could get away this, then shocked to find the agreement showing ISAF can do this, because president Simoneschi had sold everyone out and given ISAF the rights over 2 years ago. If bad leadership doesn't ruin the class then rule changes like this will and there are more changes coming. The 6 worlds qualifiers will be selected by national authorities (i.e. US Sailing etc) so if you are not a high ranking rock star you won't be sailing. Simoneschi has a history of offending his members saying the star class is no place for older sailors, older boats, or amateurs. At the star annual meeting in August he said "the star worlds is no place for anyone who is on holiday". What a leader!!!! Simoneschi and Henderson's plan to get rid of those annoying holidaying amateurs who might get in the way of the hundred odd pro sailors in the class is working. The thousands of amateurs in the star class now see they should spend there membership money somewhere else. To coverup the coverup the star class reposted the agreement http://www.starclass.org/ More president trash talk in the 2002 Worlds article http://www.mycstar.org/Stardust/stardust.htm 12/12/2002 |
