Men who abuse women are scumbags. Have you ever hit a woman? Me neither. There is never a real reason to do it. Ever. Those who do, surely not real men, are essentially cowards with serious mental and or emotional issues. They're only surpassed in the sub-human category by people who abuse kids, or animals.

For years society refused to deal with the issue. You've heard the excuses: "It just happened once", "She had it coming", "Who could blame him?", "What a bitch", "He had a couple drinks." A sickening display of cowardice that is often covered up, excused for, looked the other way.

But hopefully, no more. Finally we do not tolerate men who victimize. Abusers are outed and looked down upon as the vermin they are. That is, unless you are a celebrity athlete in this country. If so, by and large, you still get away with it. Do we need to look any further than O.J.? Murdering his wife and getting away with it was of course the most egregious of his actions. But for years he abused Nicole and never faced any real consequences. We all know that today, O.J. golf's, while the two people that he murdered lay dead.

Now you in the sailing community have an abuser among your heroes, and you'll need to decide how to react.

Randy Smyth, one of the most successful multihull competitors this country has ever known, is spending 30 days in jail (the judge sentenced him to 90 days, but suspended 60 days) after being convicted by a jury of six of his peers (4 men, 2 women) on domestic violence charges against his third wife, Paula. This is his first conviction, but second charge. The first domestic violence battery charge was one that he entered a plea agreement to back in 1995 against his second ex-wife, Terri. Who knows how many times the abuse was administered without being reported?

There are those who claim to know Randy that are clamoring to defend him and lash out at his third wife. Name-calling and character swipes are now being delivered, yet the facts remain: a jury found him guilty of domestic violence battery. That doesn't sound like my kind of hero.

While there are always two sides to every story, there is only one side to a guy who has been violent towards women at least three times: inexcusable.

So while I'm sure many of you will be critical and accuse of us of rushing to judgment, there just is no excuse for what this guy has done. We no longer care what he has accomplished on the water; he voided that by being an asshole towards his wives, the latest the mother of his three (and one special needs child) children. We think he should be held in the same regard as any other abuser and victimizer. None.

He is in the sailing World Hall of Fame? Congratulations Randy, you have just entered the Sailing Anarchy Hall of Shame.