Fair and Square?

Word that the 2005 Transpac will not allow any boat faster than the maxZ86's is a sad example of politics working their back room magic. Unfortunately, this race has a history of setting and then resetting artificial "speed" limits, almost all of them applied by political pressure. Sleds, then turbo sleds, now maxZ86. Interesting how that progression has developed, isn't it?

This time TPYC had originally agreed to maxZ86 limits if the maxZ Class could get three of them to the start line. Well there is only going to be two, but the maxZ86 rating limit still applies. Why?

Of course we all know that the maxZ86 Pyewacket will be doing the '05 Transpac. We also know that the owner, his sailing master, and navigator are all also TPYC Directors. Any ideas on how much influence they wield? Right.

This is one reason why the race is considered by many to be an archaic, politicized race that has been surpassed by the Pacific Cup in almost every way. A race like Transpac should have no rating limit at all, let alone one that is set for the self-interest of a select few. Open it up, be inclusive rather than exclusive, and let those who can and want to come with their big boats, rating whatever they rate, do so. Anything less just doesn't seem quite right.

05/26/2004