Reader Rant

Tri Again

About 3 months ago I registered my boat, a Sea Runner 40 trimaran, for the annual Turkey Shoot Hospice Regatta at Yankee Point. This event is for boats designed over 25 years ago, and since mine was designed in the early 70's I should be allowed in. About two weeks ago I heard third hand that the race organizers had a secret meeting to find a way to not let me in. So I called the head honcho, and spoke to him about his decision. His comments were that they couldn't rate a multihull (I have a valid PHRF rating), and they were unsure about how to have multihulls race with monos. I agreed to get enough boats to have our own class, 4, and we left it at that. So far 5 multi's have registered.

Then yesterday I received a call from the head honcho saying that he had decided that since he and his race committee"guru" had never heard of multi's racing with mono's, they where not going to allow it. When I pointed out major regattas that host both, i.e.. Key West, V.I. Rolex Series, etc., he then said he couldn't see how multihulls are safe! Just to back up a little, this is a regatta that puts 70' wood boats on the start with Flying Scots, and has had Skip Jacks capsize on the finish line and the RC not move the finish.

I find it hard to believe that in this day and age that multi's are in the Olympics (Tornados), are in most major sailing events, and yet there are still people out there who refuse to accept them. It is especially discouraging to see it happen at a event that is supposed to benefit a great charity. It would be nice to get the word out about these stuffed shirt old men that are giving a bad name to the sport of sailing.

Comments, people?

Thanks,

Fuller

06/19/06