Paul Henderson

A lightning rod for controversy, Paul Henderson has ruled the ISAF with a will that is truly his own. Love him or hate him, he runs things the way he sees it. Many of you had questions for Paul, and here they are. Good times. - Ed.

What was your motivation to become the head of this sport?

PH
In 1970 Canada got the 1976 Olympic Games for Montreal. IYRU asked that the Canadian Y. A. to nominate delegates to most IYRU committees. I had competed in the '64 and '68 Olympic Games so they asked me if I would go even though I had never sat on the CYA Board. I was 38 and certainly one of the youngest then. I out lived everyone else and became ISAF President having served 16 years as a VP. My term as President ends at the end of next year.

When will ISAF start charging a fee for being registered as an "ISAF Sailor" and for being included in ISAF rankings? Soon? Never?

PH
Never! It is a service ISAF provides.

With a 400 person regatta, once every 4 years, would the entire sport of sailing be better off by removing itself from the Olympics?

PH
I think it is terribly selfish for those who cannot or do not want to make the Olympics to deprive those who can from so doing. Any Olympic campaign for any serious sailor is almost total dedication for years. Most countries have national teams, coaches, managers, trainers, and most are heavily subsidized by their MNA's and/or governments. There are onerous national qualifications. To be so narrow as to say the Olympics are only 1 regatta for 400 sailors every 4 years is a total misconception in today's reality.

Do I like it? Does not matter what I think, that is the world ISAF must live in. ISAF does not have the option of living in a thirty year old time warp. Olympics are nationalistic and professional. Classes which cannot adapt to this reality must decide whether they would be better off opting out. ISAF forces no ISAF Class to become Olympic. It is solely the choice of the class.

With so many onerous and goofy Olympic pass down rules applying to a weekend warrior, the rank and file of sailing, wouldn't it be a benefit and help sailing grow to remove itself from the Olympics?

PH
There are no "Goofy Olympic" rules which pass down to the local level. There are no Olympic rules which effect the non-Olympic classes. When a class chooses to be Olympic they then accept obligations which effect only the top level of competition in that class.

In golf if you are not Tiger Woods do not play from the Gold Tees with murderous roughs. Play from the ones further up with open spaces and enjoy yourself. Same in Sailing if you want to sail in a Pro League go to the Olympics, Volvo, Match Racing and the AC. If you want to enjoy yourself and sail for the pure love of the sport sail an Etchells, Dragon, 5-0-5, Snipe,Thistle etc. ISAF does not intrude on these classes except that they do use the ISAF Racing Rules.

The Olympics decree that all technical aspects are delegated to ISAF and the athletes participation to the National Olympic Committee. ISAF then delegates some of their responsibilities to the classes but not all as ISAF is not autonomous itself and must live within the IOC Rules. The NOC's (USOC) delegate some of their responsibilities to the MNA (USSA). Olympic Classes must realize they are not autonomous and have partners in IOC, NOC, MNA and ISAF. It is again reality. Some of the class adherents especially in older classes like the Star have trouble comprehending this especially in the USA where such a small % of the sailors have Olympic aspirations. One ISAF VP has said that only classes specifically designed for the Olympics should be picked. I do not agree but maybe he is right.

How's the crusade against kinetics going? Is as much of a problem in skiffs (49ers) as it is in the low powered boats?

PH
Kinetics is minor in both Skiffs and Cats which is why the young people like them. The problem with Rule 42 is ensuring a level playing field and consistent judging. It is a constant challenge to ISAF to endeavour to achieve this

As you know I am a firm believer in controlling Kinetics as I first wrote about it in 1970 and named it being an engineer. "Air Rowing" is not Sailing and in my opinion has imploded competitive Windsurfing.

What is the annual budget (USD) of ISAF?

PH
All financial aspects of ISAF are transparent and open and can be accessed and studied in depth on our website. www.sailing.org

What three line items bring in the most revenue?

PH
Same answer but it should be noted that the Olympics provide 60% of all ISAF revenue and Event Fees less then 10%. MNA's and Class fees are being reduced as the Olympic and Professional Event fees revenue increases. Most sports are following the same course.

What three line items have the most expense?

PH
Please read the financial statements on www.sailing.org. remembering that ISAF is a service agency and governs their services which ensure the integrity and "Fair Play" of sailing. ISAF is not a marketing agency or an event organizer.

While it is hard to keep everyone at a yacht club on the same page, how hard is it to keep a whole bunch of nations on the same page?

PH
I used to have hair! How about all the classes and promoters? Sailing is the most diverse sport imaginable. Everything from Windsurfing to ISAF Classes to Olympics to Ocean Racing to America's Cup and everything in between. All segments of the "Sailing Spectrum" believe they are the centre of the sailing universe. It is a very complicated challenge.

Is it cool hanging out with Kings and what advice have they offered you along the way?

PH
The ones I have met are all sailors and many sailors have met them at regattas also. Their advice is the same as I get from every sailor.

Where are the Olympic classes going?

PH
Hopefully to less expensive boats that reward "talent" instead of "technology". I personally would like to see a supplied singlehander for women and an off-the-beach Cat possibly mixed doubles.

What will the makeup of the classes be in the next few Olympic cycles? Or, what is your view on the ideal mix?

PH
I feel there will be no change for 2008 except with regard to Windsurfing or if the Star Class decides that they want to opt out.

1. How is the sport of sailing better after his tenure at ISAF?
2. How is the sport of sailing worse after his tenure at ISAF?

PH
No Comment. Hard for me to judge.

1. Proudest achievements at ISAF

PH
Seeing the future of the Internet in 1994 and jumping into the modern technology which has made ISAF open and transparent. I personally subsidized and helped edited it to get if off the ground until ISAF realized the value

2. Best thing(s) done

PH
i) Making ISAF financially solvent
ii) Getting women's Olympic participation up from 19% to 35%.

3. Biggest Mistakes

PH
Getting ISAF into the Internet so that every sailor can take "cheap shots" and "shoot from the hip" without reading the relevant information which is published on www.sailing.org. This is especially disturbing when the attackers refuse to identify themselves or their bias and have it printed on SA.

4. Biggest Regrets

PH
Not being able to race at the top level because of the ISAF time commitments.

As I understand it, all studies that have been done to see why people aren't getting into sailing reveal that "exclusivity" and "inaccessibility" are the main problems. That being so, how does promoting the image of sailing as being all about Volvo 70s, America's Cuppers, 49ers etc actually help the sport? Don't they actually push the sport as being dangerous, expensive, and open to experts only?

PH
I think the major challenge to sailing is the explosion in cost. It is interesting to see that many local enthusiasts are buying and repairing old class boats and racing them.

I do not think promoting the cutting edge of the sport is negative. In most sports the elite professional level brings more people into the sport and ISAF must ensure they get the chance to do so.

Where the YC's are doing their job and promoting sailing to everyone then sailing is healthy. Where the YC's Wednesday morning bridge league is more important than running regattas then the sport is in trouble. Y.C's are on some of the finest pieces of real estate in the World. A legacy left to us by our predecessors. Sailors must militantly defend the reason that these clubs were started which is to promote the fraternity of sailors who go to sea for the love of the sport.

Today's kids are doing cheaper, easier sports (i.e. boogie boarding instead of stand-up surfing, jet skiing instead of windsurfing - extreme sports are for watching on TV, not doing) so why not make sailing easier and more approachable for teenagers - the 29er is an OK boat but it seems that it can push many less-talented or experienced kids right out of the sport. Why not a cheap, simple alternative? Remember what happened to windsurfing when it went high-performance? It died.... are you perhaps leading sailing the same way?

PH
I am not pushing for the more high-performance boats in fact exactly opposite. I am a dinghy sailor. Windsurfing in my opinion has self-destructed because it is too expensive and no longer fun to compete. I have said that openly for years and have been the recipient of much abuse from the self-interested promoters. If they do not do something quickly then it is tough to justify 20% of the Olympic Events and 25% of the competitors for Windsurfing especially when the IOC is asking ISAF to cut back to 10 events and 380 sailors for 2012.

What is the status of ISAF's talks with Alinghi over the fees for the next America's Cup? The rumor is that $1.3M was asked for from them and, threatened to sanction the sailors if they did not pay?

PH
I cannot comment as ISAF and Alinghi have signed a confidentiality agreement. I can comment on what was the situation in Auckland for this year's Cup. The AC used, in total, over 50 of ISAF's Certified and Trained Officials. ISAF still has to provide an additional pool of competent ISAF Officials to keep the rest of sailing serviced.

The total fee paid to ISAF was almost $1 million US. ISAF's share was 40%. That works out to less than $100,000 a year to ISAF for all the services provided or equal to two battons per syndicate. As has happened since 1992 in San Diego the host MNA, NZYA, received $ 250,000 US. For the first time each MNA with a challenger syndicate received $26,000 per entry. Therefore USSA got $78,000 for entering 3 boats.. The MNA's need to be subsidized so as to develop the next generations of elite sailors.

The last thing ISAF would do is to put a sanction against the sailors.

There were three grade 1 events that disappeared over the past 18 months to sponsorship and lack of funding. Why does ISAF impose an application fee on these events and why do they want a percentage of the purse that could go to the sailors, when the organizers are struggling themselves to put the events on? Does ISAF plan on charging some type of fee on the for profit regattas run by professional marketers in the future?

PH
This is a long but important story.

Up till 1984 all boats were white with no advertising allowed. The Professional Sailors who were focused around the America's Cup petitioned ISAF to allow advertising, led by the Kiwis, Aussies and Scandinavians, as they said it was the only way they could compete against the wealthy syndicates for Perth.

After three years of negotiation ISAF finally passed the Ad Code in 1987 with heavy opposition from the USSA traditionalists. Tom Ehman, now with Oracle, represented USSA on that committee. Now any class has the right to refuse advertising on their boats but not in Olympic Classes. It was the proposal of the AC sailors that if ISAF allowed advertising that there should be a percentage paid to ISAF and the relevant MNA's for the administration and the promotion of sailing.

At the same time, 1988, a group got together to promote a World Match Racing Circuit. Initially a fee was decided upon and most of these people sat on the first ISAF Match Racing Committee. They got into financial trouble in about 1994 and did not pay the agreed fee.

In 1996 ISAF was asked to wave any fee for two years and forgive the unpaid fees to help them back on their feet. ISAF agreed to the request from Brian Billings and Peter Gilmour so as to help in their development.

In 1997 the Match Racing Committee, with Jordy Walker, Hal Lane, Richard Endean, Jesper Bank, Dierk Thomsen etc. and with Scott Macleod listed as an Observer, initiated an ISAF fee structure based on a flat application fee plus an additional fee as a budget item based on 10% of the prize money for events over $20,000. The Women's events are free. They were hoping to finally get a high-profile circuit going and they agreed this was fair. ISAF again did not charge the 10% fee to help the fledgling circuit get going but it was always intended to be levied.

In 1998 MRA obtained a sponsor in Swedish Match managed by Scott Macleod. ISAF tried for several years to enter into a proper agreement with SMT with regard to the ISAF fees. Last year, after subsidizing Match Racing for a decade with Rules, Ranking, Umpires, Call Books etc, it was time to finally invoke the 1997 Regulation. All events were given a minimum of six months notice.

ISAF was shocked that we were attacked by the MRA as the same people were present in 1997 at ISAF when the policy was set. SMT have paid the expenses of the Umpires. No Umpire should have to sit in a rubber dinghy for up to 8 hrs and then have to pay their own way to adjudicate a professional tour where the sailors and promoters are paid.

The ISAF Executive will address this issue with the intention of treating all Grade 1 Events equally and endeavoring not to impose an onerous levy on any of the events. ISAF believes that the fees paid by the Optimist or the Laser should NOT subsidize the services and administration that ISAF provides for Professional Match Racing.

It is sad to see the 3 events withdraw. The budget required for these events is between $150,000 and $500,000 each. ISAF registration fee has been only $1,500 which is very reasonable. This has been paid. ISAF does not run events and does not impose any sponsors on them giving them the right to market their events as they wish. Most sports demand that events use the Sport Federation sponsors. ISAF does not intrude here. ISAF is a sanctioning body providing the integrity and Fair Play rules and regulations for a fee.

ISAF finances both income and expenses are totally disclosed. I feel the sailors and events should demand the same disclosures from the promoters of the match racing circuits so as to ensure that sponsorship $$$ received are being put to the best use for their good.

ISAF SERVICES to Match Racing

• Racing Rules Call Book
• Training and Rating Umpires Allocating Umpires
• Ranking List
• Grading Events
• Liability Insurance
• Internet Promotion
• Review Board and Court for Arbitration to protect sailors eligibility
• World Anti-Doping Agency: (WADA)
• Administration of all services.