Ass Holery

I really began to believe that the only media source offering a dissenting opinion regarding some of the icons of the sport was going away. (The April Fool stunt - Ed) I don't totally agree with anything you write and agree in varying amounts on the things where I do agree. However, you are providing a forum for intellectual freedom which is lacking on the east coast.

Some of the food for thought which I would offer you:

1. I don't think PHRF is totally self serving. The majority of the handicappers are trying to do a good job. However, no naval architect in possession of their diploma would even admit that it was possible to handicap the hodge podge of crap that we see on the line every weekend. Group the boats according to performance and competition will get better. If there aren't enough stupid wannabe one designs for a start tell them to come around again later. A Viper 640 is not a PHRF boat. Most sport boats are not within the intention of PHRF. If they are white elephants then tough. PHRF was founded to provide equitable handicap racing in dual purpose yachts, not as a sales platform for the latest daysailor dreamboat from the stoned mind of some refugee from the X-Games.

2. When the foundation for full employment of literate sailing bums in Newport rewrote the rules for the children of the world they forgot that the rules evolved over the years for handicap boats. These boats had differing speed potentials and handling. The new rules are set up for one design racing. The lack of "mast abeam" or burdened overtaking vessels has created a mess when the Melges start to run through the handicap fleets on a windy day.

While we are here, the common perception that rule 69 is an extension of a more politically correct world is crap. If you barge on me I will impugn you ancestry, eating habits and the virtues of you wife and daughters. It's just plain rude.

3. We did away with the Yacht in racing for a reason. It's so that spoiled owners could cheat to win. I was never a big fan of the CCA in it's heyday. It was a club for the self important to crush dissent. However, they performed a valuable service to us all. If they caught you cheating you got tossed for a long period. Some of the biggest names in the sport were all involved in blatant cheating in the early 80's in the SORC. Dennis getting a rudder from the wrong country was nothing compared to his owner's rating certificate. The overhangs were off by feet. The owner was banned for a year and never came back.

Today, neophyte owners take advice from kids just out of the college ranks (read dingy) which tells them to do whatever they want. Just don't get caught. These kids should be duct taped to a folding chair and forced to watch Bagger Vance for a few days without dope.

There was an earlier easier time when you could ask a question of one of the local hot shots and get a straight answer. It was in everyone's best interests for the quality of sailing to be good. Today, I've seen bewildered owner's ask the professionals with whom they do business a real question and get a non responsive answer. Once upon a time Dennis, who is actually a very sensitive guy, got tired of hearing one of our competitors crow about how well he had done in one of the classes which wasn't very deep. He finally turned to him and said "who did you beat?" The guy stammered and then blushed and was quiet. Dennis announced that it was time to continue drinking and we did. For all of his overbearing, Dennis always answered my questions fully and honestly. I would rather have the Dennis of 15 years ago than some of the overbearing fools we have today.

That's enough for this afternoon. I have to got back to work and feed my Kevlar and spectra appetites. I really like your site and appreciate a true iconoclast.

Thank you,

Chuck