The Sounds of Silence

So the Bayview-Mac race is going to use IRC. And this is in replacement of PHRF. But still we have heard nothing of note, on this issue, from US Sailing. Rather, they have continued to press Americap forward; as if it is some White Knight sent out to rescue us from an evil Dragon, called the International Sailing Community.

It is difficult to understand what the Offshore Committee is thinking. Obviously, their goal should be centered on growing our sport and participation in racing. However, the only conclusion I am able to draw about their intentions, is that they are only interested in saving their own agenda, at any cost. They pulled out of the International Rule Working Party when they realized they had to share the playground and toys with other people. They then ‘dissed’ the IRC as being a ‘subjective and illogical’ system run by a bunch of ‘for profit’ foreigners. In spite of them, IRC is growing rapidly in the US.

Frankly, I am becoming a firm believer that someone needs to take the organization over their knee, give them a good spanking, and then tell them to learn to ‘play well with others.” Whilst I don’t believe this literally; I do think the sailing community needs to implement a grass roots strategy to get things moving in a single, positive direction. As a result, I would like to suggest we implement a petition for Ms. Janet Baxter, the chief of US Sailing.

Here is my suggestion at a letter. If we all email this, or something like it, put in your own words, it might actually make a bit of a difference. Her email is janetcbaxter@cs.com. So I say, let’s overload her email! The only thing I ask is that you cc me so that we can keep track of the momentum. My email is terasxl@yahoo.com.

In the words of Che Guevara: “A revolution is not an apple that falls when it is ripe. You have to make it fall.”

Cheers,
Antony Barra

12/20/04