My $.02 worth after reading DB’s response.

Change Capdeville to integrate and encourage development of one design sailing for all. Capdeville format is and always has been an exclusionary format that does not build interest or participation. All you have to look at is the dismal participation numbers and dominance by a few clubs year after year after year. Over 1/3 of the GYA clubs do not even participate. Clubs that can only afford to own 1-2 Vipers can/will only allow a small number of sailors to race those boats. Discourage the entitled “rock star” mentality that limited boats creates.

If you like the Viper, make Capdeville an open competition for club and private owned boats. Open would always allow non-GYA teams to compete and Capdeville scoring could be based on how the GYA clubs do at each event. Figure it out. This would encourage building the class at each club and allowing owners to form and campaign with their own teams. Make team racing a capital offense that could blackball a club from Capdeville scoring eligibility. Make it harsh and it won’t happen.

The format should expand to include classes that female sailors can compete head to head with male sailors. Look at new classes like the Melges 15, build the VX1 class, find new classes. Anything to encourage one design sailing that fits a wide range of sailors and encourages female sailor participation. Quit telling female sailors that they can only sail the Knost or dumbed down PHRF events.

Put more focus on racing during the best times of the year. March to early June and October to early December would be my vote. Don’t put as much emphasis on sailing during the hottest times and most hurricane prone times of the year (July/Aug/Sept).

Accept that performance sailing is evolving and it’s not going to turn around or slow down. Juniors today will be asking why can’t I sail a foiling boat and there are already yacht club programs in this country that are starting to embrace foiling forms of the sport. I’m 62 and sailing a foiling A-Class catamaran. It’s an intense and amazing experience to be racing upwind and downwind in 10-12 knots at speeds over 20 knots especially in 30-40 boat fleets. Junior sailors are going to want to do that and if the response of the GYA and old guards at the yacht clubs is “that’s not real sailing”, you’ll probably lose them from the sport if you make them sail technology that is 50-60 years old.

The GYA above all needs to encourage and fully support one design private boat ownership. People buying boats supports the sailing industry and you create sailors who have a sense of skin in the game. Look at the model of the Inland Lakes Yachting Association and how it has substantial one design fleets of different scow classes year after year.

Have a good week.

Cheers,

Bob Hodges
Pontchartrain Yacht Club