Jean Pudl wrote:
But a few facts: since USSailing has been around since 1897

Excuse me?

That is not a fact.

U.S. Sailing is the successor organization to NAYRU and USYRU.

... what
international rules are you claiming that goes back to the 18th
century?

Heck, starboard tack right of way goes back to the Vikings.

... And the last Olympic selection that I followed was 1992 - that
seemed to be on the water (to the chagrin of a friend who had the flu at
a critical regatta); how has that changed?


Actually that selection was a last-minute change but it
didn't work out the way they thought it would. I am sorry
for your friend, I think I know who it is. Didn't the
selection in this case come down to a single light-air race?

Since then, they have changed the process and made it
secret, then published the rules, then made exceptions to
the rules, etc etc.


And I hardly think you can blame any organization for the "decline" of
sailing. You can probably show a more causal relationship with the the
Internet, or cell phones, or sunspots.

If there had been video games when I was a kid, I would not
have been interested in sailing either.

But as "the official governing body for the sport of
sailing" don't you think USSA should have a better idea what
to do about it, instead of shrugging & saying 'oh well'?

DSK