Jeeze, all I do is point out some factual errors and people think I'm
making value judgments or have some evil agenda.

DSK wrote:
....
I have, however, been a beneficiary of their work on
numerous occasions, in particular, whenever I've raced.

How so?

I've raced quite a lot, from local clubs to international events, and
didn't feel that I benefitted at all from USSA.

So, are you saying that we'd be better off without a national
organization; that every club should make up its own rules, and
interpret as they saw fit?


In fact, on at least one occasion, their short-sightedness & nepotism
cost me several finishes. But that's probably the fault of individuals,
not the whole organization.

No. I'm sure a message was passed down from the head office that you
were late in paying dues.



That's the demographic (more or less) of those who are seeking the
keelboat certification offered by both USSailing and ASA. The
difference is that this is the only business of ASA, because that's
where the money is. USSailing, on the other hand, serves the entire
boating community.


And does US Sailing offer anything to the 'cruising education oriented'
boating community that ASA does not?

USSa offer services in many areas that ASA doesn't. Bart tells us
that in areas they overlap they are essentially the same. And why
shouldn't they be?



ASA was there first, in fact at one point US Sailing stated as their
official policy that they would rather not get involved in certification
for keelboat sailing & cruising education, since there were so many
other groups already doing this (ASA and the Power Squadron). Then they
saw the revenue potential and changed their minds.

Was it that, or was it that some schools didn't want to be extorted by
ASA, and so created their own version. I really don't know the
answer, But I don't think USSa would have made much headway in this
area if there weren't people that wanted an alternative.

.... And from my point of view, claiming the two organizations are
"identical" is ludicrous.


I don't think the claim was made that the two organizations were
identical. I think that the claim was made there there is small
difference between certifications offered by them... which is true.

The claim was that the two groups were "identical." What the intent
was is really only known be Bart. I was clarifying for the benefit of
reader who might believe the literal claim.

The rest of your material is interesting, but misses the point. US
Sailing IS the "National Governing Body" of the sport according to an
act of Congress. That is a matter of fact.


Big deal. Other than changing the rules unecessarily and mismanaging
protests, what do they actually DO? Collect money. Yeah, that's a
"service."

Big deal, little deal, its the truth.

... They are the folks that run the national team, send sailers to the
Olympics,

In other words, they sponge up money from many sources and hand it to
their favorite butt-kisser boy racers.

And that's not you, I'm guessing.


The last time the Olympic sailing team was decided on the water, by
cumulative series regatta results, a friend of mine ended representing
the US in his class... and the USSA favorites all screamed bloody
murder. Since then, it's been a nepotism system.

Don't get me wrong on this, the U.S. Olympic sailors are great athletes
and very skilled... but I would describe USSA's role in the selection
process as interfering, money-laundering, and playing favorites.

And your alternative is what, a knife fight behind the clubhouse? You
can argue all you want that the current leadership is incompetent or
corrupt or both. Maybe you're right. But are you actually claiming
with would be better off with nothing?


...trains the race committees, etc.


Don't get me started on that. I struggled on correcting their race
committee training for years. USSA has a habit of producing inflexible
big-headed tyrants for PROs.

yada, yada, yada.

Again, what's the alternative? Groups tend to have the leadership
they want and deserve. If you think you deserve better, then you
should do something about it rather than whine here.

USSailing IS the "National Governing Body" by act of Congress.

And I guess the benevolent Congress awarded them this distinction out of
recognition for their outstanding service to humanity?

No, US Sailing paid some lobbysits to get it done. A comment on the
state of both the Congress and US Sailing.

Actually it probably came through the Olympic Committee, another
organization known for its fair dealings!

But who else would take this role? ASA certainly wants no part.



The main reason for an individual sailor to join USSA is to avoid their
extortion on regatta entry fees. I don't understand any reason why a
club or class would join USSA, other than "recognition." The cost to
benefit ratio is totally out of whack IMHO.

And yet, most clubs do join. I guess they're not as smart as you.


I've had vice presidents of USSA tell me that dinghy sailing is a dying
sport and they don't want to waste money trying to bring it back. Yet
they are happy to collect money from all the centerboard one-designs!
I've also heard big boat sailors bitch that USSA uses their higher fees
to subsidize small one-design racing. So apparently both camps are
getting screwed.

BTW collegiate sailing is directly administered by the IYRA.


Yes, and their race committees are just as good/bad as USSailing.
(Actually, I think they are trained by USSailing, I'll have to check.)

If you want the facts, Jean, here they are. I remember when the
governing body for the sport of sailing (ie racing) was NAYRU and it's
been downhill since then.

Right. Kicking the Canadians out was the whole problem.