Oliver,

Thank you for your thoughtful, well stated message.

Peggy.

:: My dad bought his Express new in 1985 I think and we
:: have basically changed nothing on the boat until now
:: because we were hit and made some decisions to upgrade a
:: few things. This is flat out the best boat on the Bay.
:: We camped (w/5 kids on this thing at Angel Island, tons
:: of different spots/trips, etc), I have double handed the
:: Farallones, tried to do the Coast Cup (still on the
:: list), done the Ditch, buoy raced, and day sailed the
:: shit out of the boat. I literally have never really
:: sailed another boat outside of the Express and don't
:: feel the need to now. I do not think we need to make any
:: drastic changes to the boat. Keeping them in good health
:: and in the hands of people who want to actively sail
:: them is most important. The way our boat is setup I can
:: be in the water, rigged, and heading up to yellow bluff
:: for a rip with the kite back down through the Straits in
:: 15 minutes with 2 people. My fear is these pros/money
:: makers would make make our boats to complicated and
:: defeat the purpose of what the Express is all about.
::
:: With that said, I would be open to letting pros or
:: whatever do the distance series if we had de-briefs or
:: whatever after the races to help the regulars learn.
:: Would be good to bring the fleet together and help some
:: newer blood learn to sail their boats and set them up
:: correctly. We definitely have some questions on our new
:: setup.
::
:: As far as the weight limit....I weigh 235 pounds and the
:: lowest I will probably ever be able to get is 215. This
:: causes us to sail with four at about 800 to 810 a lot.
:: With that said, we compete and get out there and have a
:: blast. I think if you are not going to sail your boat
:: you cannot comment on the weight limit. I would not mind
:: it going to 900 but my dad has sailed this boat for 28
:: years/has won the owner drive, etc and he feels strongly
:: that 880 is a great number. Mike/Larry come out and do a
:: full season next season like we will and if the three of
:: us feel we cannot do well because of our weight and we
:: have the season series to look at we can bring it up at
:: Nationals (when we are racing in them). We will prob be
:: 4 people at about 810 most races.
::
:: I want to get 20-25 boats on the line consistently for
:: our main regattas. If any of you new boat owners ever
:: want to go sailing I am always available to go on your
:: boat or take the Abigail out and swap tacks for a few
:: hours.
::
:: As far as letting Larry Ellison within an arms length of
:: our class I am strongly opposed. He will just try to buy
:: his way into victories and destroy the class. This will
:: likely lead to me dropping a haymaker on his ass.....so,
:: for legal reasons I give it a big two thumbs down.
::
:: Oliver-Abigail Morgan-18394
::
:: :: Will called this week seeking guidance on how to
:: :: reconfigure and refresh the SF Long Distance Series for
:: :: FUN and as an attractor too invigorate overall class
:: :: participation.
:: ::
:: :: Having dreamed up Long Distance Series a decade ago as
:: :: diverse alternate too hard core Championship Series
:: :: emphasis on full weekend, windward leeward multi races,
:: :: these are my thoughts.
:: ::
:: :: Goal one is for Fun to be put back into Long Distance
:: :: series which has a well established FUN race foundation,
:: :: although, could use some refresh capable of attracting
:: :: boats and more so crews and crew candidates.
:: ::
:: :: Goal two is to increase the overall fleet participation
:: :: getting boats off their trailers and onto the race
:: :: course.
:: ::
:: :: Objective is for the Long Distance Series to attract and
:: :: exceed Championship Series in annual participation.
:: :: Foremost to become the basis for fleet building from
:: :: which boats and crew migrate toward and into the core of
:: :: Championship Series. Under this plan a large FUN fleet
:: :: means a larger Class Championship fleet.
:: ::
:: :: Strategy one is to change the name of SF Long Distance
:: :: Series to Fun Series.
:: ::
:: :: Strategy two is to weed out and replace current races
:: :: that require extra administration and may not be that
:: :: Fun from time to time.
:: ::
:: :: Strategy three is to drop the weight limit for FUN
:: :: enabling the entry of owners and crew restricted by the
:: :: current 880# limit. It is this limit, not the series
:: :: race format itself, that minimizes overall class
:: :: participation into its consolidated nucleus that needs a
:: :: few protons shot right through it.
:: ::
:: :: I am only suggesting weight limit dropped in
:: :: reconfigured Long Distance Series for FUN and not for
:: :: Championship Series.
:: ::
:: :: Strategy four is to allow non owner professionals drive
:: :: in Fun Series; but not to enable either open weight or
:: :: professional non owner into Class Championship Series.
:: :: Enabling the reentry of the non owner professional into
:: :: FUN is meant for six reasons.
:: ::
:: :: To support owners who might want to bring in a driver
:: :: coach with wide open access to open crew choices.
:: ::
:: :: To provide an environment where that professional might
:: :: open their check book to the boat owner for a piece of
:: :: Class Championship Action.
:: ::
:: :: To establish a benchmark and create competitive marks
:: :: attractive to really great sailors; inside and looking
:: :: from outside into the fleet.
:: ::
:: :: Too support class prominence, purpose, position, support
:: :: boat purchase and sustain high resale values.
:: ::
:: :: Too encourage the super rich and multi-boat �b� for FUN
:: :: and �a� boat teams derived from a subset of two crew�s
:: :: worth of boats. And yes, it does still place two boats
:: :: onto the course, and into rivalry, which is what
:: :: competition that attracts competitors for a prominent
:: :: fleet is all about.
:: ::
:: :: The way too succeed in this endeavor is to drop all the
:: :: crew restrictions, the professional restrictions, and to
:: :: arrange through Bill & Melinda a meeting with Mr.
:: :: Ellison to enter purchase the sponsor of two boats that
:: :: could grow into something much greater. And that Brendan
:: :: should sell his other boats, and in example of
:: :: leadership, be the first to sponsor a two boat team; one
:: :: open weight, the other class core. Perhaps incorporating
:: :: college core crew�s as a catalyst for future Express 27
:: :: ownership.
:: ::
:: :: Finally, coordination through trailer bound owner�s
:: :: Special Interest Group too approach and establish a LOGO
:: :: boat team for each of the regional sail lofts, and rig
:: :: shops, on their subsidies; drivers, talent and what ever
:: :: other forms of commensurate support might be had.
:: ::
:: :: Subsequently, logos and advertising would be allowed in
:: :: FUN Series.
:: ::
:: :: The greatest issue facing the fleet is opening of the
:: :: weight limit to those being left out, are in fact left
:: :: out, and want in. No amount of series reconfiguration
:: :: with the objectives in mind can be had without this
:: :: change. All arguments to sustain the 880# rule are
:: :: statistically invalid in relation too the upside of
:: :: growing the overall crew pool.
:: ::
:: :: Strategy five is too emphasis in bay, and except for
:: :: Vallejo, continue the one race day per weekend format
:: :: along the well accepted requisite of regatta�s
:: :: associated with events and mixers following Saturday
:: :: race day. The exception being Great Pumpkin Sunday,
:: :: which is the long distance, fun, non buoy race day of
:: :: that specific weekend event.
:: ::
:: :: Then primarily leaves Sunday free too clean up the boat,
:: :: or do something that has nothing to do with sailing.
:: :: Perhaps Saturday participants can start a Sunday
:: :: Mountain Bike with round robin administration of ride
:: :: location for this type of alternative participation
:: :: builder.
:: ::
:: :: Tactically this mean removing ocean races from Fun
:: :: Series on administrative hassle that has grown past few
:: :: years. However not to deter from core ocean contingent
:: :: support that subset of ownership by establishing Ocean
:: :: Trophy series, of two to three races, form a committee
:: :: to decide on the races and make it happen.
:: ::
:: :: Establishing Ocean Series means the fleet purchase a
:: :: perpetual trophy and recognize participant�s at our
:: :: annual awards celebration. Express 27�s were built to
:: :: win Midget Ocean Racing Association, did for years, and
:: :: the tradition continues.
:: ::
:: :: Tactically ease of administration has always been a draw
:: :: for the alternate series and there are many boat�s who
:: :: sail SSS double and single handed. I�ve encouraged SSS
:: :: series races incorporated into Long Distance for years.
:: :: Except for Vallejo 1-2 which would violate the one race
:: :: day per weekend and ease of administration rule.
:: ::
:: :: Removing ocean races from FUN into their own series
:: :: requires there replacement. I�ve proposed SSS as
:: :: replacement accept there is one issue with the SSS ease
:: :: of participation and administration advantages. SSS
:: :: deters from objective of crew building. So i suggest
:: :: races like Big Daddy, Plastic Classic, or increase
:: :: number of YRA Party Circuit races to those already
:: :: incorporated into Long Distance schedule.
:: :: Administratively there is no reason to build up on entry
:: :: fees. Some addition of SSS and YRA Party Circuit are
:: :: still had under the packaged entry fee rate.
:: ::
:: :: I see no change for 3 Bridge, Vallejo, Ditch, 2nd Half,
:: :: National�s Friday, Great Pumpkin Sunday.
:: ::
:: :: Pursuant to SSS double handed v objective of cultivating
:: :: crew, I suggest at this stage in the fleets development,
:: :: more emphasis on the fully crewed races under an open
:: :: weight limit, and open professional standard, then
:: :: double handed despite administrative benefits.
::
:: :: Mike Bruzzone
::
:: :: Desperado e27 US 8