I think Mike's suggestions sound very intriguing, though I probably wouldn't be able to do a lot of them. Nevertheless, on the surface this sounds interesting and compelling. I'd like to know more what MORA is and how it works. What is the advantage of being involved in the OYRA, et al?!?

What does "getting a seat" on OYRA imply, what benefits or detractors are associated with this. If it gives the Express 27 fleet more broad exposure or publicity, which we seem to be cut out of, perhaps, for not having these associations with other organizations, then I'm for it, just on that basis alone, whether I fully participate or not.

If anyone can give me the "Cliff's Notes" version of the implications I'd appreciate it.

Thanks, Tibor Ipavic KOLIBRI - US 28859

::
:: Whoops . . . I said Summer Keel below . . . I really
:: meant Second Half Opener for the REAL LONG DISTANCE
:: TROPHY.
::
:: mb
::
:: :: :: Hello Again:
:: :: ::
:: :: :: I know; bitch, bitch, bitch:-) once again.
:: :: ::
:: :: :: This time I'm writing about re-evaluating the current
:: ::
:: :: :: Long Distance - Fun Series; which somehow after a
:: :: :: serious proposal for a REAL LONG DISTANCE SERIES last
:: :: :: year; for 2007, somehow morphed into a subset of what
:: :: :: the round the bouys racer's do anyway, plus a few camp
:: :: :: out races for owners with kids.
:: :: ::
:: :: :: First addressing the fun series. My vote is to eliminate
:: :: :: it from the Long Distance Trophy. For those skippers who
:: :: :: want a second chance at winning a full model trophy, if
:: :: :: you don't win the fleet series, please try again next
:: :: :: year!
:: :: ::
:: :: :: I propose the Fun Series simply be fleet designated
:: :: :: races seperate and distinct from the Long Distance
:: :: :: Championship Trophy. And please start seperate perpetual
:: :: :: trophies for these other FUN & individual regattas. In
:: :: :: fact, do what owners did years ago, cast a Silver
:: :: :: Trophy, or similar, for the perpetual race of your
:: :: :: preference and promote it as a one off perpetual FUN
:: :: :: RACE.
:: :: ::
:: :: :: So, please do Huntington; seperately from the LD Trophy
:: :: :: Series. Its a great camp out and especially for family
:: :: :: boats. I myself, would go on a Moore 24, in a 30 boat
:: :: :: fleet, on some other owners card.
:: ::
:: :: :: Now for the Long Distance Series Proposal. First
:: :: :: Proposal; Desperado and Lorax have proven beyond a
:: :: :: shadow of a doubt, that the E27 can easily take the MORA
:: :: :: series overall. It would be more fun with more
:: :: :: Expresses.
:: :: ::
:: :: :: Now for my 1st 'MORA Proposal'. My first suggestion is
:: :: :: to make MORA our long distance series. That's a simple
:: :: :: venue. And think about it, the E27 fleet revives, if not
:: :: :: saves MORA, and subsequently extracts its fair share of
:: :: :: value from OYRA. Talk about 2 + 2 = 10. Get a seat on
:: :: :: OYRA and make it 2 + 2 = 20. In other words, I think we
:: :: :: can get more than our fair share of value, if we VOTE
:: :: :: MORA as our Fleets Long Distance Series. And, regardless
:: :: :: of extracting our fair share out of OYRA with a serious
:: :: :: contingent. But it is a possibility!
:: :: ::
:: :: :: Now for the second proposal. This is roughly last years
:: :: :: proprosal representing A REAL LONG DISTANCE SERIES:.
:: :: ::
:: :: :: 3 Bridge
:: ::
:: :: :: Spring Crewed Lightship
:: ::
:: :: :: Vallejo Race (social afterwards)
:: ::
:: :: :: Monterey Spinnaker Run (social afterwards)
:: ::
:: :: :: Ditch Run (social afterwards)
:: ::
:: :: :: Drakes Bay (social afterwards)
:: ::
:: :: :: Coastal Cup (social afterwards)
:: ::
:: :: :: Midnight Moonlight
:: ::
:: :: :: Silver Eagle
:: ::
:: :: :: Half Moon Bay (social afterwards)
:: ::
:: :: :: Second Half Opener (social afterwards)
:: ::
:: :: :: Windjammers (social afterwards)
:: :: ::
:: :: :: To cut this down, I would eliminate 3 Bridge, Crewed
:: :: :: Lighship, Midnight Moonlight, Silver Eagle and send the
:: :: :: Ditch Run to the Fun series in favor of the Drakes Bay
:: :: :: Race raft up. So the fun strategy here, within the Long
:: :: :: Distance Series, is the race must have a social function
:: :: :: following as a prerequisite for consideration.
:: :: ::
:: :: :: To keep some of the non social afterwards races, I'd
:: :: :: only turn over 3 Bridge and Ditch Run to the FUN series
:: :: :: . . . keeping the true long diatance races . . . which
:: :: :: is what the series is suppose to be all about.
:: :: ::
:: :: :: Please consider championing and voting one of these two
:: :: :: options as the 2008 REAL LONG DISTANCE SEIRES. That is
:: :: :: MORA, or, some combination of the REAL LONG DISTANCE
:: :: :: RACES.
:: :: ::
:: :: :: Mike Bruzzone