The Publisher
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Jan 20, 2010, 11:30 AM
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Pros & Amateurs in Sailing
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Submitted by Don Finkle, RCR Yachts:
ISAF has developed a Sailor Classification Code that ranks sailors as either amateur or professional. Until now there were three categories: 1 for Amateur, 3 for Professional, and 2 for someone who fell in between. As of April 1 there will no longer be a Category 2, only 1 and 3. ISAF says that if a sailor classification is to be used, you must use theirs. Seems rather undemocratic to me. I never liked this system before, and I like it even less now. Last night I waded through all 27 pages of FAQ's intended to explain the new system, to the point that I ended up with an Excedrin headache. Someone can easily go from a 1 to a 3 overnight, depending on what you do and how you do it.
It is widely known that the ISAF system has been abused and sailors were falsely categorized. This is one problem, because people cheat when they describe their activities. Sad but true. Another problem has been the gray area between true amateurs and full-on pros. There are many people who are in the industry in some capacity because they love sailing, but are not really professionals. They might work in a boatyard for example. These folks were formerly Cat 2's. With that classification now gone there are many "normal" people who will become Cat 3's and therefore treated the same as Paul Cayard, Kenny Read, Chris Dickson and so forth. I don't know about you, but I think that is nuts.
Why does this matter? Some classes have limitations on pros so the owners do not become dominated by someone else with a bigger wallet. The accepted way to do that was to use the ISAF Code and limit the number of 3's and 2's aboard. This is fine. Now that there are no longer any 2's, these classes will be faced with an unpleasant choice. If they increase the number of 3's then it raises the bar beyond what many owners will want, both from a cost and competition standpoint. If they don't raise the number of 3's, then they will have to jettison some of their crew who formerly fell into the 2 Category but now are 3's. Where are those newly-minted 3's (who are not really hotshots at all) going to find a ride in the same class they were used to sailing in?
I fully recognize that some people do not want to sail against pros. Personally, I love it. To me being able to sail against the big names is a privilege. Who wouldn't want to play golf or tennis with one of the sport's best? I think we are fortunate to be able to do that in sailing. They beat me most of the time, but so what? The competition and thrill of it when you do well against them is worth a lot more to me than another pickle dish. I also enjoy talking to them after racing and comparing notes. It makes you a better sailor. I have found that most of them are more than willing to answer questions and provide advice. I'd hate to see that taken away.
Take my situation as an example. When I first got my classification some time ago I was ranked as a 3 because of what I do for a living. I thought that rather extreme, since there are a number of Cat 1 amateur sailors in my own club who are more skilled than I am. I recognize that I can't be a 1, but I thought a Cat 2 was more appropriate. Upon investigation I found that the ISAF system is not meant to classify by skill or accomplishment, it is only a monetary thing. I called one of my old friends at the time, someone high up in the world of sailing who told me he was on the committee who had come up with the system in the first place. I asked him to explain the whole system to me, why I was in the same class as Terry Hutchinson when I am very obviously nowhere near as talented (and I'm not getting paid to sail). And while I was at it I asked him why he was a Cat 2 and we both do the exact same thing for a living. His answer was "I never race with my customers". I think that is wrong, because those of us in the industry are supposed to help others improve their skills and this discourages that.
Why do we need any segregation at all? Does anybody really care how much money someone has or how they make it? Most of the amateur owners who pay people to sail with them are wealthier than the pros they hire. In truth it is about skill level and trying to separate people that way. But the ISAF system does not do that. There are some very talented Cat 1's, some of whom were Cat 3's at one time before changing careers. The simple answer is that many pros are considered to be better sailors and therefore need to be labeled as such to protect those who want a better chance to win. But the ISAF Code is only partly successful in doing that, and there is collateral damage to those who are stuck in the middle who get lumped in with the rock stars. I think we need a better system.
All this being said, there is definitely a place for all-amateur events for those who want them. Not everyone wants to butt heads with the best. But on a local level how do you allow for those who have some connection with the industry but are not above the norm skill-wise? A system based solely on vocation does not do this.
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