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Forum Index: DISCUSSION: Dock Talk:
Team Racing and Culture (re: Steve Taylor's commentary) 		Team McLube

 
 


Chris Woods
***

May 24, 2006, 12:30 PM

Post #1 of 3 (1219 views)
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Team Racing and Culture (re: Steve Taylor's commentary) Log-In to Post/Reply
As a team racer and team race organizer, I applaud Steve Taylor's commentary regarding how "sea-lawyering" brings down the sport: http://www.sailingscuttlebutt.com/..._Detail.asp?key=3405 because it brings up an important aspect of the fun and expertise of sailing that we should be paying attention to: sportsmanship.

While engaging your competitors to leverage the rules is central to team racing, not taking responsibility for your actions should not be part of team racing's culture. The number of protests that "went to the room" should be unacceptable to the organizers of the event (for which they should figure out a better process for adjucating disputes) and should be identified as a significant "cultural" problem by the overall organization.

At the New York Yacht Club we address both aspects by clearly and constantly emphasizing the culture of sportsmanship and by using a 3 minute on-water jury for unresolved disputes. The latter is required because of the hurdle that umpiring often creates in hosting events (umpired events require more people and more support boats). The emphasis on a culture of sportsmanship makes it obvious when someone isn't "playing by the rules".


Chris
NYYC Team Racing


Senet
*

May 25, 2006, 6:55 AM

Post #2 of 3 (1196 views)
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Re: [Chris Woods] Team Racing and Culture (re: Steve Taylor's commentary) [In reply to] Log-In to Post/Reply
Chris' comments are spot on. If a conserted effort is not made by competitors, coaches and race officials, it is easy for Team Racing to devolve into a "protest-fest". Consequently, a huge part of Team Racing's recent growth in the US is attributable to the culture developed and fostered at every event. The following is posted on the Team Racing Committee Site at USSailing.org., and competitors, coaches and race officials should feel free to post it (or, better yet, read it) at Team Racing events.

***********************************************

The Culture of Team Racing
This summarizes the culture of team racing, and is appropriate for posting on the Notice Board at team racing events and/or reading at the Competitors’ Meeting.

*********************************************************************

The USTRA Creed, written in 1992, is the guiding principle for team racing in the US:

“More team racing events mean more fun racing for everyone involved. The emphasis at our regattas is on close, competitive and above all, fun racing between sailors. The operative word here is fun! Although protests are infrequent, when confronted by necessary and fair protests, we hold "three minute justice" protests to keep the regattas rolling. Sailors are expected to control themselves and act with the highest level of sportsmanship in order to ensure that these events will continue to be fun, enjoyable events for everyone involved.”

Without maintaining the right culture at our events, team racing can devolve into something that is less than fun, and all competitors need to work to avoid that.

The core values behind team racing are respect for rules, strategy and competitors, and appreciation for having a good time. Learning is a key aspect of successful events. Team racing is NOT ABOUT THE TROPHY!

Even where umpires are involved, this sport is (and needs to continue to be) self policing – the umpires are passive unless the competitors cannot resolve the incident amongst themselves and request an umpire call. In order for team racing to grow and be fun for everyone, it needs to be largely self-policing. These events are intended to be an open learning forum and dialogue amongst competitors and umpires is expected to be a regular part of post-racing debriefings. Competitors are committed to educate, train, and foster participation by the greater sailing community in team racing.

**********
Senet Bischoff
Chair, US Sailing Team Racing Committee


Atilla The Hun
***

May 25, 2006, 8:41 AM

Post #3 of 3 (1189 views)
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Re: [Chris Woods] Team Racing and Culture (re: Steve Taylor's commentary) [In reply to] Log-In to Post/Reply
I must say that I think it is unfair to tar all team racing events with the same brush. Steve Taylor outlined his experience at one event. I would be very concerned about the state of Interscholastic team racing in the USA. if steve's experience was not unique there has to be some very fundamental questions asked as to the organisation of these events

I have been doing a lot of college team racing the last few years in Ireland. We have on the water umpires although at some events it is very hard to get enough of them as they are voluntary. The umpires decision is final. As a general guidline the SI's do not allow for protests to be brought ashore. On occasion when there is a more serious incident (ie when the umpires cannot come to a clear desicion) and no boat has taken their spins the umpires will at the end of the race spend a few minutes debating the situation until they arrive at a descision and penelise as nessicary. Protests never go to the room unless the SI allow for this. It is only a very small minority of competitors that try to go to the room. They may be upset for a while when they discover they cannot but at the end of the day it is the only way to run an event. The system is working in Ireland and in the UK! why is it not working in the great USA?

My two cents about Team Racing
Its great fun and is filling a big void in the sport here in Ireland. where students cant afford to sail as they cannot afford their own boat. Its very social and there is always some good banter after a day on the water. For the most part everyone would like to see the genre growing. The only problem with team racing as a genre is the boat. The firefly is a very weight and technique sensitive boat and so many of the larger (very good) sailors suffer. Please some designer put his thinking hat on and make the genre open to small (students) an large (adults)

rgds
Atilla


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