Plan Ahead! USSA One Design Symposium 11-13/14, Providence, RI

Posted By: Bob Pr. S2 6.7 #81, "The TARDIS", Topeka, KS
Date: 7/1/04 11:00a.m.

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Vesta Gettys, our treasurer, just reminded me of an upcoming symposium (Nov 13th & 14th; Sat & Sun) designed to help One Design classes, which will be held in Providence, RI. And, for added good measure, this morning when I called Lee Parks, USSailing's Director of OD Sailing and very helpful consultant to us, she also strongly encouraged us to send some people to the symposium. Lee said they have a hotel with modest prices ($58/night) and good meeting accommodations. There'll be as many symposia as 3 going on at any one time so having more than one person would be needed to assure coverage. Topics (tentative) will include: measurement, standards, rules, fleet race encouragement & management, class recruitment, promotion, newsletters, etc., class membership and finances, use of the internet, websites, etc. local and regional publicity, and Etc. Lee said they'll try to include some meals (probaby lunches) and there'll be a keg party (probably Saturday night). Vesta said that she thought it would be a legitimate class expense to help people participate and I agree. Lee doesn't know yet what the cost/head will be but she anticipates a lower price for USSA members and perhaps a slightly lower price for non-members whose classes are USSA members. (So now might be a good time to sign up for a 3 year cheaper price USSail membership and get "Sailing World" as a bonus plus be eligible for some other perks (like insurance) to be mentioned below. How much can the class help cover? I suspect a fair amount would be the amount of the partcipation fee for USSA members, whatever that proves to be. (And maybe the keg party? ) Transportation expenses are likely to be the most costly for some of us and I see no way our class could afford to help with that. Providence, RI, is one of SWAir's cities and you can look up their fares from wherever you are to get a rough guide. (But I've as often found bargains from other major carriers that are a little lower than SWA's but theirs will give you a rough idea.) http://www.southwest.com/about_swa/routemap.html Another topic Lee and I discussed was the use of HDPE rudder blades, etc. She said that the Sunfish class is allowing HDPE DBs but they strengthen them with steel rods to prevent flex (their DBs are about 4 ft. long and not very thick). The Laser class is also allowing rudder blades of HDPE (she wasn't aware of any strengthening). The major reason for the call was to discuss USSA's insurance for OD boats, insurance that also covers a boat while racing -- most insurance policies do NOT. (State Farm's, which I've used for years, specifically excludes covering any damage or liability incurred or caused while racing.) This USSail-promoted insurance also covers trailering. Lee said all boats in all classes she's aware of have received much lower rates than their previous policies. I'll try to get an idea of what the rate would be for J22s which is the largest class they presently cover. J22s are very similar to ours. BUT a critical thing is that the insurance agency has to examine the class rules and the class rules have to specifically state that motors are not required. It's that requirement that allows the J22 class to have their boats insured while the J24's are excluded for that reason (J24s require boats to carry a motor). Apparently motors can be used, as in J22s, but not required. A good thing is that since we as yet have no class rules, we could easily write that. A bad thing is that since we have no class rules, there's nothing for the agency to examine. We DO need some class rules and specs to cover replacement rudder blades, masts, and other items. Who can reasonably consider attending the symposium? I'd like to and can probably make it. Anyone else? And how much interest is there in insurance?