SF Sportboat Championship, Oct 19

[Don Ahrens]

Just 1, Peter Cooks FOR PETE S SAKE. Although Peter is racing in the Yankee Cup division and not in the sport boat division.

[Hitchhiker]

Err, what? What's the diff between the Yankee cup Div and the sport boat Div.

[Don Ahrens]

The Yankee Cup has always been the year-end Championship for boats racing in the YRA HDA/ODCA or Party Circuit series. This year we’ve also included OYRA winners. Boats that have finished 3rd or above in any of those series are invited to the Yankee Cup. FOR PETE S SAKE was one of those boats.

The Fall Sport Boat Championship runs concurrent to the Yankee Cup and is intended as a race for all sport boats, especially, but not exclusive to sport boats that do not have PHRF certificates (because of the 450 lb PHRF minimum ballast rule). The Portsmouth rating rule will be used for the sport boat division(s) so any or all sport boats can race.

The Fall Sport Boat Championship was created as a response to requests from many sport boat skippers who can't get PHRF certificates, but want a racing series for their boats. The Fall Sport Boat Championship is the YRAs first attempt at accommodating those requests. FOR PETE S SAKE could have raced in either the PHRF division for a Yankee Cup perpetual trophy(s), or could have raced in the Fall Sport Boat Championship for a newly created perpetual trophy(s) for the Sport Boat Fall Championship. FOR PETE S SAKE choose to race the in the PHRF division, which is their prerogative.

There are a number of issues to be sorted out regarding sport boat fleets and PHRF fleets and if you know of any sport boat skippers who are interested in helping sort out these issues, send them my way please. The YRA has been asking for feedback from sport boat skippers regarding how we move forward and most certainly want more feedback.

I haven’t asked for feedback on this forum before, and perhaps should have. So, now I am asking for feedback on this forum. I want to make this work for sport boat skippers, especially those who can’t get PHRF certificates.

[Nick Salvador]

PSB for the sound of a pin dropping.

[DeathSpear]

Well, it sure didn't help that with the recent conflict with the SSS Vallejo 1-2, 6 of the most active SBs are going there. I don't blame them. Most of us do the SSS season and this is the last race and hard to miss and the late conflict was unfortunate. Regardless we do need more active engagement of the skippers to set up next season.

But feel free to go troll somewhere else.

[Buzz Light Beer]

Baby steps. Nothing great happens overnight.

[Nick Salvador]

Trolling? Seriously man, you need to take a step back. Two years ago I was the guy pimping sportboats to the YRA and my YC, trying like hell to get the sportboat owners organized so we could get you guys your own starts. I received one response...from you. Do you know how many entries we received to our invite to the JF Series? Zero. We offered free storage, camping on the lawn, you name it. No one showed. Now Don has picked up the gauntlet because he...hell we all feel that there is a community that needs to be served. Now I ask you, in my trolling fashion, why it is that the biggest advocates for sportboats own lead mines? Granted, Don has a fast lead mine, but neither of us own sportboats. We're just the latest guys who have tried to organize a herd of largely invisible and very quiet cats. Why is that? Where is the guy that sells the sportboats in SF? Where are the owners? You make the point about a schedule conflict with the V 1-2. Fine, that wraps up you and Nelson. The last I checked, SSS wasn't synonymous with sportboats. So where are they? Look at the Great Pumpkin entry list for me. Where are the Vipers and 5.7s? You guys should have your own starts, but as far as I'm concerned, if these two attempts are less than stellar in terms of sportboat participation, I'd be in favor of the Sportboats establishing their own charter organization, then going to the YRA and/or organizing YCs to negotiate their starts. At some point in time, you guys need to take ownership of this, because it just IS NOT RIGHT that we have to do the work, then have you guys bitch about schedule conflicts. If you don't like it, stand up and lead the effort. We'd all be happy to support you.

[Don Ahrens]

You're right Buzz Light Beer. Nothing happens overnight and I'm fine with baby steps. Dan's right that the conflict with Vallejo 1-2 was unfortunate, but those things happen. I'll try to get sport boat race notices published with a lot more lead time going forward. I had hoped to publish the dates for the sport boat fall championship much earlier, but sorting through the issue of which rating rule to use took much longer than I had anticipated. I looked long and hard at both the Porstmouth rule and SMS and exchanged many emails with folks from both organizations before choosing Portsmouth. Again, that process just took longer than I thought it would, which delayed our announcing the fall championships dates and I apologize for that delay.

[Prince of Whales]

Are we looking at a season long series with the top 6-10 boats being invited to an elimination series over one weekend?

If so, could I suggest 5-6 races of a shorter length to keep things interesting and more boats in it for longer?

[BobJ]

Nick, the sporties will keep winning pickle dishes if they maintain the status-quo. There's no incentive to get their own deal going, except for a couple boats that don't qualify for PHRF certificates. The Spear is the exception - he relishes real competition.

No sour grapes - just reality.


(Pickle dishes, relish, sour grapes? Interesting mix there...)

[3D]

I'd be in favor of the Sportboats establishing their own charter organization, then going to the YRA and/or organizing YCs to negotiate their starts.

That would be no different than what the multihulls have to do now with BAMA.......just sayin' ;-)

There is no denying that the racing community on San Francisco Bay is continuing to diversify. As a result, if YRA wants to maintain it's overall relevance, then I suggest that they embrace these new factions (sportboats, multihulls, etc.) with open arms, rather than banishing them to their own charter organizations.
How about YRA forming Committees populated by members of these fleets. These Committees could then be charged with managing their fleet's schedules, ratings, Championship series,etc. This way, all racing activities could be coordinated and managed under the blanket of the YRA.

.....anyway, my $0.02

Cheers!!!

-3D

[Don Ahrens]

Fabio, division splits have been posted for the Champion of Champion and Sport Boat Fall Championship.

https://www.jibeset.net/YRA000.php?RG=T016983421

[Don Ahrens]

I suggest that they embrace these new factions (sportboats, multihulls, etc.) with open arms, rather than banishing them to their own charter organizations.
How about YRA forming Committees populated by members of these fleets. These Committees could then be charged with managing their fleet's schedules, ratings, Championship series,etc. This way, all racing activities could be coordinated and managed under the blanket of the YRA.

3D, that's exactly what the YRA has been trying to do with the sport boat community. There is a fledgling sport boat committee, folks I depend on for input including Dan Alvarez and Brad Cameron, and I'm constantly looking for more sport skippers to help us out and give us feedback. So, if you know a sport boat skipper who want's to help organize sport boats, send them my way. I guarantee you the YRA will greet them with much enthusiasm.

I'm deeply indebted to Dan and Brad as they have been incredibly helpful in starting the process of organizing sport boats.

[3D]

So, if you know a sport boat skipper who want's to help organize sport boats, send them my way. I guarantee you the YRA will greet them with much enthusiasm.

Dan,
Thanks for the response. Unfortunately, I am a card carrying member of the multihull fraternity. I guess until we are more accepted, we will continue to be the "Bastard Step Children" of the Yacht Racing community.

Now, if YRA ever decides to embrace the multis the way they are with the sporties, I'll be the first to volunteer.

Cheers!!!

-3D

[3D]

Dan,
Thanks for the response.
-3D

Should have been Don, not Dan....sorry about that (Damn iPad!!!).

-3D