DN NA Class

Proposal Respectfully Submitted by Daniel Hearn (US 5352)
to the IDNIYRA—North America

April 10, 2007

The Twenty-O-Eight Initiative

The Cold Reality

Ice sailing in the United States/North America has been in a slow rate of decline for many years. It could easily be argued that our sport is in a state of crisis. In spite of the fact that we have sailors actively racing in their 60’s, 70’s and even 80’s, we have more sailors retiring than we have youth sailors coming in. There is no shortage of challenges to getting youth back into ice sailing. Some of them we can affect, others we can’t. This proposal is an aggressive effort to address our most pressing need:

Getting youth exposed to ice sailing and making it easy for them to give it a try.

We need to fill our “trial funnel” with lots of kids, with the full knowledge that precious few will fall out the bottom and stick with it for a lifetime. The DN has become too fast and too expensive to be the youth development class for ice sailing. The Ice Opti is the perfect boat for many reasons, most notably, because the boat is relatively inexpensive and because its performance is a good match for novice skill levels.

The Vision

Twenty new Ice Optis on the ice in North America in 2008.

How Do We Do It?

We “re-invest” in our sport now, before it’s too late. We’ve got more than $35,000 in our treasury. What better use for some of those funds than to reinvest it back into our sport?

    * We spend $10,000 out of the treasury to build 20 new Ice Optis before the next sailing season.
    * We call on ice sailors across the United States/North America to donate their time, talent and resources to help us stick to our modest $500/boat cost.
          o This is more reachable than many may think. A proposal has already been secured from Stan Macur in Poland who would build fiberglass hulls for us at a cost of about $350 each. And Don Williams, from our Central Region, is currently building a wood Ice Opti for the specific purpose of determining the feasibility of creating our own mold here in the states.
          o Chris Teal, also from the Central Region, has offered to build inexpensive runners comparable to a set brought back from the Junior Worlds.
          o Many sailors from the West and Central Regions have offered to provide assistance to make this happen. And I am certain that with the right leadership, sailors from the Eastern Region would pitch in as well.
    * We line up designated representatives in each Region to coordinate efforts within their region.
    * We create a dedicated website to document progress taking place across the country. We post pictures and stories on a regular basis. We have prominent links on IDNIYRA.org and the Bulletin Board to maintain a very high profile for the initiative. And we secure links on other iceboating club sites across the U.S. and Canada.
    * On the website we provide a detailed accounting of how the funds are being spent. And we use this same area as a “public” place to thank businesses and individuals for their donations to the effort.
    * We use these boats to support the North American Junior Championships that will take place for the first time in 2008.

What Do We Do With the Boats?

We give them free to ice sailing clubs across the United States/Canada. All we ask is that they use the boat(s) to allow kids to give the sport a try under their tight supervision. In some clubs it could be “learn to ice sail” type situations. For others it could be Juniors who are a bit more committed and will sail the boat(s) regularly for an entire season. (If practical, perhaps we ask clubs or individuals who are able, to make a donation back to the IDNIYRA Junior Program in exchange for their use of the boats). The hope is that this exposure will motivate the Junior Sailors’ families to build or buy their own boats, either Ice Optis or DNs and continue on in the sport in bigger and better ways.

How Should We Think About This Proposal?

There’s always the option of doing nothing and allowing our sport to die a slow and certain death. But I don’t like the sound of that, do you? I’d like to see us reach higher than we ever thought possible, and surprise even ourselves when we get there.

In the best case scenario, we’ll be wildly successful bringing many new Juniors into ice sailing. Our domestic ice sailing future will look brighter than ever. And in time we eventually challenge international powers such as Poland, Estonia, Sweden and Germany, even at the Junior level.

In the worst case scenario, we end up with 20 boats around the country not getting as much use as we hoped, as quickly as we hoped. But to me that’s not failure, it’s just slower progress. And that would be progress back in the right direction!

Timing

To meet this goal, it’s important to get moving right away. I understand this is aggressive and I’ll be the first to admit that I don’t know what the official protocol is for getting this approved. What I do know, is that it is time for action and that every effort needs to be made to expedite a decision. (Note: If we are to take advantage of the generous offer from Stan Macur in Poland, he would need a decision before summer).

Please contact me at any time to discuss this proposal. Best to reach me on my cell at 608-692-4007. Or e-mail at danielhearn@tds.net.

I like Mark's suggestion.  While $10k may be a little much for the first year, the thought is a good one.
 
I would like to see the "business model."  Seems like there should be some initial outlay by the junior, even if it is not the whole cost.  But the class and regions and clubs can each sponsor a boat and defray the initial outlay.
 
Also what if we just bumped up registration fees by $10 at the continental regatta?  That would easily generate $1000 a year.  So that boat would read "IDNIYRA North Americans 2008" and every participant would be involved in those 2 boats.
 
But better to start out small and establish a model that works, then it will be easy to build on.
 
David Zoll
US4911
 

Dan: 

Please consider that Stan's mold and most of the US
Optis to date do not consider the sitting posture of
the sailors, and the side boards are, IMHO too low.
Nothing worse than having a spin-out and getting the
poor pilot ejected, dejected, and discouraged.  Make
the sideboards at the hip area to the seat back at
least six inches high or more to reduce this
possibility.

Also, the Opti is a great fun-sailing boat not only for
kids, but for novices, wives, girl friends, race
committee transport, reporters etc., if the cockpit is
wide enough for a typical lard butt American, like me.

If you are building one, my suggestion based on experience
is to make them taller at the aft part of the side boards and
wider in the hip area.  Freed from the shapes reqired by the
DN one-design rules, an s-shaped plan-view for the side boards
makes it possible to do this in the reduced length of the boat.
      ^
     |  |
    /    \
|||      |||| 
    \___/
     
One last thought, I am certain the Annual Argument
included a promise from Leon LeBeau to make a $1000
dollar donation for just such a purpose as Dan
proposes.

Ken Smith

I applaud Dan's energies, but this is not a good idea.

The purpose of our association, as is any other, is to organize the ACTIVITY.  When we start messing with ASSETS and OWNERSHIP we're opening up Pandora's box in many ways.

$500 bucks (less re-sale) is not too much for somebody to spring for a hull.  I'd be glad to volunteer my time to anyone in the Twin Cities to build a hull or two, but bring your checkbook.


Scott
US 5298

When it comes to youth development of our sport, we're a class organization with "no skin in the game."  Is $10,000 a big commitment? You bet, and that's exactly what makes it good.  At the annual meeting in Oshkosh 2 years ago the topic of Junior Ice Sailing in the US got a bit of air time.  How much progress have we made since then? Not much....no skin in the game.  Without a financial commitment, the class will continue to be rather apathetic toward addressing this very pressing need. 
 
If it makes people feel better, then let's look at this investment as seed money.  Maybe we even sell the boats to clubs and/or families at our cost, so it's not really affecting the association's ASSETS at all.  Scott is right, the association should promote ACTIVITY.  But there is no activity without boats.  Without boats, there are no kids.  Without kids, there is no future. 
 
Let's rip Pandora's Box wide open!  To what great apocalypse would it really lead?

Daniel Hearn
US 5352

(Don't get the wrong impression.  Scott and I have a lot in common.  We grew up in the same home town and work in the same profession.  We are friends and will remain so.  We just happen to be on differenct ends of the spectrum on this issue.  Well, at least the "how to get it done" part). 

Reality check!
  It seems to me that the initiative to put Ice Optimists under junior sailors needs to be at the local level where there can be one-on-one contact between the sponsoring enthusiasts, in the form of an individual or a club, and targeted families with junior sailors.  Acquiring the boats by building or buying them is the easy part.  Nurturing the use of those boats is the challenge.  The sponsoring enthusiasts need to be willing to take the time to help the juniors learn how to safely sail the boats.  The sponsors must be willing to take time away from their own sailing to devote time to junior training.   
  Think about how youngsters learn to sail in the summer.  They go to sailing class at a local yacht club or community sailing center and spend several days a week on the water.  During the ice sailing season the youngsters are in school during the week and we don't have ice sailing instructors and ice sailing schools.
  Before we get excited about making boats available, we should be learning how the European enthusiasts have been organizing ice sailing instruction for youngsters.    In my experience it seems that when a boat (winter or summer) is made available to be used without the users investment of time or money that the user most frequently makes no commitment to use the boat.  And because with an ice boat the young sailor's parents would likely need to transport the boat to the ice site, the nurturing of parental commitment will be essential.
  If there is to be financial support from the DN Class organization.   I think that rather than the money going to the building of boats that the money should be used to promote via website, to develop the training programs, establishing a instructional materials and sponsoring events ranging from seminars for parents to on-the-ice events for the young sailors.     
  Families readily spend $2500.00 to buy a youngster a new entry level summer sailing Optimist.  The child takes the Optimist to the local club where there is an instructional program.
  The instructional program is where the DN class organization should focus it's efforts.

...Jane Pegel

 Count me in on the "If you buld it they will come" side. I built an ice-opti lat year and my daughter sailed it this year and both will be at the new ice-opti championships Dan Hearn is organizing for next year.
 The kids like iceboating but what they really like ,just like in the summer, is to sail with people their own age.Sailing around with dad is o.k. but sailing with friends and new friends is what keeps them interested and comning back for more.
 The more boats that are kid and beginner friendly the better.I think the ice-optis will not only good to get kids into iceboats but also to get beginner adults into the sport.
 I'll let anyone who wants to sail my DN try it. But a lot of new sailors seem imtimidated by the uncofterable sailing position, the lack of visibility, and the speed of the modern DN.OYu almost have to beg even some good sailors to try your boat. Ice-optis, similar to skimmers don't look to imtimidating they're small, "cute",you sit straight up, you can see well at all times, and they are very controlable. Yet still give you that thrill that only an iceboat can give you.
 I guess I'm trying to say that I don't think having abunch of begining boats around the country willdo anything but help the sport.
 At worst we will have spent money giving people and kids the oppurtunty to become involved and perpetuate the sport we love. Is there any other better use of our money than helping grow our great sport. I for one can not think of one.
 As per Janes comments whom I greatly respect. My  kids sail out of North Cape Yacht Club in the summer. A club that has done well over the years  producing very good junior sailors ,recently Anna Tunnacliff among others. The boats they sail are provided by someone other than themselves. In this case the club. Attending the junior sailing meetings I can confindently say that if you just talked about sailing and what we should do in "classroom" situations, we would have very little interest in the second best activity on water,"soft water sailing"
 The reality check is that when you look around the pits at an iceboat regetta most of the American faces are old.
 Chris US 5285
The glass is still half full.........................






 

Now you're getting closer to identifying the issues.

What sorts of issues are discussed at the North Cape meetings regarding the junior program?  I imagine the issues are much like those discussed here at Lake Geneva:  hiring qualified administrators and instructiors; maintaining equipment;
safety boats;  budgets - in flow and out flow; event schedules; maintaining 501(c)3 status to attract donations; and, last but not least,  liability insurance costs. 

Acquiring the boats is the easy part.

Jane is spot on . . . as usual.

You can tell from my article that I work on boats for a living and don't write for one.  I guess I wasn't very clear.  My point was that with most beginning junior sailors they DON'T CARE about the instructors, or the facility, or the quality of the organization they belong to.  They like to SAIL and to hang around with their friends and goof off. They come to the boat club because the BOATS are there.  The BOATS they have fun with.  The BOATS they sail with the other kids on. My daughters and their friends judge the instructors and coaches by how much fun they have with them, not on their roll tack coaching technique.  Granted as their skill level progresses they do start to pay more attention to those other things, but not at the beginning level.  We are at the pre-beginning level in kids ice boating.  There are no true entry level boats for kids to use.  You can go to any sail club around and get a sail on a opti or F.J. or whatever.  There are what ? 4 - 5 ice optis in the COUNTRY.  You can have the best web site and sales pitch in the world, but with no boats to sail the kids will find other things to DO.  Kids like to DO THINGS.  I also thought aquiring the boats would be a fairly easy thing to do but I'm starting to be convinced that this might be the hardest thing to do.


Chris US5285

Chris:

You make some nice points, but the issues are getting confused.

It was said that iceboating is in dire straights.  I disagree.  Surely, we have work to do to help people get involved, but saying we're in trouble (when we're not) is damaging in itself.

It was said that building a set of boats will serve as a feeder program.  I disagree.  The net gain is zero.

Boating of any kind requires commitment.  If some parents want their kids to sail iceboats, then why can't those parents follow Dan's example and build/pay their own way.  If the goal is to provide opportunity for junior kids to sail iceboats, then it would help to stop focusing on hosting World Championships (which is not the objective) and think about the pond outside your window.

I think the idea of building a few ice opti's for kids to tryout would be a fantastic idea.  I can hardly believe I'm reading opposition to it on this forum.  I was lucky to be introduced to iceboating at a very young age and I must say its part of the reason I'm hooked to this day.  I grew up sailing hard and soft water boats that did not belong to me.  I actually still do?  If it wasn't for those opportunites, I'm not sure I would still be in the sport.

The International Lightning Class has just undertaken almost an identical project this year
The main focus is on getting youth involved.  I encourage everyone to read the article.  This would be a great example to follow in the DN class.
http://www.lightningclass.org/Boat_Grant/2007grantees.htm

I've learned a lot about sailing in life, but I've learned more about life from sailing.  "Stop thinking of reasons why we can't and think of ways we can".  This is the way winners think and this is the way we should be teaching our kids to think.

Aaron Stange
DN 4480  (\_ ^

Aaron:

This is apples and oranges. Your project is supported by private funds. 

The core issue remains -- someone needs to make the case that there is a group of potential iceboaters that live in households that can't spring for $500. 

Save the passion play.  We're not against "youth sailing", and Jane and I have independently put as much effort into pulling new people into our sport as anyone.  We've just been around long enough to know that Public boats is a losing proposition. 

Stay local.  Buy your own boats and I'll buy my own as well.  If this group focused on asking for the donation of time and energy, it would be better off.

Does anyone know the criteria that was used to determine to whom the Lightning Class provided boats?     I assume the recipients already knew how to sail, because the deal was that they would be supplied competitive equipment, so they must be expecting to race in Lightning events.    If this is the case, the Lightning grant program differs significantly from the proposed Ice Optimist program, where the proposal is to introduce novices to iceboating.  The age of the grantees in the Lightning class also differs significantly from the Ice Optimist prospects.

If it seems worthwhile to similate the Lightning class grant program, then the DN Class.  might consider providing two competitive DNs to applicants in a specified age category (like 18 to 25 years) with a committee establishing criteria for selection.  A target group might be the individuals from northern iceboating states who are collegiate sailors.

...Jane Pegel
 

Life's been too busy for me to weigh in, but I've been following this discussion ever since the 2006 Annual Meeting (and actually before, when Dan started working to build a local Jr. fleet here in Madison).

I think the thread here has gotten a bit "off track" in recent posts where it appears people believe Dan's proposing to give boats to individuals.  He's not.  The proposal is:
(emphasis mine).

The idea here is to lower the barrier of entry for families to who don't want to spend $500-$1000 dollars (and the building-time) just to see if their kid likes to iceboat.  I think the plan is that the kids who take to the sport would be expected/encouraged to assemble their own program, and the loaner boats would be used to recruit additional families.

This is really a catalytic program.  None of the expenditure is consumed, but rather re-used again and again to allow the largest possible population of kids the opportunity to experience iceboating.  I see this program as more similar to the EAA's Young Eagles Program (http://www.youngeagles.org/programs/youngeagles/info.asp) that introduces kids to flying.  Dan's proposal provides for a more extended "introductory experience", but the fundamental concept is the same: get the kids involved.  Once they're hooked, I think our local club's have pretty good support to help them advance. 

What we're terrible at is outreach, and bringing new people into the sport.  That's what this program really is about.

Cheers,

Geoff S.
US-5156

To build a boat with a bit of sweat equity and some great times with your friends costs about $500.

The re-sale on this boat after your kids grows up is at least $500.

Net cost is no worse than ZERO, but . . .

The VALUE and COMMITMENT of learning how to care for a boat and all the life lessons kids learned such as responsibility -- PRICELESS.   And the national organization is spared this expense.

There are barriers to entry, but MONEY is not one of them. 

Scott,

Could you explain to me what the barriers to entry are, and how to overcome them.

Thanks in advance.

Chris US5285

Chris:

Great question.  I'll preface my response since we don't know each other by stating I'm in marketing, and have spent 30 years dealing with recreational markets.   So, I've got a bit of time under my belt when it comes to studying participation.

When I was commodore of the Nite association, one of our objectives was to increase participation in Nite racing.  I wanted to know reasons people owned a Nite, but didn't race.   I phoned and/or e-mailed Nite owners from the east coast to the Dakotas.

These are just qualitative statements, but I routinely heard:

A)  INFORMATION.  They didn't know where or when sailing was taking place.  The majority didn't even know the websites existed.  (We're highly tuned-in to the sites, but most are not, especially prospective people).
B)  INTIMIDATION.  They didn't feel they could be competitive, and were somewhat timid to "try it" because of fear of being embarassed, being in the way, being hurt or hurting someone else.  What's interesting on this point is that this is a fairly easy issue to overcome.
C)  TRANSPORTATION.  It sounds almost unbelievable to those of us how have our trailers figured out, but most iceboaters don't travel.  They drag the boat out of a shed, set it up on their home lake and that's it.  They have no concept of setting up the boat and taking it down each night.
D)  BUDDY SYSTEM.  If they know someone who races, the chances are much higher that they'll try it, but only on a local basis.
E)  TECHNICAL INFORMATION.  Our websites are full of information, but most of it is written at a level that requires prior knowledge. It can be difficult to get into the loop.  Also, when multiple ideas are posted, when happens frequently, it delivers a new idea to those who are racing, but it creates confusion to the newcomer because they can't decifer which is better.  The result is they do nothing.

So, to your question, the barriers for entry into the sport:

 A)  TRIAL.  The greatest prospect is someone who currently owns an iceboat, but has never raced.  When they use their boat or jump in another and have a casual, local race, they realize this is something they can do.  A level down from this is a softwater racer who has never iceboated, but knows others who do.  Again, trial on a local level draws interest. 
B)  LOCAL LEADER.  If there is a local iceboat activist, the barrier of support goes away.  Prospects have hundreds of questions, and the more one-on-one opportunities to look, see, touch, ask, the better.  We've all experienced the situation when someone is walking through the pits while we're setting up.  They're actually checking us out.  When we strike up a conversation, it's like tapping a keg.
C)  BOATS.  Yes, boats are a barrier.  But to draw a prospect into our sport, it's not as big as it seems because very few people will just plunk down $x,xxx on an iceboat just to try it.  They want trial.  Our national website needs an improved "for sale" area.  This would help everyone.  The MC scows has an excellent example of how to list used product for sale.  www.mcscow.org
D)  SAILING INFORMATION.  Big issue.  Non-racers often said they just don't know where to find places to sail (if they were willing to travel or to check us out.  Remember, to most the idea of going lake to lake is foreign).   Many of our sites are dominated with in-side kidding and jiving.  It may be fund for the writers, but it excludes the first time people.  What we need here, in essence, is an editor.  It would help if our national organization creates an area within the website that is untouchable except for ONE PERSON to post regatta information at a specific time, every time.  This person also posts results at a specific time, every time.  I know it's easier said than done, but it would help.
E)  MONEY.  This was not an issue of participation.  Money works like the accelerator in your car.  We make a series of decisions as to how much we'll spend (or how far we'll push the pedal).   When prospects learned of the opportunity of aluminum or silver fleets, the money concern is slightly diminished, but they don't really believe it until they see it.  However, the MONEY issue comes up big WITHIN THE ACTIVE PARTICIPANTS because of fear of the un-ending escallation of technology.  The perception is that to race on the top end, you have to dump tons of money into constantly changing equipment.  And in many ways, that's true.
SAFETY  There is a perception that racing is dangerous.  Minor issue, but it's there.
THE ICEBOAT STORE.  The retailing of iceboats and related parts is minimal.  This is a problem from an awareness angle.  If I were a sailing retailer, a sail manufacturer or a boat builder, I'd develop a short presentation that introduces kids AND their adults, and then I'd get on my feet and present it to softwater sailing schools, boy scouts, junior high tech classes and science classes, yacht clubs, etc.  We always have to remember that a non-participant is often unaware we even exist. 

BOTTOM LINE SUGGESTIONS FOR THE YOUTH MOVEMENT
A)  Increase awareness of the hull-building plans that are currently available on sites such as the Madison Opti program.
B)  Possibly ask a few non-builders if they understand the plans and simplify if necessary.
C)  Play down discussions of National and World Championships.  It may be cool to some in the sport.  For those outside the sport, it just adds to the intimidation factor.
D)  Demonstrate the re-sale value. 
E)   If I were a sailing retailer, a sail manufacturer or a boat builder, I'd develop a short presentation that introduces kids AND their adults, and then I'd get on my feet and present it to softwater sailing schools, boy scouts, junior high tech classes and science classes, yacht clubs, etc.  We always have to remember that a non-participant is often unaware we even exist. 

I'd be glad to help in this area anyway I can.  Call me, email me.  I'll do what I can because I truly love this sport just as much as you. 

Scott,

Again I`am just a boat rat and I`am  one of the least qualified people to reply to these posts. But come on you yourself  put boat trails as the first barrier in getting kids/ beginers interested in iceboating.
  What we need are BOATS for kids to try sailing on.This is precisly what I believe Dan`s proposal wants to do, get ice-optis to LOCAL clubs to give young people the chance to try the sport.Parents are not going to spend the 500.00+ and a month of there spare time to build an iceboat their kid might try once and then deciede its just not for them.
  There IS NO national retailer needing to push the sale of iceboats and acessories to kids,They have no customers in that demographic.This is where the the DN association can come in and become a positive force in introducing kids and begginers to iceboating. It`s in the DN asscoiations own best self intrest to do so. Without new iceboaters what will be the need for a DN association. It`s actually in all iceboating associations best intrest to get kids and begginers involved in the sport. Those skeeter sailors and renagade sailors are all iceboaters that were kids at one time.
  The ice-opti program Dan is proposing and whom Goeff so perfectly summed up is a SEED program , not the final solution.
  It will be a very good start at getting kids/begginers involved in iceboating. The ice-opti TAKES AWAY the intimidation and cost problems people are concerned about , this is what the ice-opti is so good at.
  All the suggestions (except one) you made to help to grow the sport of iceboating are good ones but they all necessariley must follow after the intial HOOK the kid or beggining gets after the first sail . The sail where most deciede whether they love it or hate it  . It is almost that black and white.
  I do dissigree with your suggestion  (C) that we should not have a North American championship. I think in this case you are thinking like an adult and not like a kid. Kids are not intimidated by going to something called a National Championship, quite the oppoisite they think it is very cool.
  My daughter (seventh grade) made the jounior high state meet in diving this year , she finnished almost last. but the pride she feels in wearing the "STATE TEAM"  t-shirt she has and the way she talks about the experience you would think she won an Olympic gold medal. The National Championship that I hope happens this year, weather there are two kids or twenty kids, I`m sure will be about .01% about who is the best ice-opti sailor and 99.9% about having fun with other kids on and around iceboats, emphisis on FUN and KIDS. If I have anything to do with it every kid large and small will have some sort of t-shirt and trophy to show for his or her effort, It will be the coolest shirt to have.
  I doubt that my ramblings will change your mind about investing part of our funds in our kids and in this in this plan ,but I cannot personally understand how investing a PART not all of our availible funds but PART of them into the promotion of our great sport can do anything but help all iceboaters in general and young and inexperienced iceboaters in particular.
  I dont understand how funds sitting in a bank somwhere, earning a marginal return have more value to the iceboating community than the promotion and possible growth that this plan has a chance to provide.
  Does anything great ever happen without taking some sort of risk or leap of faith?



  Chris US5285

Chris:

I think this discussion is fried.  I'm bowing out.

Scott

Would my two cents be useful? I think this is a good, sound proposal, Dan. Here is my reality: If I can get my 11-year-old into an Opti for some local races this winter, while I race against my 14-year-old in our DNs, that would be ideal, of course. Obviously, I worry about losing my own racing time to help with the Opti Fleet, even if my own kid is in it. This makes me look rather selfish when compared to all you have done, Dan, but I cannot deny the "selfish" factor when we have so little racing time as it is. Yet, of course, I would volunteer some of my time--in reasonable proportion to how much DN time I can get-- to help with the Optis if I have a child sailing one. Traveling with my kids and Optis/DNs outside of Madison is another issue for us; this would also be a case-by-case decision. I had a lot on my runner plate just dealing with my own boat up on Green Bay this winter. Hope this input helps.
Jori Lenon
DN-27/5172/5397(new)
Madison, WI

I forgot to mention my budget reality, too. Finances are very tight this year, in part because I am building a new DN, but next year I would commit financially to helping finance a 4LIYC Opti.
Jori

The Twenty-O-Eight Initiative - Count me in.  Here’s why:

Most of us take a lot for granted, with our boat in hand, once we find the time to travel to the next regatta, most of the work for us is in setting up the rig and figuring out what settings, runners and sail to use.  That’s really not the case for quite a few movers and shakers who have already put in numerous hours of prepping for the event. Such as locating, scouting, paperwork, web work and countless e-mails and phone calls not to mention the time, effort, coordination and manpower to actually run the regatta.

At some point in the future it will be time to pass the torch to the next generation of ice sailors.  Whether it’s 5, 10, or 20 years from now, it will happen, one way or the other.  When most of us are in our 60’s, 70’s, 80’s or more, who will be the driving force behind continuing the class.  When each of us may have to dig that much deeper to find the energy or motivation to get ourselves out on the ice, who will be putting in the time and effort setting up and running the regatta and making sure us “old guys” have a scouted out, safe place to sail and maybe race if we still can.  Wouldn’t it be great if those next generation folks were around right now for us to share with and pass on what we’ve learned over the many fun filled seasons we’ve been fortunate enough to experience.

When you look around at any of the regattas’, who and where are the next generation of commodores, regatta chairs, local and national officials and the various foot soldiers and participants it takes to make this a sport?   We need to make some things happen now in order to have a chance for things to continue into the future. 

I for one, have not heard of another proposal or suggestion(s), other than the one presented here, that addresses this concern.  If there was a time proven set of guidelines that we could follow and be guaranteed would produce the results we are looking for, I’m sure we’d follow them. I don’t think they exist.  However, what we do have is a proposal that offers a way to help address the sustainability of our sport.  Are there some risks, sure, but the benefits would seem to far out weight them.  What’s at risk?  Probably the biggest one would be the funds that would go towards building the ice-optis if you actually call this a risk.  On a balance sheet, those funds would not be lost but rather “invested”.  The money would be turned into hardware to be used over and over again.  Other than the proposed dollars, I’m not really seeing anything that represents a “risk” other than doing nothing.  And, there is risk in doing nothing unless someone has already found a way to bring onboard the next generation of movers and shakers.

"Every accomplishment starts with the decision to try."