gouvernail
Super Opinionated and Always Correct
A few years ago we were trying to schedule a North American Laser Masters Championships at the New York Yacht Club.
we were REQUIRED to give at elast three years notice to obtain a weekend.
That experience taught me something fundamental and, I believe critical, about the regatta scheduling process.
It is MUCH easier to get the very best weekends at the very best venues if a well recognized asscociation askes well before anyone else is even thinking about that weekend.
Because of this awakening, (or you might call it a head bashing by Eric Robbins) as of July 2002 the NA class had already secured venues and handshake arranged hosts for all its major events through 2005. . The Class website had working scheduling pages for each year and some events were even listed on projection pages as far ahead as 2006.
Of course Easter in Austin was already scheduled until 2053 as I have decided to host until I am 100 and then think about quitting. Yes!! I do have official permission from AYC and have had it since 1988.
Recently I have been very hard on the class officers for what I believe is a fundamental failure to properly schedule. I believe it is a total failure in scheduling whenever an event is held and the hosts of the event for the following year do not show up and invite the sailors to "next year's event."
We are THE LASER CLASS> We are the biggest,, the best and professionally run. We can go to yacht clubs anywhere on the planet and schedule three years ahead by simply explainiung...
We refuse to comprimise quality by waiting until the last minute. We schedule well in advance while the very best venues on the planet are available."
Currently the NA Class has listings for regattas that are to be held in the next few weeks and months, but we are failing miserably to accomplish the "grab the best venues" advance scheduling that will allow us to ALWAYS secure the very best venues.
I would like to see a new set of deadlines and goals for our scheculing that reflect the VBERY BEST and professionaly run class that we are.
1. I would like to see an effort made to find next year's hosts for each of the over 500 events currently posted on the Clas Website and see if we can have those hosts show up or at least send invitsations such that those invitations can be extended at this year's events.
2. I would like to see a drop dead minimum or we find somebody else to do the job number of 2010 events that must be on the ILCA-NA website schedule by September 30, 2009. As in school 60% is a failing grade, I would suggest 300 of the 500 currently listed events would be a geat minimum performance.
3. I would like to see working outlines of our scheduling for 2011 and 2012 up and on line by that same September 30 deadline.
Please understand, I did these things in 2001 and 2002 after learning how simple it was to accomplish them and once I started, it was easy. Once in a while some club oficer would tell me "We don't schedule that far in advance."
I would simply explain that "We cannot risk failing to schedule early as we do not wish to risk missing the opportunity to sail at your club."
Universally, the reception to advance scheduling was willingness and cooperation and for the most part, we can have any weekends we want if we just ask three years ahead.
We can have answers if we ask...Who is hosting next eyar?
people are very impressed when we are the ones who appear to be the very most on the ball.
and we are the best...WE are the Laser class!!!
And...it takes less time than wigling in between an aready set schedule!!!
Obviously there are additional benefits for the sailors and the organizers.
People at a fun event can agree to sail in Hoboken next year only if Hoboken is already announced.
People who are hosting next year can come sail this year to see, "How will we do a better event than those guys?"
Anybody want to modify this proposal and make it a working policy??
we were REQUIRED to give at elast three years notice to obtain a weekend.
That experience taught me something fundamental and, I believe critical, about the regatta scheduling process.
It is MUCH easier to get the very best weekends at the very best venues if a well recognized asscociation askes well before anyone else is even thinking about that weekend.
Because of this awakening, (or you might call it a head bashing by Eric Robbins) as of July 2002 the NA class had already secured venues and handshake arranged hosts for all its major events through 2005. . The Class website had working scheduling pages for each year and some events were even listed on projection pages as far ahead as 2006.
Of course Easter in Austin was already scheduled until 2053 as I have decided to host until I am 100 and then think about quitting. Yes!! I do have official permission from AYC and have had it since 1988.
Recently I have been very hard on the class officers for what I believe is a fundamental failure to properly schedule. I believe it is a total failure in scheduling whenever an event is held and the hosts of the event for the following year do not show up and invite the sailors to "next year's event."
We are THE LASER CLASS> We are the biggest,, the best and professionally run. We can go to yacht clubs anywhere on the planet and schedule three years ahead by simply explainiung...
We refuse to comprimise quality by waiting until the last minute. We schedule well in advance while the very best venues on the planet are available."
Currently the NA Class has listings for regattas that are to be held in the next few weeks and months, but we are failing miserably to accomplish the "grab the best venues" advance scheduling that will allow us to ALWAYS secure the very best venues.
I would like to see a new set of deadlines and goals for our scheculing that reflect the VBERY BEST and professionaly run class that we are.
1. I would like to see an effort made to find next year's hosts for each of the over 500 events currently posted on the Clas Website and see if we can have those hosts show up or at least send invitsations such that those invitations can be extended at this year's events.
2. I would like to see a drop dead minimum or we find somebody else to do the job number of 2010 events that must be on the ILCA-NA website schedule by September 30, 2009. As in school 60% is a failing grade, I would suggest 300 of the 500 currently listed events would be a geat minimum performance.
3. I would like to see working outlines of our scheduling for 2011 and 2012 up and on line by that same September 30 deadline.
Please understand, I did these things in 2001 and 2002 after learning how simple it was to accomplish them and once I started, it was easy. Once in a while some club oficer would tell me "We don't schedule that far in advance."
I would simply explain that "We cannot risk failing to schedule early as we do not wish to risk missing the opportunity to sail at your club."
Universally, the reception to advance scheduling was willingness and cooperation and for the most part, we can have any weekends we want if we just ask three years ahead.
We can have answers if we ask...Who is hosting next eyar?
people are very impressed when we are the ones who appear to be the very most on the ball.
and we are the best...WE are the Laser class!!!
And...it takes less time than wigling in between an aready set schedule!!!
Obviously there are additional benefits for the sailors and the organizers.
People at a fun event can agree to sail in Hoboken next year only if Hoboken is already announced.
People who are hosting next year can come sail this year to see, "How will we do a better event than those guys?"
Anybody want to modify this proposal and make it a working policy??