The plot thickens
An interesting email and phone call from the Australian 49er Association President today:
______________________________________________
From: O’CONNOR,Peter
Sent: Friday, 1 December 2006 12:47
To: Marcus Spillance
Cc: Takao Otani; Julian Bethwaite; Malav Shcroff; Gerardo Seelinger; Marcus Baur; Rodion Luka; Pete Spaulding; Dave Hall; Jerelyn BiehlSubject: Australian 49er Association Inc Unsuccessful bid for 2008 Worlds
Dear Marcus,
I have received and read your email informing me of the International 49er Class Association’s decision regarding the non-awarding of the 2008 49er Worlds to the Australian 49er Class Association Inc. By elimination I have to assume you have awarded the event to Sail Melbourne (or some unofficial proxy of that organisation).I can only speak plainly and say that this decision constitutes a serious set back to the development of the 49er and 29er Classes in Australia; the lack of solidarity and support for national organisations also reflects poorly on the 49er Class as a whole.
It is astonishing to think that the International 49er Class Association would take the best available tool (a World Championship) for any sailing class to build its numbers and hand that tool to an organisation whose primary interest is to promote Melbourne, not our class or the 29ers.
Right now you ought to look at the Sail Melbourne website at http://www.sailmelbourne.com.au/ and see their headline boasting about gaining the 470 Worlds for 2008. No doubt a similar boast can be expected soon about the 49er Worlds.You should also check to see what 420 event Sail Melbourne may well be promoting in 2008 as it is the “headquarters” of that class in Australia. Ever wondered why there is no viable fleet of 29ers in Melbourne? The answer lies in the vested interests of the traditionalists who, at every turn, work against the ISAF nomination of the 29er as the youth boat.
Our unsuccessful bid can only have been defeated on the comparative financial arrangements, as there is simply no objective comparison possible on relative sailing condittions, affordability of accommodation, and the quality of the facilities available to the sailors that would see the Sorrento site, with its yet to be built new clubhouse, prevail over Belmont. We do know from personal experience ( eg. 2006 Australian 49er Titles; 2003/4 Australian 29er Titles) what the eastern peninsula of Port Phillip Bay,Melbourne can offer by way of unsatisfactory sailing conditions for skiffs. For some yet to be stated reason (s), however, the International 49er Class Association has disregarded the the most important source of opinion on this matter, the skiff sailors whom they are supposed to represent.
I am circulating this e-mail to the main participants in the decision for two reasons. Firstly, it is only fair that they know at the outset the unfortunate ramifications of their decision; it is going to take an amazing amount of their time and energy to make the 2008 Worlds a successful event. Secondly, if they do have any reservations and wish to change their minds, the Belmont venue can be held open most likely until the end of January 2007.
Please don’t view my comments as merely complaints from a disaffected party. I can assure you that, if there was genuine advantages in going to Sorrento,Melbourne, the 49er sailors of Australia would collectively be the first to agree. It is only their opinion, with which I am closely in touch, that I can appropriately reflect to you.
Our energies will now turn to picking a suitable location for the 2008 Australian 49er Titles, which will be done in conjunction with the new sponsors which have emerged as part of our unsuccessful World bid.
Yours sincerely,
Peter O’Connor
President
Australian 49er Association Inc.
Interesting eh.
Not that I have anything against Melbourne, or SailMelbourne per se, but it comes as a bit of a surprise to me how these things get decided.
I’ve been on the International 29er Class Executive for about 2 and a half years, yet despite being told the Sydney Worlds had lost their funding, I received no information on alternative proposals. Despite being the only Australian representative on the executive, I was not even asked an opinion on bids. Despite being the current World Champion, a 49er competitor, administrator of 29er.org and an Australian, I was completely in the dark about the deliberations. I wasn’t even consulted.
Fark. Talk about professionalism.
So apparently the events will go to Sorrento, a hideously expensive weekend holiday location an hour and a half out of Melbourne. Nice place though.
Despite the fact the last 49er Nationals at McCrae, and the previous 29er Nationals at Mornington only raced on half the available days due to un-sailable conditions, the powers that be somehow thought Port Philip was a better venue than Lake Macquarie.
Lake Macquarie is one of the best places on earth to sail. Sorrento has a nice beach.
I’d better start saving… it’s not as if the Christmas period is going to busy, or expensive in Sorrento is it?
