IOMICA Forum

Don: There is nothing wrong with asking questions when you are unfamiliar with the IOM class rules. And yes, the rules are too complicated and if we were starting from scratch they would certainly be simpler. The problem with starting over today is the likely chance that new rules will create a whol...

Another perfect example of creating problems where none really exist. First, in the real world virtually all IOM mainsails have plastic battens of some kind attached directly to the sail. As a practical matter batten pockets (with or without a batten inside) aren't very good for the shape of an IOM ...

Seems like the operative word is "shall", but I haven't really checked into the current practices of our class. If I've learned anything from the recent response we received from ISAF, it seems to be that what is most important is the principle of the rule, not the exact wording. Anders has posted t...

Val: I think the good news here is that I don't believe there are many mutli-colored sails extant in the IOM Class. Never seen them at any clubs or national races here in the US and don't recall any in pictures from the recent worlds or continentals. At some point we should probably check with the v...

We just received a very interesting response from ISAF Technical regarding their view on some of our prior proposed class rule changes. Most interesting for purposes of this discussion is that we were essentially told that ISAF wants its classes to vote for general principles and that exact rules la...

Andy: Nice to see you back. As we say in the law, Lester's question has been "asked and answered". Bruce Andersen, Val and I have all tried in both reasonable and humorous (hopefully) ways to respond to what I believe is a very trivial point. Let me try one more time since you asked--there are multi...

What is wrong with this "argument"? First, and foremost, it is time and attention consuming and makes the IOM class rules appear to be petty and overly complicated. Second, it involves a hyper-technical and literal reading of the rules that ignores all understanding of context and historical backgro...

And sometimes, Graham, there are people who have a long history of creating problems and complications where they did not exist before (lol).

Just saying.....

This is really getting tiresome.

Give it up and go sailing! Please!!!

You really aren't keeping to your word about not responding to me are you Lester? As to what is wrong with your proposals--the MYA made a suggestion; it was incorporated into the sailing instructions for the 2009 Worlds. Time to move on! Or maybe a better answer is life is just too short to play the...

Don't feed the troll....

Lester: You can't (to use your language) "piss on" Bruce Andersen and the IOM Worlds and then, when pushed back, claim to be the victim. When you express an opinion in a hostile and condescending manner, don't expect to get a warm and open response. I personally, think Bruce and company are doing a ...

When you hold the Lester Gilbert World Championships, you can write whatever "expert" sailing instructions you desire. When you actually sail in the IOM World Championships you can protest what you think are flawed sailing instructions. But unless and until such time, perhaps you could consider back...

I've been meaning to post something for a while now. Due to some recent changes in my health, I have decided not to stand for re-election to the position of VC Technical. It has been a privilege to have worked with the other members of the Executive past and present. I hope that the class is better ...

I think it is clear that everyone here agrees that the IOM rules revisions did not intend to ban tabling. The real issue facing us then is only how to deal with a perhaps unclear rule. Well, the language change proposed by the MYA has been sent to Jan Dejmo for acceptance as an emergency rule change...

I think this discussion is a wonderful example of how reasonable, well informed people can still differ over how our rules should be read and applied. What it also brings home to me is that when there are good arguments on both sides of an issue no amount of supposed "technical" expertise can divine...

For those who have said that the issue of the status of RSD is "making a mountain out of a molehill", there is a very interesting position paper on this subject from the Executive of Australia's radio controlled sailing association posted on their website. It appears to be a pretty devastating docum...

Marko: There really isn't a valid comparison between the health and weight regulations for human beings who fight and the measurement of a boat. What I can say though is that whenever a fighter gets into a ring, if it's for a world title or at a local club match, he is weighed and must pass a physic...

I don't think any of us have a corner on the truth. It's really a matter of how each of us think the rules should work. To me there is something that doesn't make sense about an initial measurement process that doesn't take into account the basic parameters of a boat--how much it weighs, its length,...

Anders: To the extent any delay on the issue of getting requests for technical interpretations on the board was my fault I apologize. I can only say in my defense that I have been dealing with some serious health issues in the past month (it's why I choose not to seek re-election) and in the confusi...

Andy: I do not understand now nor in the past. What I wrote here was: "Effectively, therefore turning this whole matter over to the IOMICA/RSD Committee was to turn them over to Robert Grubisa. And in extensive discussions on the issue among the IOM Executive no one suggested that this would not be ...

Let's be clear, the IOMICA/RSD Technical Committee consists of the IOMICA VC Technical, the RSD Technical Chairman and another person basically selected by Robert Grubisa. Two to one vote. Further, Robert had already unilaterally expressed a series of opinions about how he wanted the rule changes an...

Marko: I have to respectfully disagree. The entire premise of your suggestion that this problem is not the result of oversight to properly revise terms I believe is faulty. The one thing that no one would intentionally do in regulating model sailboat racing is to write a rule that prohibited the mov...

No Lester, you can't have the job....(lol)

Marko: I agree with your analysis. I even agree with you that the drafters of this proposal should withdraw it. However, I would never want the IOMICA Exec (particularly VC Tech) to modify or delete this motion on its own accord. That is exactly the kind of authoritarian attitude that so damaged the...

The continued use of the word "racing" in our class rule regarding restrictions on the movement of corrector weights is clearly an oversight by the perfectly human drafters of our rules. Read in context and in light of all the rest of our rules the word should be read to mean "event" or "regatta". A...

Nigel/Barry--I promise, we really have been trying hard to reach a solution to this problem for months. What will happen now is two fold--first, we will approach RSD to see if Robert Grubisa can be persuaded to compromise with IOMICA on open technical questions. If he does, we will have an immediate...

As they say in my country, Alfonso, "What you'd say about my mama?" (lol). First, you have obviously not paid much attention to the affairs of this class other than for the last few months. When I ran for IOMICA office two years ago I said exactly the same thing I said to you here--I didn't believe ...

Alfonso: I am attempting to keep this focussed on issues, not personality, but I would be glad to answer your questions. In no particular order: 1. I view the job as VC Technical to work to grow our class; reduce controversy, and try to steer all disputes to be resolved by the membership in a full v...

Alfonso: The option being kindly offered to IOMICA by Jan Dejmo is that until the future of RSD and IOMICA with ISAF is settled, ISAF Technical will review our class rules changes and requests for interpretation as opposed to Robert Grubisa, claimed head of RSD technical committee. As has been made ...