unofficial summary of Thu 2 Mar 2006 Meeting

As you may well know, because the only people who read this forum are the people who were there that night, there was a SLSF meeting last Thursday where much was discussed. I believe it was agreed that action taken depended on a quorum of those present at the meeting. Seeing as the meeting was announced by a group vote, I'd say anyone who had something to say had plenty of time to get it said before or during this meeting. I say this because if someone pipes in that they didn't agree to giving me a 50,000 linden salary, tough noogies: you should have been there.

Other than my salary, items discussed were other means to spend SLSF funds. All who attended agreed to promotional ads to be placed in the SL Herald or Metaverse Messenger. MarkTwain White is the poor schlum assigned the task of figuring out the fees for such ads. Was he designing the ad as well? I think so, but if anyone else wants to get their graphic design on, I'd like to see it. Not to say I think Mark will do a poor job, I just... like to see graphics? Any other ideas to promote SL sailing also welcome. Al Kaiser is already way ahead of you guys, so better get crackin' or only he will get the cookies.

Also discussed was a campaign to encourage Linden Labs to increase the amount of a protected public waterways around the various continents. If anyone can think of a gap in the void sims that prevents smooth sailing from one void to another, chime in. So far I can think of the emptiness next to the Danbi sim (far southeast Korean-named sims) and some areas on the northeast edge of the northern continent. We would like to use any means at our disposal to get Linden Labs attention on this matter, be it a vote or exclusive escort services to the Lindens with the means of giving us what we want.

We went over some topics on how to encourage newbies to take up sailing. This provided the only true disagreement of the night (disregarding stuff mentioned after the unofficial adjournment) over what is newbie friendly and what just sails right over their heads and off into the distant wind, never to be seen by them again. (Pun intended. Hahaha! Hahahahaha!) Prizes were mentioned, no one seemed keen on the idea as a good enough enticement. The only idea that did meet with some positive response is a newbie-friendly race where the prize would be a free Tako 3.

I personally made a big tah-do over how the majority of the SLSF, SYC, VYC, and Lichtenstein seemed unware of this forum's presence. Most agreed to promote this forum as a means of in depth discussion about our sailing activities, while also maintaining a strong presence in the standard event discussion thread, for all the poor newbies who don't know where to look. I advise that any decisions that affect SLSF as a whole be mentioned in world, as opposed to expecting all members to read these forums, though. At least until the forum has been around for a couple weeks. No one at the meeting specifically agreed to this, because we switched to discussing my 50,000 linden salary.

The merits of the SYC's A/B fleet and the VYC's rankings were mentioned, but I was busy braiding my hair. I think, in the end, it became clear that each yacht club likes to do things a little bit different from the other for various reasons. But we're all still friends here.

Myrrh Massiel brought up some ideas, none of which I really remember now, so they must not have been that good. As she conveniently forgot what these ideas where until the meeting was unofficially adjourned, expect to see them brought up again at the next SLSF meeting. Which will be at some point in the future soon.

I read this forum too. I'd like to do more sailing in the future.

...heya torley - tuesdays, thursdays, saturdays, and sundays there are always recurring events and new folks at any level of experience are always welcomed and even encouraged to bring friends...

...presently thursday evening practice sessions at starboards yacht club in hollywood are probably the best time to grab an immediate sailing lesson without having to wait for races to end first, but if one hangs around any of the major yacht clubs an hour or two before a scheduled regatta, odds are that somebody'll be eager to show the ropes...keep an eye on the 'upcoming events' thread pinned at the top of this forum for specific details!..

What can I say? As a former magazine publisher, editor, sometimes artist (not to mention glutton for punishment) how could I not jump at this opportunity?

That having been said, I regret to inform everyone that I will not be able to produce the advertisng information this week as I had planned. I'm off to Chicago for a funeral. So look for the information NEXT week.



To follow up and clarify this point. It was going to be my suggestion that we integrate skipper rankings between VYC and SYC for the purose not only of giving the community a uniform ranking system, but also to facilitate EASY A/B fleet splits when needed.

The idea would be that those venues that want to reduce overcrowded start lines would simple split into A/B fleets based on turn out. My plan for SYC would have been (and MAY be) to split any regatta with 10 or more boats into an A Fleet and B Fleet based on current skipper rankings. In this example the top 5 skippers in the rankings are the A fleet and the others are the B Fleet. This would be an simplier means of spliting the fleets as we recently did with our seeding regatta in Hollywood.

The argument was made that splitting the fleets was bad because some of the skippers would not have a chance to win the "big prize" (emphasis mine). Others included myself argued the opposite. Splitting the fleets is a great way to get skippers of similar abilities in the same races. "A" Fleet skippers could concentrate on their skills and tactics, not having to avoid less experienced skippers. "B" Fleet skippers would a realistic chance to take home a trophy on that day. Kanker made a great illustration on this point when he pointed out that teams in the NIT are just as keen to win as those that are in the NCAA tournament.

When I get back from Chicago I will look iinto setting up rankings for SYC skippers based on our racing history dating back to the founding of our regattas last August. And if Pixeleen decides she would like to integrate the rakings I am all for it. Aside: Pixeleen nearly passed out (or made comments to that effect) when I said in the meeting that I liked her scoring system. But anyone that goes back and read the original discussion when Pixeleen proposed three different ranking systems, they will see that I spoke in favor of the system she eventually adopted. It is a good system.

It is my view that for the good of SLSF sailing with the continuing growth we are having, the venues should be looking for ways to make the sailing experience seamless between venues, not continue to emphasize differences. That is the driving force behind my public statement at the meeting to try to work with Pixeleen towards that goal, if she is willing as well.

Let me emphasize that I am not suggesting that all venues run their events the same way. Not at all. Each venue will conduct their races according to their own vision of what makes for good sailing. If SYC uses split fleets to reduce the inevitable increasing load on the start line and VYC doesn't, that's up to each of them. However if we can get to the point that skippers are able to feel they are sailing in an SLSF event more than they are sailing in a SYC or VYC, or other club event, it will benefit us all.