Mirrors threat, The Chairman Replies

Good day to all of you

MIRRORS AT THE OPTIMIST AND DABCHICK NATIONALS

It was at the time of the request to the Northvaal Sailing Committee by the Mirror Class, to stage their Nationals at the same time and venue as the Optimist and Dabchick 2002 Nationals, when the relevant comment was made.

To see this in context it is necessary to be aware of the previous discussions that had been held by the Organising Committee, which is being run by the Optimist and Dabchick Class Associations in the region.

The situation is as follows:

1) Neither the Optimist nor the Dabchick Class have ever been approached by the Mirror Class to organise their National Championships for them, or even to request that they stage their National Championships at the same time or the same venue.

2) The Optimist Nationals and the Dabchick Nationals are being held from 14 to 22 December 2002 at Aeolians Club.

3) These nationals (as are all Nationals) are organised by the respective Class Associations.

4) It was a decision at the joint organising committee of these two classes that we would not organise any other Class Nationals at the same venue and at the same time. We would like to see the best turnout possible in each of these fleets and are not about to do anything that would jeopardise this. As the elected representatives of the Optimist and Dabchick Classes in the Northvaal Region it is our duty to do what is in the best interests of the two classes concerned.

5) It is for this reason that Mr. Willcox, in his capacity as a member of the Optimist and Dabchick Nationals Organising Committee, stated, "we would not be catering for Mirrors" in the context of "staging their National Championships."

6) We will not be catering for Mirrors or any other class to stage their National Championships at the same time and at the same venue.

7) That having been said, we understand that there are junior sailors, who do not sail either Optimists or Dabchicks, who would like to be a part of this event with their friends and would like to sail other boats. We are sensitive to these needs and the need to get as many behinds in as many boats as possible.

a. In order to cater for these sailors we have decided:

i. To run a Novice course to cater for Novice Optimist and O'9er sailors
ii. To run a separate course to cater for all classes other than the Optimists and Dabchicks.
iii. The boats must be sailed by junior sailors.
iv. Although this will not form a part of the Nationals - No medals etc., these sailors will be included in all the social aspects of the event including the prize giving with prizes being awarded on Handicap or by class if ten or more boats are represented.

It was never the intention of, nor was it ever said by any member of, my committee that it was our intention to exclude any junior sailor from participating at this event.

To create this impression without any official consultation with the event organisers, is not the way these matters should be handled and I trust that we can now put this all behind us and go forward.

I look forward to seeing you at the "Optimist and Dabchick Nationals which also caters for juniors in any class of boat 2002" at Aeolians.

Keep Smiling
Regards
Rob M'Crystal