From Scott Mason in the Crew Weight Discussion:

While on this subject and related to rules that govern a regatta…… We have Ensign starts in several one design regattas around the country. Should some of these be “sanctioned” regattas, giving them the same weight for application of the rules as the Regionals and Nationals (and thereby bringing to bear the rule for crew #)?

To name some I am familiar with but probably not all:

E Mid-Winter Regatta

Cleveland Race Week

Annapolis NOOD

Newport Regatta

Atlantic Coast Championship

Warm Regards,

Scott Mason, Fleet 5, Newport Sec.

Bill Murphey's response:

Having co-founded the ACC, and organized the ACC and Regionals at Newport and Annapolis over the past 4 years, I can refer you to the NOR and SI for each event. The simple answer is that any One Design class in the regatta is required to sail under their Class Rules. This eliminates any questions to the Organizing Authority about petty Class issues.

The Class Organizer for the regatta is able to submit specific rules modifications to the RC for the regatta. The RC will review the request and will post the change or tell the Class Organizer why the request is unenforceable or not consistent with the intent of the regatta.

At an executive board meeting about 5 years ago a suggestion was made to have the ECA sanction the new ACC and 20 year old Mid-Winter Regattas. This would provide a stronger link between the ECA and these two events that greatly promoted the Ensign to sailors outside the class. Amazingly, one of the past commodores of the class felt that the ECA should not be associated with such new, progressive, and out reaching events. He said something about the reputation of the class to be involved with regattas that might not last or be well attended. While his concern was negative and irrelevant, the suggestion died on the floor. Interestingly, a while later the Lake Murray fleet took over the Mid-Winter Regatta and it has been well attended.

So sanctioning may be over rated and unnecessary unless the ECA has decided to start promoting the Ensign and the ECA as the great nation wide family racing/cruising class that it is. 

Bill Murphey
Chowder, #176
Fleet Captain
Fleet 63, Barnegat Bay, NJ