KEEP SAILING CLEAN

Dave Rosekrans and Dave Perry

Introductory Remarks

One of the goals of this symposium is to increase participation in one-design sailing.  We sail to have fun. When sailing isn’t fun, people stop sailing. The two main reasons people don't sail are lack of access and a bad experience.  Sometimes the bad experience is weather and boat related but often the bad experience is related to the ethics and conduct of another sailor. We need to keep sailing clean to make it fun and to increase participation.

At the same time, most sports world wide are experiencing a crisis in ethics and conduct. Over zealous parents, out of control fans, alcohol and drug use, cheating, abuse by coaches, lawsuits and the rising cost of insurance were all topics at a meeting of International Sporting Federations. There are a few sports where efforts by the Governing Bodies have kept the sport clean indicating that trying to do something can make a difference. 

 We could go on but the message is simple. We must fight back against the trend to poor ethics and conduct. Let us keep sailing clean. Our purpose today at this symposium is to get ideas about how to do this.

Ideas Generated

• Sportsmanship Awards.^--More than one.

• Sign a pledge. Youth, parents, coaches, club members.  Codes of conduct.

• Target respected players and enlist as good examples.  Be one yourself.

• Put on the agenda for meetings.  Use as a class project.

• Practice one rule at a time, both doing it right and violating the rule.

• Be nice to guests.  Share local knowledge about conditions with visitors to a regatta.

• Have "moosehead" awards for offenders.  Most protests in a season.

• Leadership pull offenders aside but don't do in public.  Leaders take ownership of an offense.

• Address issues head on and promptly.

• Prevent "hard head" management.

• Empower class members to act.

• Use the protest system when appropriate.  Do no discourage protests in pre-regatta skippers meetings.

• Set standards.  Post a code of conduct.  Include in club and class manuals.

• Education is key.

• Have T shirts promoting sportsmanship.