I have a great deal of empathy for both Brett and Angus. Their last posts are an indication of the stress level that has become associated with what is supposed to be fun…and it’s not just Waboats…it seems there’s always some argumentative challenger around.
I hope that from this point, those who want it to be fun (most of you, I think) will be even more active in the class.
Questions for clarification are welcome. Healthy debate is fine. But I hope that those of you who just want to argue or find fault with the work we’ve done will find another outlet for your debating skills…that’s not what the Footy class was ever intended to be, and IMHO it’s more harmful than helpful to the growth of the class.
Bill
Again… well said all. I have recently made other references to this effect, the ‘ambassadors of the Footy Class’ comment in particular. So I think everyone knows where I stand, firmly behind the Footy Class.
Perhaps I am simple minded but, I would like to think that 95% or more of people who are building footys are happy to do so ‘well within’ the rule. The 5% or less who feel the need to push the rule do have the right to do so but their recent effects here have been wholely out of proportion. The apparent belief that the only way to go faster is to stretch the rule to breaking point has no real foundation. So is it worth breaking the will of the people who have worked so hard to get us this far?
In the few impromptu races so far it would seem that the Bob-a-bout and my humble Kittiwake have been far from being snails, so what is so wrong with being conservative for awhile? By all means design your boats to be close to the limits of the box rule and search for that faster boat. There is room within the box to do this without creating a fuss and ill feeling here. Bring your boat to the races, slip it in the box and go win… that is the point isnt it!? I will then be designing a Faster Foamy Footy and trying to beat you again… that would seem to be the heathy way forward. As my new american friends are inclined to say ‘how easy is that?’
Do I have a vested interest?.. Well yes I do, but no more so than the many peope who have bought ScaleSailing kits. I am sure that they realise as well as I do that in racing things change, fast designs become slow as faster designs appear. The need to improve and upgrade is inherent. For the fun sailor he will be as happy with his boat next year as he is today, he/she makes up the majority of my sales to date I believe. I am telling you this to explain that I and ScaleSailing do not have a vested interest in holding the class static and to cast that light on the comments above. Healthy growth is the preferred option for us all, yes?
Beyond the boats, I have made some good friends through these forums and I would hate to lose them from here. You know, making friends is so much more fun that making enemies 
… and much less effort!
Graham
Having been there and done that, my only outsider (:scared: ) observation is that rules are difficult to write when existing boats are already on the water.
Trying to close the proverbial barn door after the horse has left the building will only result in frustration - and anger. Anger generally from those who “thought” they were in compliance, but aren’t. Frustration from those who tried to “pen” the rules but overlooked the myrid of loopholes and exceptions.
I was invovled for a time with the Victor Cup Class and saw similar where folks built a boat with lots of revisions - only to get mad when the final class rules outlawed some of them.
Angus, Bill and Brett - - you aren’t going to win this one, so just post the rules, try to answer the tecnical questions and stop making apologies every time there is a disagreement. Interpret the rules as best you can - and revise the rules when an obvious error is identified. If the rule is questionable to you three (Technical Committee) then put it to a vote of registered owners. You have already indicated how a person can get a number and register - so if an argumentative question arises, just ask the writer to include his boat number/country. If no info, wastebasket should be close at hand.
For those who don’t like a particular rule, (and you are registered member) send a note with an alternative suggestion that can be considered by technical committee - or members as a whole. Sit down, wait for an answer, and if you don’t like it, you really don’t have to play in this arena, and are free to go your own way. I’m not sure that having a FOOTY gives you anymore leverage other than a one-vote/one-person option.
For those thinking of new classes - get your basic rules down first - you can deal with the nuances later. Will save much grief! 
ADDITIONAL THOUGHT EDIT: The class is designed for owners - I don’t think there was an intention of trying to please every designer/would-b designer/would-be production builder. That seems to be one issue that keeps coming up, yet everyone seems to indicate the ease and low cost to build one of these. Maybe that needs to be kept in mind too.
Three cheers for Dick. I giess that we’ve recently acquired the apprehensions of a tomcat on its way to the vet’s …:zbeer: :zbeer: :zbeer: :zbeer: :[hic - unfortunately the system only lets me have four beers. What is this? Prohibition?]
no, its wisdom…[but just to be nice, i’ll add mine to yours…:zbeer:]
We faced a similar situation in the Vintage M “class,” in that we did the rules after boats had been built and in some cases commercially available. VMs are radio replicas of free-sailing boats, and our flap also dealt with rudders; in particular whether strict replicas, which had the skegs of the original designs, would be mandated, or whether the skegs could be replaced with spade rudders. As here, round and round Also, there were people who wanted to design their own boats “in the vintage spirit.” After some time, we split the VMs into two Divisions, called Traditional (skegs and other dimensions roughly Pre-WWII) and High Flyer (post-WWII designs like “Rip Tide.”) In most regattas they sail together but are scored separately. The result? After 10 years of sailing, the most consistent winner is a Traditional boat, Al Suydam’s “Cheerio” to a 1936 design. The only time Al was clearly “out-boated” by a High Flyer was when there was over 500 feet between windward and leeward marks. All that talk about relative performance and as it turned out it just didn’t matter. But we did succeed in eliminating the chatter and bad feeling at the cost of a few more trophies at our events.
So maybe you should consider a similar finesse: have an Xtreme Division, in which the designer/builder/owner declares their intention to push the corners of the rules and a StraightArrow division where the designer/builder/owner just wants to sail an “ordinary” boat. Given how much external forces will affect such a small boat, my guess is that any performance gap between “far out” and “down the middle” boats will turn out to be even harder to find in actual racing results than it is with VMs.
Cheers,
Earl
Thanks for all the supportive comments, guys, it’s appreciated.
To Dick’s point…we kinda got stuck firming up the rules after some boats were built in order to create the international committee…I’m not making excuses, just clarifying. As far as I know, however, only 2 designs were obsoleted…Neil’s Bantam (more than 6" wide) which I grandfathered into the class, and my own MiniMe (dual rudders) which I sacrificed for the cause. The recent challenges have come long after the rules were well established and published.
So I think your advise to us, Dick, is well taken. I will treat appropriate inquiries respectfully made through the appropriate (and published) channels in as thorough and respectful way as I can. Other stuff I intend to treat as not worth the time.
Earl, I remember the rudder discussions on VM’s. I hope that the Footy class won’t have to divide in order to conquer. If we can all listen to Graham’s sensible view, we can all have fun together, while simultaneously developing faster boats and growing the class. My fingers are crossed in the hope that we can stay together. BTW, if you need a high-flyer VM that is easily beaten by any other boat on the pond, mine is available!
Guess I’ve had one scotch too many…Bill