Well, there would appear to be no reason why a female competitor racing in one of the Standard Rig fleets at the Masters Worlds would need to have a rhombus. After all neither her fellow competitors nor the race committee have any reason to know her gender.
Except that section 8.3 of the NOR says, "Female competitors shall place a red diamond on each side of their sail (back to back)." Note it does not say, "femal competitors in a Radial fleet..." or "female competitors wishing to be eligible for a women's award...."
Looks like the rhombus rules again!
Well, there would appear to be no reason why a female competitor racing in one of the Standard Rig fleets at the Masters Worlds would need to have a rhombus. After all neither her fellow competitors nor the race committee have any reason to know her gender.
Except that section 8.3 of the NOR says, "Female competitors shall place a red diamond on each side of their sail (back to back)." Note it does not say, "femal competitors in a Radial fleet..." or "female competitors wishing to be eligible for a women's award...."
Looks like the rhombus rules again!
It strikes me that we are wasting a lot of time discussing a hypothetical situation about a complaint raised by a female sailor who no longer sails Lasers and is no longer a member of the class and her hypothetical wish to sail against Tracy Usher at the Masters Worlds which we all know is not going to happen because (a) she has no intention of entering the event and (b) even if she were entry is suspended again.
Don't forget, the 2008 Master Worlds is just around the corner (mid-February)!
On the other hand, exploring hypothetical situations is one way to test a potential rule change and its application.
btw anything Jeff calls a policy is something he likes to do routinely that some people might object to, so his line of defense is "it's Class policy". Haven't looked at an ILCA Handbook recently, but I don't recall there being a list of Class Policies in there. They seem to be entirely discretionary. Curious, huh?
Hoo Boy, I apologize for not reading to the end of the thread before posting the last rant. To the question OG asks "What difference does it make if this is passed as a Class rule or not" I have a good, short, compelling answer.
It is indeed. The wording of the proposed rule itself is somewhat fuzzy. It seems to say that in the absence of any prescription in the NOR or SIs that women should be identified with a rhombus, that the rhombus is only required in "women's events".
This seems very confusing to me. If it is a "women's event" aren't all the competitors women? So why the need for the rhombus?
And if it's an event for men and women combined then presumably the proposed rule would have no effect unless it is specifically written into the NOR and/or SIs that rhombuses should be worn by women. Which is the option that is available to regatta organizers now.
So can someone explain what difference it makes whether this rule passes or not?
Since no one has bothered to answer I will pose it again>>
Can men put up a rhombus and compete in the women's fleets??
Can Men sail radials in teh Olympics.
Can Gay men sail in those races?
Are Lesbians allowed?
Are transgendered people allowed? If so in which fleets?
Will there be biological sex testing? If so what is the official Laser class definition of female and male?
Who will write the rules? Will we get a chance to vote on the definition of females and males rules?
If a man buys a sail with a rhombus is he required to remove the rhombus? Is there a class rule about that?
Remember Renee Richards of tennis fame? What will be the rule related to females who became females as a result of hormone shots and surgical operations.
Just posing those hypos for the writers above who suggested the hypos help the discussion
Fred, you put that there hoping this thread would go to four pages and it has. I thought we were going to win something. Are you upping the ante after the fact so that we have to go to 6 or 7 pages or something?
If you leave it to the NOR and/or SI's then if the organizers aren't careful you could end up having to change it at every regatta you go to.
I will probably be in the market for a 2nd hand radial rig soon (for those days it is a bit too winds for my 68Kg). Clearly, I cannot buy fro any of those women who have already defaced their sails.
What's the problem? You're going to have to change the sail numbers on your second-hand Radial sail anyway to comply with the rule that your sail number must match your hull number (and to avoid getting confused with the woman you bought it from). So just peel off the rhombuses and clean off any sticky residue at the same time.
Or am I missing something? Aren't the rhombuses just stuck on like sail numbers?
If women are required to have a rhombus on their sail at these higher level regattas, it will only encourage more negative comments directed at females from their already stressed male competitors.
I sail in high school sailing and other all junior events. I realize that teenagers act differently than adults, however, I have been called some pretty negative names, such as honey, princess, and little girl.