While the top MAISA teams were sailing in the semis, there was another regatta being sailed at the U.S. Military Academy. For nearly all of MAISA it was pretty meaningless regatta. Rochester Institute of Technology failed to qualify for the America and didn’t sail in the Grant. CNU made it to the America and finished only 16th. The Royal Military College failed to make the America and didn’t sail the Grant. Maryland finished 17th in the America. And, Army placed 4th at the Grant. What a bunch of losers! So, how was it that many there called this the most fun they had ever had in college racing? If this had been a fleet race regatta the same teams would have been up front and the same teams would have been at the back in every race. And just five teams? The big guys will tell you that you don’t have an event worth mentioning if you don’t have 18 teams. The more teams the better the regatta, right? Ignore the fact that 20 seconds into the big events the fleet has already divided in half with the usual caste of characters in each group. So, why was the Army 2-on-2 such a good regatta as far as the competitors were concerned? I suggest two reasons. First, there was nothing on the line, no qualification, no bragging rights, no bitter rivalries. Second, it was the 2-on-2 format. Every team had center stage in eight races. Every team won at least one race. While the courses were not the best due to the difficulty in setting courses in 80 feet of water, all the racing could be viewed from shore and nearly every race was interesting. I contend that the goals for MAISA should be two-fold. We want to win in the name of MAISA and do all we can to make this so. But it is also the obligation of MAISA to strive just as hard to make the collegiate sailing experience meaningful and enjoyable for ALL participants. MAISA is run for the most part by the coaches of the big teams whose attention and efforts have become more and more centered on their quest for the nationals. Thus, MAISA tends to legislate what is good for the big guys and often ignores what is good for the little guys. But what is good for the big guys isn’t necessarily good for the little guys. 3-on-3 team racing is a good example. It is simply a fact that only the top few teams are going to be able to field competitive 3-on-3 teams. Many can’t even get six boats out in a practice. Just having three boats does not make a team. The complexity of 3-on-3 racing also makes it hard for teams that may only practice one or two days a week. The 2-on-2 concept was introduced to offer an alternative for the smaller teams. Thus far it has had mixed success. I think this is only because many haven ’t even tried it and the number of opportunities has been limited. But the 2008 Army 2-on-2 illustrated what is possible. CNU, Maryland and Army are the only teams who have offered these events, but Washington College has expressed some interest. As one of the larger, more successful teams, their involvement can be a major boost and as more schools give 2-on-2 a try I think we will see it grow. Another plus for 2-on-2 racing is that a host doesn’t have to have a large fleet of boats. There are only four boats in any race. If 2-on-2 racing does grow there will have to be some restrictions. This can’ t be yet another opportunity for the 6th & 7th skippers from the big teams to kick the little guys around and while some of the big teams do send comparable sailors to the smaller events, others are only looking for another notch in their belts. 2-on-2 racing can offer not just another racing format. It may be just the kind of racing that will make collegiate sailing for the smaller teams more appealing and, thus, boost participation by those teams. As we approach scheduling for 2009, let’s give this discipline more attention. Dan WintersCNU
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