Regarding Joe Sullivan's comments below: In a message dated 9/14/2008 1:12:27 P.M. Eastern Daylight Time, [EMAIL PROTECTED] writes:
A) I am philosophically against having teams prequalify for the WAR or America Trophy from one season to the next. In my opinion, this would be a step backward, and a major dilution of competition in the regional qualifiers. First, the word used was "qualify", not "prequalify. I'm not sure who said it first (Scott Ikle I think), but it has been said and, I think rightly so, that we need to start thinking in terms of one long season rather than two short ones. The Fall qualifers are really the beginning of the qualification process that leads to the nationals. From those we get into the War. Nine at the War to go to the America. Everyone else gets one last chance, in his own region spring qualifier to get to the America which, then, leads to the Nationals. Again, there is no "prequalification." Everyone gets the same three chances to get onto the road to the top. The wisdom of the "one long season" view is that it recognizes the progression from fleet racing early and moving to the more complicated and demanding team racing as we approach the end of the season. However the big guys did it, their evolution of the spring into the team racing part of the year for the top MAISA teams makes perfect sense. I believe the simpler 2-on-2 will bring the smaller and less experience teams into team racing in a way in which they can enjoy some success. And, it is the perfect springboard for growing teams to move into 3-on-3 and be successful there. As far back as I can research it, no team in the top nine at the War has failed to make it into the America. Thus, that accomplishment should be very legitimately acknowledged by qualification for the America. Dan **************Psssst...Have you heard the news? There's a new fashion blog, plus the latest fall trends and hair styles at StyleList.com. (http://www.stylelist.com/trends?ncid=aolsty00050000000014) _________________________________________________ maisa mailing list [email protected] http://www.collegesailing.org/mailman/?listname=maisa
