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Announcement: The Future of The Alter Cup (US Multihull Championship)

Added by DamonLinkous on Feb 16, 2012 - 11:59 AM

Everyone interested in Multihull Sailing should take a look at this message from Mike Levesque, Chair, US Sailing Multihull Council.

Dear multihull sailor:

You have been recognized as a former Alter Cup competitor, or multihull sailor with another close affiliation to US Sailing and multihull racing, and you have been invited to help guide the event into the future!  Hopefully, you will also receive this message through the normal Multihull Council channels (Area Reps, class chairs, etc.).

Please forward this to every multihull sailor in your network, class, fleet or club.  We want literally every multihull sailor in the country to participate.  Time is of the essence!!!

Here is your opportunity to weigh in on what many consider to be the most important "product" that US Sailing offers to multihull sailors, the US Multihull Championship for the Hobie Alter Trophy (aka the Alter Cup).  

As you may know, I became Chair of the US Sailing Multihull Council in October 2011.  Since then, lots of great things are happening.  One of them is a renewed focus on ensuring that the US Multihull Championship is a relevant event with a strong future.  The Multihull Council is working to rebuild the event with the US Multihull Championship Committee, which itself is being reconstituted.

The leadership of US Sailing wants to transform the US Multihull Championship into the most relevant multihull event in the United States, one that will attract new and upcoming sailors, who will form the nucleus of future US Olympic sailors.  

To that end, Jack Gierhart, Executive Director of US Sailing, has directly asked me, "What do the multihull sailors want?"  So, here is your opportunity to provide your opinions on the future of this championship.

Nothing is impossible, and nothing is off the table.  However, the harsh reality is that the economic environment in which we currently operate is making it increasingly difficult to hold the event within the current format and funding structure.  So, we either need to find additional revenue streams, change the format, or both.

The survey is composed of questions that are intended to get the creative juices flowing.  We have been canvassing sailors all winter, and are really taking a long, hard look at all aspects of the event.  We would like to hear from all multihull sailors around the country, even if you have never participated in this event.

As you know, there currently is no Alter Cup championship announced for 2012.  A bid is in the works, and the intent of the survey is to come up with a long-term (5-year) plan, so we can return some stability to the planning of this event. 

We are at an unprecedented moment in the history of the US Sailing Multihull Council.  We are working hard and achieving a renwed cooperative relationship with the leadership at US Sailing.  We are working on a number of things, including a revamp of our website, a new Youth multihull program, and of course, ensuring the success of the Alter Cup.  We will be announcing a Spring meeting (teleconference) shortly to discuss further business for the 2012 season and beyond.

Mike Levesque

Chair, US Sailing Multihull Council 

 

Footnote: With the Americas Cup on catamarans it's an exciting time for multihull sailors, please help out by completing the survey.
 
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