From the Feedback - 17th November

We'll be publishing the choicest moments from the stuff you send us - but each contribution may or may not be subjected to a rigorous process of editing for language, taste and imparted wisdom. And of course, as they so famously say at the start of anything like this, the opinions expressed in From the Feedback do not necessarily reflect those of the management, staff or investors of madforsport.com. Instead, and much more importantly, they reflect your views.

From Jono Pank

In response to your question, 'Have the selectors picked the right people?' for the Team Racing Worlds squad - the question is not so much the wrong people but how did they pick them? Why was the qualification schedule only sent to a "select" few. Why were the invitations to send in CV's only sent a "select" few. Why no trials? Why was the "published" format on the UKTRA site not followed?

Why not let these people race against the people who are excluded? No one minds getting beaten fairly but when they are not even allowed to sail, it raises some questions? There are very few events when the sailors picked have come out on top of many people who have been excluded.

And if it's youth that's the criteria ... then are any of these other than John Greenland actually youth sailors? What difference does two or three years in age make within team racing, when the likely US team and the likely England team will all be in their late 20's or early 30's. This whole selection process is not right, in fact, it stinks. Tom Hebbert is the son of Bruce Hebbert (part of selection committee). And many of the "younger" sailors have little experience outside the college circuit ... Is that the most competitive? NO.

It is BIASED. And not good for the sport. Many keen team racers have been ignored or effectively told to "$£%& off". Let's take Chris Kameen as an example, he went to the last Team Racing Worlds, was second at this year's Wilson Trophy and rarely out of the top four at any team racing event in the last couple of years. HE HAS NEVER MISSED THE CUT AT THE WILSON. But he is not even allowed to sail? Do these people represent the sport of team racing or themselves?

Editor's note: This was the second hot feedback we've got on this subject, so we asked selector Chris Atkins to respond ....

From Chris Atkins

I am extremely keen that more active team racers become involved in team racing decision making, so it is good that this discussion is taking place. The announcement of the Worlds Squad process included a plea for team racers to volunteer to become selectors or coaches, and maybe this correspondence will generate some response to those requests!

Speaking personally, I had hoped that enough new people would have volunteered, and the new blood would have been in place and making the selection decisions, before the selection process started.

Jono chose not to apply for the squad, but we need people of his calibre in selection and coaching if we are to do well at the Worlds. I've done three Worlds already, and that is quite enough!

Turning to Jono's questions:

The process was publicised through the websites of the RYA, BUSA and UKTRA, as the three main team racing member organisations in the UK.

The published format for selection was followed. In that format the selectors had as an option a preliminary trial to reduce the squad to the required size, but in the event this option was not required.

Jono is right that any selection process means that sailors will be excluded. The question is whether more should have been invited into the process. The selectors followed the published criteria and as a result the number invited was such that no further exclusion (through the preliminary trail) was required.

Jono questions the bias of the selectors. As said above, unfortunately there were no volunteer selectors and all those approached wanted to be considered for the squad, so had to exclude themselves from the selection process.

Similarly Bruce Hebbert specifically requested he play no part in selection, so the selection committee for the squad was Nick Ross and me. To eliminate the risk of conflict with his role of lead coach, Nick is not a selector for the team, so any volunteers as selector, or as coach, for the next few months will be most welcome!