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What should happen and what will happen? Peter Bentley is highly incorrect in his assessment of the ORC and its goals.
1) The ORC is a democratic body, the Council (minimum 16 members) is chosen by about 40 Nominating Bodies, representing National Authorities. For the UK these are the RYA and RORC.

2) The main object of the ORC is: "To encourage yacht racing by offshore yachts in general and in particular, to regulate yacht racing under its RULES throughout the world".

3) It also is by its Memorandum of Association bound to be open for more than one rule: "For the establishment, management and administration of additional Racing Rules ORC may develop or administer in the future. IRC would be a rule open to this option, as it is not just a local rule anymore.

We can ask ourselves:
1) Do we want/need a democratic body representing the majority of nations that have local authorities for offshore sailing?
2) Do we accept that a democratic body of this size will never be a highly efficient operation?
3) What should this body manage and administer?
4) Does offshore racing need a separate body or should it be part of the ISAF? In general what we don't need is a repetition of one of the members of a democratic body staging a full scale war against its decisions and principles.

The RORC is not behaving and has not behaved as a responsible member should and as such has damaged international offshore yacht racing. It demonstrates the weakness of the ORC management that they have been incapable to deal with the "terrorist" activities of this club. It looks like Mr Henderson will pick up the bone and wack both dogs around the ears with it. It won't be very democratic, but someone has to do it.

Ultimately we should dream of a democratic international body managing one rule for international competition at the highest level. Most likely this rule should be VPP based. For lesser levels of competition various levels of input in the VPP could be considered and simple scoring should be the standard. At the same time a variety of other rules could be adopted. It would be wise to try by promoting contacts between various rule makers to slowly move these rules in the same direction for measuring certain critical inputs. That will make it easier to adapt boats to a specific rule.

ISAF could be this body, it does have a certain appeal to have it all in one house. But even ISAF will need the support of the vast majority of the ego's in our sport to make it work. In the meantime we should keep sailing where we like, to whatever rule is available locally.

From O Billard
What do you think ISAF should do? The ISAF president's last stance about Formula windsurfing is really interesting... I think windsurfers didn't wait for ISAF to set a new good tool like Formula, so they don't expect anything from ISAF too. They are responsible enough to succeed in having a good tour, a true World Championship and limitations that makes the board stable for the next two at least. I should thank ISAF for immobilism (sorry, I'm French).

Hopefully, the fact that Formula is not an Olympic media makes the race level to stay steady (which is already pretty high) and cost steady too. Thank you Mr Henderson for being so conservative, air rowers will continue to row by their side and will continue to make Formula one of the most efficient tools on the water. I've been involved with ISAF for the Savannah and Sydney games, and I know how ISAF can be conservative and shy when it needs to make some decisions, and how they are "open minded" about new technologies....

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