Gents, it is with regret that I report that the anticipated successful outcome of the AEC12OA negotiations with ARYA, has proved to be fruitless and a complete waste of time and resources. All those who have followed the progress of our original submission would be aware that I had been hopeful of a successful outcome of our compliance with the new ARYA adopted "National Class Association" policy, as insisted upon by that body.
Unfortunately it seems that the OA's enemies and detractors have prevailed and have managed to subvert the agenda of the OA in the minds of the executive of ARYA, Lindsay Walker in particular. This development has deeply upset and disturbed me and when I finally received the anticipated email from him my heart sunk as I knew that despite the apologies and platitudes, the submission was lost! As I said to Lindsay Walker, ARYA's actions have as far as I am concerned, signed the death warrant of the EC12 class in Australia. I personally will no longer attend EC12 regattas antwhere in Australia henceforth. My final commitment is the upcoming Nationals which I have already entered and I will honor that commitment and compete.I shall be disposing of both my EC12's or alternatively stripping them down for their parts for installation in the new boats when they are built.
I had been delaying the send out of the long awaited report to all the members in anticipation of positive news. It now seems that that my hope was catastrophically misplaced and my contempt of that organization is now total. They can only expect from me in future "damnation by faint praise" and a dedicated critic. If WA Boats were here today, I would hear his words and advice ringing in my ears! I did not agree with that poster much, but I can truly say that his take on ARYA is spot on, and on that score he is 10 out of 10!
I shall now be sending out a very different notice to all members asking them to contemplate a series of different suggestions that will either push us ahead in the same overall direction but with a twist that shall allow us to commence immediate construction of the new boatsor alternately wind up the process altogether. The outcome will rest in the hands of the membership.
If these proposals are adopted, it will represent a complete departure from the ranks of the EC12 class and into a new class. i will elaborate in more detail in the notice to members. This message is simply a "heads up" to all members and interested parties.
One thing that I can say is that this decision will be an all or nothing thing and the final outcome and direction (if any) will be determined by the members. I anticipate the notice to go out in the coming week. It will also require the members to alert us to their agreement or otherwise to the proposals.
In closing I would like to say that although this is a very disappointing outcome, it nevertheless was a worthwhile pursuit in my opinion and I know it was a much hoped for outcome of many people. I am truly sorry that I was not able to carry this thing off for the members but I suppose when playing for such high stakes there is always the distinct possibility of failure. This seems to be the case here, but on a brighter note there is always a silver lining and often good things can emerge from what on first glance may appear to be a disaster.
Straw
-- Edited by Straw on Monday 9th of April 2012 12:45:44 PM
