September 2, 2002

To: The NCESA Board of Directors

In view of the recent "discussions" regarding the scantlings of the class, I wanted to express my opinions at the Annual Meeting.

There have been three things that have made the E-Scow Class successful through decades of development.

One, the class has always been a developmental one-design. Since I began racing them the crew has come off the windward board and into hiking straps. Winches and T-track have been replaced by Harken ball bearing blocks and track. Asymmetrical Reachers were given up for reaching spinnakers. Wooden spars have been obsoleted by aluminum ones. The spinnaker pole has come off the foredeck and into the cockpit and then up on the boom. The hulls have changed from wood to fiberglass. The wire vang has been replaced by an aluminum one. The rudder posts went from angled to straight up and down to angled again. The chainplates and spreaders have changed many times within their 4 inch parameters. Sail cloth design and manufacturing is constantly being updated. The Class has always maintained a position of keeping up with the changes in the sailing world and this has been one big reason why it attracts the type of people that it does, and for the most part keeps them. I can‘t think of any of these changes that have done anything but make the boat more enjoyable and easier to sail, thereby increasing its popularity. This brief synopsis should show if nothing else that our class has embraced and discarded new ideas and it has been a constant process that has had nothing but a positive effect on the class. Change is never easy, but it has made our class stronger.

Two, the class has been fortunate to have had builders who had a strong vision and understanding of what makes the class succeed. I was fortunate to work with Iver and Skip Johnson and all four of the Melgeses. I learned things from them that I never would have understood from my training as a Naval Architect. Buddy in particular has brought many innovations to the E-Scow that has resulted in its increased popularity and world wide recognition. He has done the same in the Soling and Star, which proves his technical skill, even laced with "Zendanese" is truly world class. The builders are professionals whose livelihood depends on the health of the class. They have exposure and contact with the rest of the sailing world that is simply not possible for the rest of us weekend warriors.

Three, the members of our class have historically been open minded competitors who want to compete at a very high level and want to be part of a vibrant organization. They want to compete against the best talents and minds. Part of that vibrancy comes from the boat itself. We all know it to be exciting to sail and state of the art. That has also added to the boat’s reputation, something we all take pride in. If we were interested in something where innovation was not part of the picture, there is the Laser or the Thistle.

I would urge the Board to be mindful of the Class history, and in many cases, learn it and learn from it. The Board and all of us as competitors are only stewards of a unique sailing experience, one that has been very successful in the past and with proper respect will continue to be so. We all need to make sure not to confuse a political agenda with the technical issues. Election to the Board comes with plenty of responsibility, but unfortunately does not confer some special technical insight. In the past changes have been driven by the marketplace and our desire as competitors to sail a better boat. Good ideas have flourished and bad ideas have gone by the way-side. Having enthusiasm, the best of intentions, and a free Saturday in November to theorize on these issues cannot replace the efficiency and clarity of how the class has developed in the past. That has been done by our best competitors presenting their best ideas, and being given a chance to prove their worth on the water.

Respectfully submitted,

Art Brereton

abrereton@geneva-trading.com

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