The Regatta committee would like to explore with the membership the possibility of allowing non-member boats to compete for the Ladies Cup. Currently non-member boats are not eligible to win the Ladies Cup even if they are the first boat to finish the race on corrected time. It is the committee’s thought that opening up the Ladies Cup to non-member boats could encourage more boats from other clubs or marinas to race and restore the Ladies Cup race to the pre-eminence in lake wide racing it once held. We also believe this would be consistent with the club’s mission “to promote and encourage boating and sailing on Lake Champlain, while emphasizing racing, cruising and education….”
Therefore, the Regatta Committee plans to put before the membership at the Change of Watch Dinner and Meeting the question of whether or not the Club should pursue the steps necessary to change the manner in which the Ladies Cup is run in order to allow non-member boats to “win” the Ladies Cup. It should be understood that under no circumstance would physical possession of the cup change. The cup would remain as it does now in the permanent custody of the Club. All that would change is that the declared winner would be the first boat to finish on corrected time regardless of club membership status.
Between now and the Change of Watch, the committee would like to encourage an open discussion amongst the membership of this proposal. Anyone with questions, opinions or other comments , pro or con, is invited to share them with the committee and the membership at large either by posting them on the club website or by e-mailing the Regatta Chair at taglynn at myfairpoint dot net.
Ladies Cup Race
Bob and Thea will vote to keep the cup for club members.
That is what the original intent was, and it has served the club well for 110 years. If we want to give reconition to a non club member who wins that can be addressed as a seperate issue. Changing the intent of a gift in perpetutity is a long drawn out and expensive legal battle in court, especially if any club member(s )oppose it.
We are trying to encourage new (younger) members to join, and increasing our expenses for a non necessary expense runs against that goal.
Ladies Cup Race
I have been reading and re-reading the announcement regarding the change
in the Ladies Cup. A couple of us have talked about it in passing and
this issue is beginning to bother me on several levels... We are not racers, but while this seems to be a racing conversation... it really is a conversation about traditions, budgets and priorities.
1. As I understand it, the current race is well attended and competitive.
2. The change will require a legal proceeding that changes the
contract/understanding the gift was given to us.
3. " restore the Ladies Cup race to the pre-eminence in lake wide
racing it once held" is an amazing statement to me for several reasons:
a. It suggests our club at some time in the past was somehow
more than it is today... That is not my reading of our history.... You
have to go back about 90 years to see the kind of membership numbers we
have today and that is not a good comparison as the membership and boat
rating systems were entirely different. The club was essentially
moribund for for a good chunk of those years.
b. While other, good yachting clubs have appeared and prospered,
there were other yachting organizations on the lake during our
history. When the founders of the Ladies Cup decided to limit the
race, they did so cognizant of the yachting environment then and indeed as it is
now. It really has not changed!
c. Perhaps the most troubling issue is what this statement
connotes in terms of our current racing membership.... The statement
baldly suggests that LCYC is not big enough to field a competitive race
and/or its membership is not good enough to deserve such an award.
So, I strongly object to this idea for three reasons.
1. It does in fact go against the "intent" of the original gift and
denies many years of tradition.
2. It further lowers incentives to be a member of LCYC. If the club is
worried about the number of racing boats... then producing incentives
for membership is the winning strategy. Not further reducing the
benefits!
3. It will cost money and resources that are badly needed elsewhere.
Chuck and Mary Finn
History
Anyone considering this issue should read the club timeline: http://lcyc.info/club/history/chronology
The Ladies' Cup, and its availability to outside members has changed several times, including briefly allowing non-members to win it, by granting them temporary membership. Winning has also changed from line honors to corrected time. The Cup does not have the pristine unaltered history that some may imagine. Personally, I think we should welcome our friends at MBBC and VSC to come compete for the Cup. I want to compete against the best sailors from within the club and without.
Cheers
jason
Ladies' Cup
What was the decision?