FD UK TRAVELERS TROPHY - A NEW LIFE!!

The FD UK circuit has changed considerably over the last 10 years. Today we are visiting many more sailing venues. The circuit 10 years ago consisted of the same events each year organised by the RYA plus the Southern & Midland Area Championships and sometimes the Nationals organised by the Class.

This new found freedom and realisation by more FD sailors that the destiny of the Class lay entirely in the hands of those who own or sail FDs, led to many new ideas being tried to encourage more FDs to race.

During the FD Olympic era. The FD UK Travelers Trophy was regarded as having little status. However, in other Classes it has high status (in some it is the ultimate prize). In an attempt to increase turnouts at UK events and give the Travelers Trophy more credibility, much discussion and many different scoring systems have been tried. The Travelers Trophy may have a way to go to attain sufficient status that significant numbers of FD owners feel the urge to complete a series. We hope the changes indicated below will encourage you to participate (more).

Ideas on how to increase the status of the Trophy will be welcome. If you know of anybody who might sponsor a prize (eg highest placed newcomer, highest placed woman helm, highest placed woman crew, highest placed wooden boat, overall winners) please let us know.

UK FD participation goals for 2002 (2001 figures)

30 FDs attend 1 or more events (16)

20 FDs attend 2 or more events (11)

15 FDs attend 3 or more events (10)

10 FDs attend 4 or more events (5)

5 FDs attend 5 or more events (2)

50th Anniversary events will be organised to encourage maximum participation.

More qualifying primary events (some events cancelled in 2001 due to Foot & Mouth)

Introduction of self select secondary events - to encourage greater visibility of FDs around the country with at least 3 FDs attending each event.

More awareness of Travelers Trophy and how the scoring system encourages every FD sailor (whether at top, middle or bottom of fleet) to persuade more FD sailors to attend. You get extra points for every boat you beat and you get no less points if the boat you encourage to attend beats you!

Scoring System

In 2000/1 we used a high scoring system, with 5 points for attending an event plus 1 point for each GBR/IRL boat beaten in the overall results of the event and counting the best 4 events towards a trophy. The Travelers Trophy year is from 2000/1, the year ended 30 September so that the traditional Rutland Midland Area Championship is one of the first events. This is to encourage you to carry on sailing next year!!

This scoring system has produced an interesting set of results for 2000/1 with 16 boats having sailed between 1 and 5 out of 7 qualifying events. There are 8 points separating the top 5 boats who respectively completed 5,3,3,4,4 events. The highest boat completing only two events was 8^th and one event - 12^th. Thus each event counted and positions (including winners) could have changed by boats attending an additional event.

For 2002, we will retain the same scoring system and introduce another opportunity for FD sailors to promote FD racing in the UK and to gain more Travelers Trophy points.

There will be two types of event qualifying for the Trophy:

Primary events - those on the FD UK Calendar of events which will include Worlds, Europeans and for 2002, the 50th anniversary regatta.

Secondary events which will be any other event that satisfies the following three conditions:

3 or more British Section (GBR/IRL) boats attended.

At least one FD traveled from its home club.

One of those planning to attend, notified the Travelers Trophy co-ordinator (Richard Phillips) at least 30 days before the event of name of event, date, venue and who is planning to go at that time.

Secondary events are to be promoted as follows:

By FD sailor planning to attend the event contacting FD sailors who they believe to be interested in going to ensure that at least 3 boats attend.

By email from co-ordinator to all FD sailors on the "Travelers Trophy email list" - any FD sailor who is interested in participating in the Travelers Trophy should provide Richard Phillips with their email address.

On the FD GBR Website (www.sailfd.org)