Dear readers,

The "Early Entry Fee" for Kiel Week and Young Europeans Sailing ends next Tuesday. From then on, the entry fee for all classes will increase considerably. Why is it even necessary for the organisers of one of the biggest sailing events in the world to entice sailors with cheaper entry fees?

The answer is simple: even professionals need planning certainty. If the "early entry fee" fulfils its purpose, the organisers know how many starters they can expect. Of course, they are aware from long experience that due to illness or because the boat is not ready, participants will still cancel and a few last-minute entrants will join. Nevertheless, I think it's bad form to only decide on Thursday whether the child is going to an Optimist regatta in Kiel or to Lake Starnberg. Unfortunately, this behaviour reflects a major problem in our society: the dwindling sense of commitment.

Our sailing sport is actually an exception here: as soon as we are on board with several people, everyone has their tasks and duties. If these are not properly fulfilled, it always leads to something not going according to plan. This applies to both cruising and racing: if a crew member doesn't turn up on time for their watch, the person waiting for them loses time and is later back on time for their own watch. If a team member does not adhere to the rehearsed procedures on the regatta course, an entire manoeuvre can fail, the crew can get their feet wet or even material damage can occur.

Well-rehearsed crews have a sophisticated "playbook" on the regatta course as to who on board does what at what time. So why not draw up a precise plan at the start of the season as to which races will be sailed at which time?

Those who suffer most from this short-term culture are first and foremost the many volunteer organisers of various "field, forest and meadow" regattas. The volunteers certainly lose their fun if nobody turns up because of the wind forecast. Organising the regatta is one of the highlights of the year, especially in the many smaller clubs. If there are no entries, or many last-minute cancellations because the sailors (or worse still, their parents) don't have the confidence to go out on the water in the forecast wind, the disappointment is huge.

Even when the conditions are unfavourable, it can be observed that the best are still at the front. The sailors should therefore have enough sporting ambition to turn up at the starting line on the agreed dates.

In my opinion, it is part of our discipline to make the best of the conditions as they are. This applies not only to the field tactical position on the start line, but also to how we deal with the wind forecast. That's why it's important that we all take it upon ourselves to register for only one event each weekend and not cancel the others on the last day before payment is due. Early, binding registrations give the organiser planning security. If you fail to register, the organiser still has the opportunity to switch to another date in good time.

Then nothing stands in the way of many beautiful regatta weekends, I wish you lots of fun, regardless of whether you are active as a sailor, race committee, referee, jury or volunteer helper!

Nils Leiterholt,

YACHT volunteer

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