Hi Everyone

What Dave is saying it true, any ideas send them direct to Dave or even hit
reply to all, so we all see your ideas, everything in this world starts with
an idea, Dave has a few good ones, and the enegy of a lot of positive people
is a force that cannot be stopped by a negative narrow minded few.



Cya and
Goodwinds
Steve McCormack
www.kitepower.com.au

----- Original Message -----
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To: < This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. >; "Steve McCormack"
< This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. >; "Till Eberle" <till.eberle@boards-and-more.de>;
< This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. >
Sent: Saturday, March 05, 2005 4:51 AM
Subject: Bans, closures and herding cats


[Apologies for duplicate post; I'm trying to avoid spam filters!]

Hello,
>
> I'm writing to you either because you are a driving force in the sport of
> kitesurfing, or in kite sailing, or because you are influential in the
> sport in some additional manner.
>
> I am Dave Culp, President of KiteShip Corporation. Many of you already
> know me, but for the others; I run a company which designs and builds
> large kite solutions for traction applications. We developed the OutLeader
> Spinnaker Replacement kite for America's Cup racing and are currently
> completing a kite-related contract for the US Army. I have been
> professionally involved in kite sailing applications since 1978. In the
> kite surfing field I hold an early patent for bi-directional kite boards
> (1984) and have personally been kitesurfing since 1987. I live and breathe
> kiting, as do each of you.
>
> * I am upset at the number of beaches and entire harbors (Sydney Harbor;
> others) currently closed to kitesurfing. I am upset at the number of
> racing sailcraft venues closed to kite sailing of any sort (TransPac,
> Chicago-Mac, Americap in its entirety, IRC in its entirety, and now WSSRC
> recognition of speed records). I am upset that our sport--ALL of our
> sport--is being widely characterized as "dangerous" despite statistics to
> the contrary and despite the very hard work we each are doing to minimize
> danger and to educate participants. I am especially concerned that the
> emerging sport of kite sailing aboard small boats may be still-borne, with
> launching sites unavailable, sailing venues banned, and public perceptions
> pre-disposed against us, thanks in large part to the sensationalist
> popular press.
>
> * The straw which has broken this particular camel's back is a recent
> announcement by the International Sailing Federation (ISAF) that they will
> not recognize kite-powered speed records under its World Sailing Speed
> Record Council (WSSRC). This action, apparently aimed at kitesurfing and
> the 500 meter outright record, nevertheless is worded in such a way as to
> potentially exclude ALL kite sailing record attempts on ANY of WSSRC's
> 160+ speed records afloat, including the Transat, the TransPac, plus
> virtually all point-to-point and round the world races and records. Please
> see: www.sailing.org/default.asp?ID=j19Fht?qw&format=popup (scroll
> down to "World Speed Sailing Record Council,") and also my comments on the
> ruling, at: www.scuttlebutteurope.com/673.php. Ladies and
> Gentlemen, it is time for a change.
>
> * I would like to propose a world-wide trade association for kite
> sailing. I do not mean to trample upon nor duplicate the work of the many
> regional, national and even international kitesurfing organizations. I
> would like to see an independent organization put into place whose sole
> purpose is to lobby local, national and international governing bodies for
> our causes. It is important, in my view, that such an organization be all
> inclusive--it must not be a "kitesurfing" lobbying body, nor a "kite
> spinnaker" lobbying body, nor even a "commercial vessel kite" lobbying
> body. Rather, it needs to be a kite sailing lobbying body. As large as
> some of us are and as popular as our activities are, and as large as the
> market may grow, in the public's eye we are only as strong as our weakest
> link. Injuries and deaths in kite surfing, sadly, are effecting all of our
> businesses. Kites and sailing are seen as dangerous to life and limb; this
> perception must be altered.
>
> Virtually all industries have such a trade group to represent their
> interests. Kiting has a number of smaller "trade organizations",
> representing groups as diverse as toy kites, stunt kiters, kite buggiers,
> kite surfers and general sailors. What is needed, and what we do not have,
> is an overarching trade organization, with sufficient power and influence
> to cause local, national and international governments, organizations and
> rule makers to sit up and take notice of our concerns and our needs. Just
> how dangerous is kitesurfing compared to other sports, on a per-capita,
> per-hour basis? How "safe" is conventional yachting--or offshore
> record-seeking yachting--again on a per-yacht basis? What is the
> statistical potential for bystander injury, from any sort of kiting
> activity? These statistics have never been gathered, let alone
> disseminated to the proper authorities where they can do some good.
>
> I propose that this association be organized as a not-for-profit, be
> incorporated in a neutral country, and be governed by a board of
> volunteers. Expenses, including a small professional staff (perhaps one?)
> would be first paid by small grants from the major players (the equivalent
> of a few hundreds of Euros from each of us would go a long way towards
> solvency--how much is your organization already spending on its public
> image and on "safety perception"?). It would then be supported in an
> ongoing manner by dues paid by manufacturers, distributors, retailers and
> end-users. Carrying a "World Kite Trade Association" logo on kites,
> boards, vessels, vehicles, licenses, etc., will become a desirable thing,
> and dues could be modest.
>
> I very much fear, and see a great deal of evidence for, a public backlash;
> a small-minded governmental backlash, which will encircle all of our
> business activities. As such a backlash proceeds it can only increase in
> size and viciousness, feeding on itself and eventually devouring us all.
> Kite sailing is at the end of its adolescence. It is time for the
> industry's strongest players to lead it into adulthood.
>
> Are you willing to get involved? I've sent this email to addresses in the
> clear, so you may know who else received it. Please speak amongst
> yourselves, respond to me, or use "Reply to All" to speak your mind. Let
> me know your thoughts and ideas. What can you offer, what can you bring to
> the table? How should this be enacted?
>
> Most important, who among you is willing be involved in a hands-on manner,
> setting up such an organization, staffing it, corralling a board of
> directors, etc.
>
> Last, who is not on this mailing list, whom you think should be?
>
> Thanks for your attention, and for your help.
>
> Dave