BRIEFE UND VORSCHLÄGE / LETTERS AND PROPOSALS

PROPOSAL FOR ORGANISING COMPETITIONS FSR-V
FOR EUROPEAN CUP

In the last few years countries have not shown much interest in organising a European Championships for FSR section of Naviga. The same was established at the FSR -V section meeting, held on 7th August 2002 during the world championships in Poland. Some ideas were put forward but no formal proposals.

Perhaps there is a need for an alternative solution, which would be cheaper and less demanding to organise, but at the same time represent an equivalent to a European Championships. We therefore propose organising competitions for European cup in FSR-V as an alternative to the European Championship.

Each country organises their own competitions in category FSR-V and many of them already have international participation.

From those countries interested a selection could be made of 7 - 9 countries. (more or less). The results of FSR competitions held, would count towards European Cup results. Each country should only be allowed 1 competition to count towards the European Cup.

The countries wishing to include their race in the European Cup would have to register it with Naviga. FSR section would decide at their meeting which races will count towards the European Cup result. This decision will stand for 2 years until the next section meeting (usually held at the WC). Priority for organising these races would be given to the countries that have already held World and European championships or have a long tradition of organising international competitions and satisfy any other conditions which may be set by the FSR section.

Competitions would be held in the same way as before, with a condition that the entry fee is the same for all of them (the same as for other official Naviga competitions, €10 to the organisers and €5 in the fund for buying trophys for the Eurpoean Champions and runners up ).

Results of the race would give competitors the following points:

Competitions can vary greatly in size from, for example 20 boats in 3.5cc class in Velenje to 40 boats in 3.5cc class in Haarlem or Stuttgart. Therefore bonus points should be added to the points won for the place in each race, according to the number of competitors taking part in the competition. For example if 20 boats compete in the category 3.5 cc in Velenje all the finalists would get 20 bonus points on top of the points won for the place. Therefore winner would get 120 points, second place 100 etc. down to twelveth place with 30 points. On the other had where there are 40 copentitors participating in 3.5cc class 40 bonus point would be added giving the winner 140 points, secondplace 120 points etc., down to twelvth place with 50 points. This would make a result achieved at a race with greater copetition worth more. This seems fair, since the competitors had to work harder to achieve the same place where there are more competitors.

Juniors would compete with seniors however only in the qualifications. The result achieved in the qualifications would count towards their final placing. Again as above bonus points would be added according to the number of juniors taking part in particular class.

Only very few competitors are likely to be able to participate in all the races. Therefore only 4 or 5 of the best results should count. Competitors wishing to participate in the competition for the title of European Champion would not have to take part in all the races. FSR section of Naviga would record the points won on their web site, follwing each race. The final calculation would be made at the end of the last race of the season and the title of European Champion would be awarded for that year.

As and example we can consider races such as Royal Cup - Duchov, Stuttgart or Haarlem. If one of them was to count towards the European Cup it would be run exactly the same way as they are run now. The only difference would be that the best 12 competitors would win points counting towards the final place in the European Cup.

Cup system of competition would have many advantages: most importantly, number of competitors from each country would not be limited. This is one weaknes of traditional World and European championships (country represented by the competitior must however be a member of Naviga ). Another advantage would be that, the competitions, part of the european cup, would attract more competitors and would also be more interesting for the spectators. As a result of this the interest of younger generation and media would be increased, attracting more sponsors and therefore assisting in organising the competitions.

Proposal prepared by:

Samo GOLAVSEK
Janez MELANSEK