With a number of new boat owners in our class, and with the recent confirmation by the IJCA that the Newport 2014 Worlds will not be an open regatta, thought I would provide a little refresher on how a helmsperson qualifies for a closed worlds. With 25 boats having attended Rochester and at best only 16 spots being available made available to Canadian boats, want to make sure everyone understands the process and what they need to do to get in. to It is a little confusing, but the highlights are as follows. Full details may be found in the CJCA by-laws.
1) The number of spots allocated to a country is determined by the number of class members a country has. For 2014, 51-150 members earns a country 5 allocations (or spots), and 151-200 members earns a country 8 spots. In addition, if the Worlds is in a country’s continent, the number of spots is doubled. So for Newport 2014, the CJCA will either have 10 spots or 16 spots. Let’s assume our membership numbers increase and the racing membership is successful and Canada receives 16 allocations.
2) The 1st, 2nd, and 3rd place boats at the 2013 Nationals at Pointe Claire YC each receive a spot.
3) The remaining spots are awarded at the district level, with the number of spots awarded to each district determined by the number of members each district has. The formula is as follows: a) spots are allocated to the districts as per membership as of July 1st of the preceding year, b) a district must have a minimum of 15 members to receive a spot, and c) a district receives a spot for each 25 members the district has, or portion of 25 members, until either the maximum number of spots each district is entitled to is reached or all spots have been allocated. In the case that the maximum number of spots for each district is reached, any remaining spots are awarded to the Canadians 4th, 5th, 6th place etc. until all spots have been awarded.
4) It is up to the district’s to decide how to allocate their spots and can be either through a single regatta or as is the case in Ontario, a series of regattas.
5) A helmsperson can only earn one spot. If a spot is earned at a subsequent event but the helm already has their spot, they take the higher up spot (fully described in the by-law) and the vacated spot is awarded to the next best finishing helm at the event for which the spot was vacated . Also, a helm must of been a member the year previous to the qualifying year to earn a spot (so needed to be a member in 2012 to earn a spot in 2013 for 2014 Worlds)
To summarize, if you are in a district that has less than 15 members, you will need to qualify through the Canadians. A district that has between 15-25 members will likely be allocated 2 spots, 26-50 members will likely be allocated 3 spots, 51-75 members will likely be allocated 4 spots, and so on. Allocation of spots is also dependent on them being available and not allocated to other districts. Crew memberships count towards the allocation.
Please contact me (Matt Kenny) directly if you have any questions re: the above. Otherwise, district governors will be advised of number of spots allocated to their district in July 2013.