Regarding the envisioned changes to the qualifying cruise requirement for the SHTP, I would like to make a few comments. First, since there seems to be a considerable amount of interest in this change, it seems important to think generally about changing requirements. It seems that such changes should either address a problem that needs to be solved, or to avoid an anticipated problem before it occurs. But in either case, the proposed change should be consistent with the overall conception of the race and qualifying requirements. Regarding the first, according to my limited knowledge of the SHTP, that race (or the return voyage) has included the loss of two boats: Spacecowboy (I believe that is the name) and Wildflower. Neither loss would have been avoided had the envisioned qualifying cruise requirement change been in place at the time. I am not privy to race application records, so I wonder if there have been a spate of clearly unqualified entrants who cite qualifying cruises that are 36 (or 48 or whatever) months old. If not, I suggest that the envisioned change does not address a problem that needs to be solved.
So, does the envisioned change address an anticipated problem before it becomes an actual problem, and in a way that is consistent with the overall conception of the race and its requirements? We might gleen some insight into this by briefly constrasting the SHTP with the Pacific Cup. My understanding of the PC is that they do not require a qualifying cruise, but do have a relatively more rigorous pre-race inspection. The SHTP requires a qualifying cruise, but a relatively less rigorous pre-race inspection (although, in my experience, the inspection is plenty rigorous). Both races want evidence that their partipants are up to a sail to Hawaii. The PC acquires that evidence by looking at the boat, the SHTP acquires that evidence by requiring that the sailor have experience. Being off-shore (as required by the qualifying cruise) gives the sailor some knowledge of what he/she is in for on a sail to Hawaii. The SHTP trusts that that knowledge will guide the sailor to a safe and successful passage. Since it is the knowledge gained off-shore that the SSS is depending on, and that knowledge is not lost in 36 or 48 months, or 5 or even 20 years, I see no reason to put a time limit on when that knowledge is acquired. (And the pre-race inspection will provide evidence that the sailor has not lost his/her marbles with age.)
Finally, we might consider what will be the likely result should the envisioned change be implemented. It seems likely that the change, if implemented, will reduce the number of participants in the race, and increase the number of non-participants who sail along with the fleet, are invited to participate in the communications net, and even come to tree after the race. That doesn't seem to be an improvement, at least from the perspective of the SSS.
Paul Woodward
s/v Hesperus