Don’t use unique event websites

This is not a new rant, but some people haven’t gotten the message. Maybe they skipped reading Scuttlebutt that day, or they failed to understand the significance, so here we go again…

DON’T USE UNIQUE EVENT WEBSITES

What do we mean by this? The organizers for the 2022 F18 World Championship secured a unique website address – f18world2022.org – to host all the 2022 event content. However, the event is now over, and when this URL comes up for renewal, the odds are good that payment won’t be made. Content gone. Links broken. Train wreck.

Conversely, the 49er Class has pursued a better plan by implementing an extension off their Class website – 49er.org/event/2022-world-championship – which allows them to control and preserve their content. Last year it was 49er.org/event/2021-world-championship.

The Star Class pursued another excellent option by securing a ‘championship website’ to use in perpetuity. For their 2022 World Championship, the site was 2022worlds.starchampionships.org, and next year it will be 2023worlds.starchampionships.org.

While the internet is remarkable for delivering information, retaining the sport’s history requires a plan.

This is primarily an issue with One Design Classes in which their championship events move, and often a class defers website control to the host. However, the host is only concerned with their event, whereas the organization needs to think beyond that to control their information.

For clubs that annually host signature events, they can manage their content by owning a unique site such as St. Francis Yacht Club’s Rolex Big Boat Series (rolexbigboatseries.com) or adding an extension to the club site as done for San Diego Yacht Club’s International Masters Regatta (sdyc.org/masters).

Okay… rant over.