Hi Everyone,

Now that sailing season is closing, I am focused on improving the J30.org web page. I need to know what everyone would like to see changed (if anything). Please reply to this post with some thoughts.

Here are some things on my punch list:

(1) Redesign the web site to make it easier to maintain.
(2) Get the fleet data up-to-date. Dennis will export the filemaker pro data soon and send to me. We'll most likely move to a "real time" database design. Fleet Captains will be able to edit information online.
(3) Obtain more space to allow photos.
(4) Solicite more stories and photos for the front page.
(5) Keep all pages up-to-date and accurate
(6) Potentially move the "For Sale" section to a database design, allowing people to post information online. An editor would simply review and approved the post.
(7) Obtain a new look. Work on some graphics design.
(8) Add a counter to track usage.
(9) Do HTML based electronic mail once a month to include links to stories.
(10) Market the web site.

Thanks,
David Erwin

There's an end to sailing in Nawluns?

Lots of good ideas Dave, glad you have the time!

The last Wednesday night race is tomorrow. So I am spending the 5 hours of spare time each week to rennovate the web page.

Looking at the N'awlins calendar, we have 12 days of weekend racing left. The last race (also J/30 One Design) of the year is called Sugar Bowl Regatta December 27th and 28th.

Thanks David. It's more about the info than the look. By all means get the users to do their own 'For Sale/Wanted' (with over-ride editing in case of spam). It could be done here in the Forum, which is editable and depending on preferences times out. But this stuff has to expire unless the seller takes action to renew. There are J/30s listed on the for sale that have been there at the same price since 1995.

Thanks also, David. All your ideas sound good. I would differ with Bob vis a vis the importance of a little visual splash for the page. Web sites like this are major tools for marketing used boats, and a site that looks dull and is not frequently updated gives the impression of a stagnating class. I would love to see all regattas for class 30's represented with postings of photos and results provided quickly. The N'awlins web site featured a great (although Zephyr biased) slide show of this years NA's posted immediately following the regatta.

How about a beautiful photo of a 30 in action on the home page to start?

Thanks, all of the above sounds good, photos and race results keep visitors coming back. Have you looked at the US J/24 page? Being a longtime J/24 member (new to the J/30) I find that web page very good and easy to work with.

Steve, thanks for the feedback. I have too basic problems to solve:

(1) I am hesitant to post Zephyr photos as I do not want this web site to be to "Zephyr" biased. I am a member of the Zephyr program, but also a member of the J/30 team, so want to be 100% neutral. The Zephyr program's photographer, Matt Garrett has mailed be a CD with some good photos. I will review. 90% of the photos are of Zephyr/Blitz. Next year, we'll have more photographers at various spots on the course.

(2) No one provided any "non Zephyr" photos to me. I will however, look for a J/30 photos from previous years. Here is one of my favorites. The photo is from last year's N/A.
http://noyc.org/images/2002j30NA1a.jpg

How about a photo contest? I am looking for more FTP/Web space now.

Bob,

I noticed some old information on the For Sale.Wanted page. On future posts, I want to include the date posted. We're sending e-mails and will call everyone to ensure the page is accurate and current.

We'll convert the For Sale/Wanted page to a database and SPAM proof design.

Did you have some J/30 photos from 2003? If so, I'll take a CD.

Thanks!

David, if you are looking for photos of J/30's in action, I have some on our web site: www.defiantracing.com .

In addition, I too am looking to move providers for hosting my web site. I have recently come across a hosting provider that offers large storage for a reasonable monthly charge: www.deltawebhosting.com . $6/month for FREE domain name, 1000MB disk space, 20GB monthly transfer, unlimited subdomains, 1000 pop3 accounts, CGI, PHP, MySQL, plus much more.

For ideas, you could really put everything in a Message Board area (Rules, For Sale, Events, Photo Gallery, etc) and have moderators for each section.

I have time that I am able to donate should you ever have the need for addition crew to work on the site.

Bernie Kucharski
bkucharski@defiantracing.com
J/30 Defiant - Hull #23 www.defiantracing.com

We have some great j/30 photo's and regatta details from Lake Ontario. Keep us posted on how we can add to the site and supply photos. 3 J/30's racing One design in OSwego Next year 4 possibly 5 .

OK, I have drafted a potential web page format for the class.
http://www.j30.org/indexnew.html

Please provide feedback. We're rotating 7 photos on the front page as it changes each time you access the page to provide fresh content. If everyone could mail me (dave@NOYC.org) that single favorite photo, I'll place in the rotation.

I added a voter poll. The subject is subject to change. I simply wanted to demonstrate.

The new design is much easier to maintain.

I want to find a graphics artist to develop a class logo to include the J/30 graphics surrounded by Class Association in white over a blue circle. I do not like the look of the top section. Here is an example:
http://www.j80.org/images/j80int128.jpg

Special thanks to Matt, Dennis and Bob for coming this far to improve the current design.

Special thanks