Where have all the Slow Boats Gone?

The slowest 2-man boat raced at Chew is a RS200 (with the honourable exception of one Mirror which ocassionally goes out). Is this normal? No Ents, GPs, 420s, Larks, N12s, Miracles etc, which must have made up the majority of the fleet in years gone by - especially as we are a relatively small, shallow lake. I know these classes get good turnouts at their nationals, so are they sailed elsewhere or is it just that the die-hard few who own them make the effort to go to the big events? 
The only reason I can think that Chew would be much different from anywhere else is that you go to the top of our waiting list if you have been a member of another club - meaning we don't get many novices joining.
PS JimC and Chris249 - did you get my PMs?  

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Chew my RS Send Private Message Find Member's Posts Visit Member's Homepage Really should get out more Joined: 05 Oct 05 Location: United Kingdom Online Status: Offline Posts: 790	Post Options Post Reply Quote Chew my RS Report Post Quote Reply Topic: Where have all the Slow Boats Gone? Posted: 13 Mar 06 at 4:22pm
	The slowest 2-man boat raced at Chew is a RS200 (with the honourable exception of one Mirror which ocassionally goes out). Is this normal? No Ents, GPs, 420s, Larks, N12s, Miracles etc, which must have made up the majority of the fleet in years gone by - especially as we are a relatively small, shallow lake. I know these classes get good turnouts at their nationals, so are they sailed elsewhere or is it just that the die-hard few who own them make the effort to go to the big events? The only reason I can think that Chew would be much different from anywhere else is that you go to the top of our waiting list if you have been a member of another club - meaning we don't get many novices joining. PS JimC and Chris249 - did you get my PMs?

tack'ho Send Private Message Find Member's Posts Really should get out more Joined: 08 Feb 06 Location: United Kingdom Online Status: Offline Posts: 1100	Post Options Post Reply Quote tack'ho Report Post Quote Reply Posted: 13 Mar 06 at 4:41pm
	Thats a good question. Might be related to the way people look at the sport nowadays. Slow boats are less crash bang but, in my opinion, require a little more tactical approach to sailing. And i'm not sure that is why a lot of people are now getting into the sport. After all how many people move on to faster boats prior to ever showing any real placing at national level in the slower boat they learn't (or started to learn?!) there craft in. My justification look at the winners of the Endeavour trophy.
	I might be sailing it, but it's still sh**e!

Rupert Send Private Message Find Member's Posts Really should get out more Joined: 11 Aug 04 Location: Whitefriars sc Online Status: Offline Posts: 8956	Post Options Post Reply Quote Rupert Report Post Quote Reply Posted: 13 Mar 06 at 5:53pm
	We are out there! Just avoiding Chew Valley...
	Firefly 2324, Puffin 229, Minisail 3446 Mirror 70686

Rob.e Send Private Message Find Member's Posts Really should get out more Joined: 19 Oct 04 Location: United Kingdom Online Status: Offline Posts: 545	Post Options Post Reply Quote Rob.e Report Post Quote Reply Posted: 13 Mar 06 at 6:03pm
	The most active dinghy class at HISC is the Solo, and at Portchester, probably the Laser (with a Laser 2000 fleet just starting) so I guess it depends where you sail!

wetandwindy Send Private Message Find Member's Posts Newbie Joined: 11 Mar 06 Location: United Kingdom Online Status: Offline Posts: 12	Post Options Post Reply Quote wetandwindy Report Post Quote Reply Posted: 13 Mar 06 at 7:40pm
	Unless you are sailing in a large fleet of similar boats then a slower boat just is not as much fun. At Herne Bay we sail on large sea courses and unless it gets windy sailing around in an ent or a radial can get a bit dull. I now sail a 59er; much more exciting! If no one wants to be at the back of the fleet then the boats sailed will tend to get faster.
	RULE 99.9 section A: Fast boats with big spinnakers have right of way.

les5269 Send Private Message Find Member's Posts Visit Member's Homepage Really should get out more Joined: 11 Oct 05 Location: United Kingdom Online Status: Offline Posts: 1530	Post Options Post Reply Quote les5269 Report Post Quote Reply Posted: 13 Mar 06 at 8:36pm
	The most active fleets at Grafham are Lasers and flying fifteens.Slow enough ?
	49er 531 & 5000 5025 and a mirror(now gone to mirror heaven)! Grafham water Sailing Club The greatest inland sailing in the country

laser47 Send Private Message Find Member's Posts Far too distracted from work Joined: 11 Feb 06 Location: United Kingdom Online Status: Offline Posts: 349	Post Options Post Reply Quote laser47 Report Post Quote Reply Posted: 13 Mar 06 at 8:42pm
	at hawley we used to be big on solos mirrors GP14s and bosuns. now the focus is shifting off more towards lasers and omegas which aren't really that slow but slower than all you skiff guys

E.J. Send Private Message Find Member's Posts Posting king Joined: 19 Feb 06 Online Status: Offline Posts: 184	Post Options Post Reply Quote E.J. Report Post Quote Reply Posted: 13 Mar 06 at 8:46pm
	Having grown up near Chew I would say that by English standards it is a big lake, certainly the biggest Inland venue in the south west. For this reason anyone wanting to sail fast boats with the easy life of Inland sailing would be attracted to Chew, However there are many small lakes and gravel pits (e.g Frampton, South Cerney or Wimbleball) in the area that can only cater for slower craft and therefore offer more competiton to this type.

rogerd Send Private Message Find Member's Posts Really should get out more Joined: 25 May 04 Online Status: Offline Posts: 1076	Post Options Post Reply Quote rogerd Report Post Quote Reply Posted: 14 Mar 06 at 8:59am
	A friend of mine was a novice sailor at Chew. Unfortunately being shouted at rather than encouraged made him move to another club. As Rupert says we are out there just not at Chew.

Chew my RS Send Private Message Find Member's Posts Visit Member's Homepage Really should get out more Joined: 05 Oct 05 Location: United Kingdom Online Status: Offline Posts: 790	Post Options Post Reply Quote Chew my RS Report Post Quote Reply Posted: 14 Mar 06 at 9:01am
	We've got active Solo and Laser fleets, but its the 2-man boats that seem to be getting ever quicker. I guess you're right, its the biggest bit of water in the area so it may attract the speed junkies, I'm just surprised that no-one sails a 'traditional' boat. It means there is no fleet (or even a slow handicap fleet) for parent/child combinations or 'summer sailors' or those that just want to race a more sedate boat, which seems a pity.