Another one to avoid

iGRF seems not to have read the captions - the photos were from a Masters regatta, which has a minimum age for the helm and a minimum combined age.

Getafix - there were Snipe here - Ted Heath's first boat was a Snipe.

However, as you point out, possibly unintentionally, the British sailing scene was always somewhat atypical, preferring to sail in local classes. Probably because the heyday of dinghy sailing was just before it became easier and cheaper to travel to the Continent, so no need to have boats that were being sailed elsewhere.

That's what I like about this place - er nothing.

But seriously, no, here I am trying to steer the unitiated lurker through the maze of garbage and dross that litters the world waters, and here are you lot reeling out the inevitable pictures of nearly dead people abusing their young.. I give up. (well not quite )

In defence of the Snipe - which I sailed in France for a few years... it is a challenging boat to sail right, with a rig that requires lots of tweaking. The sailing is all about tactics as speed differences are not huge. The Snipe is probably the cheapest route in to proper international sailing (that is sailing against people who do have English as their first language) with big fleets in Europe, North and South America and even Japan. Sail numbers (which started at number 1) are now over 30500 worldwide.

There is also the charm of sailing in a class that has real history, and a tradition of some serious partying (the legendary stainless steel concrete mixer for preparing the cocktails!). The list of World and Continental champions over the last 80 years reads like a Who's Who of world sailing.

Admiitedly it is not the lightest of boats. but that is not necessarily a disadvantage. Some may consider it as an ultra light keel boat. It is still one of the biggest non spinnaker 2 man hiking classes. They do well on inland waters, as they sail through the holes on their inertia, and provide great racing at sea.

The Snipe provides truly international racing for sailors of all generations. Probably a bit too sophisticated for those brought up sailing beach boats.

For more information see www.snipe.org

Gordon

Originally posted by Rupert The Aussies always appear to be haing more fun in a boat than the rest of us, don't they? Warmer water, I guess!

Originally posted by Ruscoe absolute bandit!

That it most definitely is, the bloody thing, couldn't shake it off this week and she even rammed me during a mark rounding to hurry me a long a bit.