'Ringers' competing at the Nationals

Originally posted by tack'ho Sorry to say I have also seen this attitude, and as mentioned earlier it always seems to eminate from the mid to back of the fleet which I've never understood! At the risk of flaming slightly.....If you can't even finish all the races I think you've got bigger fish to fry than worrying about who is at the front!!

Whenever I take part in a nationals I know I don't stand a cats chance in hell of winning so I concentrate on sailing as well as I can. If I am that bothered about the 'visitors' I can always get hold of a copy of the results and take them out to get a picture of where I am in the regulars of the class.

I will admit I have come across those who are mid fleet who have aspirations higher than their ability and they generally make life a misery for all the boats around them. Fair enough be competitive, sail as well as you can but don;t b*tch and complain just because a better sailor has decided to give you class a go, who knows they may even decide to join it permnanently (which is good for you class, more boats sold, more CA subscriptions etc...).

I have had some great battles in the mid (and rear) of fleet in a lot of the classes I have sailed. Generally when you all get off the water you have a laugh, have a chat (and perhaps apologise if you got a 'lucky' shift that got you ahead on the last leg). That is what sailing is for most of us I would say.

Sorry:-)

I can't believe this thread is still going! No-one here seems to object to
new people ( who some may tar as ringers) taking part in national
events. Can't we move on to more constructive topics please?

Congrats Jimbo - I Don't really have £2500 invested in the class .. it was all a fake to try and draw you away from the truth!

Just got the latest Y&Y through, and Bob Fisher seems to get the tone about right when taking the micky out of the pro's who were close to loosing the 1/4 ton cup to a couple of amateur teams. I suspect that the banter in the article closely mirrors that in the bar, and I doubt that any of the teams resented having round the world sailors taking part, especially when they prooved to be almost beatable.

There is another article about class hopping - good timing on this thread, then, or was it a plant?!