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    Posted: 06 Aug 09 at 2:08pm
I think the international standard in all Olympic classes is exceptional - otherwise wannabe Olympians would take the easy choice (perhaps why so many non-cat sailors in Britain started campaigning the T from the late 1990's??).  But, because the Star is a boat more about skill than fitness (for the helm anyway) it can be sailed by several generations of good sailors, not just the 20-30somethings. So the talent is probably no better, but runs deeper.
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Posts: 275 		Post Options Post Options   Quote Roy Race Quote  Post ReplyReply Direct Link To This Post Posted: 06 Aug 09 at 10:21pm
Originally posted by Rupert

And yet, could those Star sailors jump into Solos and take the top 10 positions?

Yes. There's no overlap whatsoever between the top 10 of the Star worlds and the top 10 of the Solo nationals. Not even close. It's like comparing Tiger Woods with your local golf club pro.

 



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Posts: 589 		Post Options Post Options   Quote laser4000 Quote  Post ReplyReply Direct Link To This Post Posted: 06 Aug 09 at 10:32pm
Originally posted by Roy Race

Originally posted by Rupert

And yet, could those Star sailors jump into Solos and take the top 10 positions?

Yes. There's no overlap whatsoever between the top 10 of the Star worlds and the top 10 of the Solo nationals. Not even close. It's like comparing Tiger Woods with your local golf club pro.

 

I take yer point, but I guess most of us plodders would put Ian Pinnell in the 'great sailor' category and yet he's struggling to make the top 10 with one race to go.- now I don't know for certain but I'm pretty sure that cumbley/davis/hunt are all on their second or 3rd solo nats - does the same apply for 'nelly? - perhaps that shows you need time in the boat in a solo as much as one might do in a 505 or similar



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Posts: 2143 		Post Options Post Options   Quote getafix Quote  Post ReplyReply Direct Link To This Post Posted: 07 Aug 09 at 8:53am
I think you'll find that Cumbley/Davis/Hunt (et al) are 'on' at least half a dozen Solo nats (in Jim Hunts case probably dozen+) so time in the boat is critical - even the best sailors couldn't jump between classes and hope to be instantly successful at the top of very big, competitive fleets.... how many GP14 Nat's did the late great Mr Estaugh compete in before he won it?  How many Fireball Nat's did it take for Ian Pinnell to win one?  The gap between the boats in the top 20 of the 'big' classes is comparitively small, but definitely a telling factor* so any time put in previously will surely tell in terms of handling and raw boatspeed, even if the 'tactical brains' are as sharp as any other.....

*keelboats & yachts may be more 'forgiving' given the longer duration of races, less marked gaps in boatspeed and greater influence of tactics in a 'plays out slower' type of way during racing, making it possible for the very best to swap between different classes and fleets and remain in the top 5/10 
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Posts: 0 		Post Options Post Options   Quote Guest Quote  Post ReplyReply Direct Link To This Post Posted: 07 Aug 09 at 9:47am

Originally posted by getafix

... so time in the boat is critical - .... How many Fireball Nat's did it take for Ian Pinnell to win one? 

I don't know but even I managed to win the first Fireball Nationals I helmed in ...

Just depends on a reasonable bit of preperation ...
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Posts: 15 		Post Options Post Options   Quote Sam649 Quote  Post ReplyReply Direct Link To This Post Posted: 08 Aug 09 at 7:15pm
Having just got back from the topper nationals id have to say the junior nationals. Mainly because each year most of the top ten move on, leaving a gap for the rest of the fleet to comptete for.
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