Advertising via sail numbers? 55

 

I don't think they've retracted their comment. It seems to be an Internet Explorer issue as the statement is still there in Chrome or my Ipad.

 

In effect this is marketing gone wrong.

everyone accepts that 'RS Powered by Hyde Sails' are made by Hyde.  

everyone accepts that it doesn't matter a jot who makes the official Laser sails, they're still a rip off.

everyone used to accept that classes with choice in sailmakers meant dealing with a sailmaker, or at the very least a class representative salesman (North for example do this very well), not a.n.other faceless brand of the Northampton chandlery massif...   

If the 555 is supposed to be good marketing... FAIL

use these guys instead:

http://www.hdsails.com

 

Actually I agree with that point which, if it turns out the RO was not informed of an out of class sail, is why I'm stunned that with the same type of sail involved no lessons were learnt. It really is quite simple, if you sail out of class advise the RO beforehand so they can make a decision on any adjustments. We should not be in the position of putting a number of people in a very awkward position again.

 

Don't get me wrong, I'm very much in favour of classes experimenting to make boats better, just don't sail an out-of-class boat using an in-class PY surreptitiously. That's showing a lot of disrespect for the organisers of a PY event and the other competitors.

 

Edited to reflect Pondmonkey's point.

Published 18/02/2011

At the time I disagreed, rules is rules, handicap racing is as important as class racing etc; but on reflection I don't- what was achieved by their retirement?  It just alienated the winners, made the runner up feel awkward... have either returned to the SJ series?  

All it did was sour the reputation of the classes, sailmakers and sailors involved... to what end?  Precedent set for the future benefit of the events.... clearly not it would seem.

Handicap racing should only ever be treated as a bit of fun surely... to the winner, imho you are no cheat.  Well done for pushing the boundaries of the class a bit further and thank you for sharing this in the public domain.  Oh yes, guess you must have sailed pretty well to have won too... but that's irrelevant innit?