Amateur Sailor of the Year

Well said Mozzy - I think you've pretty much nailed that one. A while back, I was RO for a Nationals that we could best describe as essentially amateur, despite being one of the recent SMOD classes. A very well known top sailor from the squads was loaned a boat and that was that  - the difference in ability, in fitness and time out on a race course  (this was a 2 person boat, with kite, so we shouldn't just assume that all skills are immediately transferable) was so dramatically apparent as to be an embarrassment for some. It was superb to watch from the Committee Boat but - at the same time, it did highlight the gulf that now exists  between the young, fit 'pro/squad' sailors and the rest.

As to the ageist question, we should be under no allusions. Sailing, as a sport, is great in that it allows you to continue being reasonable competitive and in some two person boats, with a younger, fitter crew up front, you can still do well with an even older hand on the tiller.  Nor is there any way to do a 'like for like' comparison - let's just admit that the passage of time takes it's toll.... or is that a queue for those who will point to examples of older sailors still winning. Of course they still do....but they tend to be exceptions rather than the rule!

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