Dinghy Show -- Observations

I think it was the first year of the carbonly-enmastulated FD's... Someday i'll have a go in one... or have one... None of this self tacking jib nonsense....

Originally posted by NeilP You have only to say the word, Luke. Where in the country are you? You're welcome to come and sail with me sometime, or if that's not practical I can find someone nearer you. Self-tacking jibs are the spawn of Beelzebub. Just remember, easier is not always better or more fun!

why isnt easier better?

Upwind sailing has been turned into something that is tolerated until you get to the downhill ride with all the crashing and burning and falling in. Most of the recent developments in dinghy sailing have erred on that side of performance (which is fair enough I suppose, it is fun, I won't argue with that), but unfortunately the sight of a boat knifing it's way to windward with little regard for any waves in it's path such as an FD (I refer you to the bit of Jims website about racing a Cherub on the same course as the FDs) is now rarely seen. For the true high performance development boats I am sure self tackers make sense in terms of boat handling, but it pales in comparison to the sheer size of the FD Genoa (150% isn't it) and the effort involved in pulling the thing in.... I don't see hurdles being lowered because it's too much effort to jump over them, you aren't allowed to launch a javelin with a catapult, why would you want to remove all the physical endeavour from sailing?
I don't know if that even made sense......
I'm a mere pond sailor in Scotland, for the record.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lXwvosfV6aY

My final digression.... FDs, Cadiz 1992...

Back to the boat show chaps...

Originally posted by gary145 [just curious about what people look for in their boat,

It also depends on where you sail. There are a lot of puddle sailors out there - me included - where any hairy arsed twin wire job is out of the question. Horses for courses.