Sensible boats?

We had 1 Phantom out yesterday, he spent a lot of time swimming while just about all other classes had a whale of a time.

It is quite well known at our club for there to only be a few Lasers out when it is really howling whilst everyone else watches from the shore.

I do think there are those people who have gone for a class that is perhaps not suited to them having seen a class expert make it look oh so easy in the wind.

There are a lot of people out there who would benefit from choosing the best suited class for them as opposed to going for the fastest boat.

Yesetdray we had a steady F5/6 gusting 7. I crewed a Fireball (no kite, we were crossing the lake in 40 seconds without it) as well as sailing the Blaze. Both were an absilute scream and I would sail them both in that wind again. I would not however ail a Laser in that wind, they are just too twitchy.

The Phantom boys tend to look out and look worried in anything over an F4....

Originally posted by fizzicist Nah - it's a challenge and its there to be mastered. Like many things in life, you shouldn't avoid doing something just because its difficult. The feeling you get when you acheive something which looked impossible at first is an awesome one, and one which you should try to experience as often as possible in life.

I agree - also with bigger sails you have more fun in the ligher stuff

Rick

BTW - You shouldn't worry what other people think - just do your own thing ...

You will only learn if you challange yourself. This might mean spending alot of time swimming but he thats part of sailing. I would say i learnt more in one afternoon out in my laser when it was blowing a f6 and we had HUGE waves than i did in a few weeks of sailing in f4. I have then applyed what i learnt in these conditions to the more moderate conditions and would say i sail better because of it. I would also say I learnt alot sailing a 300 for a few hours.

At our club yes sometimes only one guy will go out and sail if its really blowing but we have had 600's go out and sail arround in a f6 and enjoy it.

You only learn by doing so get out there, swim abit but learn learn learn.

I have this with my 14, anything F5 or above and she staying in the boatpark. Spending all your time wiping out and making lots of work for the guys on safety is a bit irresponsible and an accident waiting to happen. Start small and build up.

I think a big part of the problem is safety cover. At most clubs if you don't race then you will be sailing with no safety cover at all which is not exactly conducive to learning how to sail a high performance boat when it's windy. A lot of people who do safety don't sail high performance boats and are clueless when it comes to helping one in difficulties.

In an ideal world I'd have a high wind 'easy' boat and a more challenging boat I'm still learning to keep upright!
 

 

Edited by m_liddell

The title was just of the top of my head. I think m_liddell is most 'on topic' (as intended!) so far.

But when Rick says "with bigger sails you have more fun in the lighter stuff", I can only observe that I'd have thought it's more embarassment than fun that you experience when a good Wayfarer slips past your skiffy thing in the light stuff. Well, OK not normally 'slips past' but is at least, 'irritiatingly close'...

These tricky boats actually seem to be no good at either end of the scale (unless you're Stenhouse) - they have a narrow F3-4 window when they fly, the rest of the time you hear 'no point going out today' - is that fun?