Hardest nationals to win?

p.s.

For the last 3 years I have been crewing my daughter, who can't sail this year, hence my modest expectations as a helm - however

any hot shots, who would like to try and do better than 15th and get best newcommer, if you have won the nationals in another class or nearly, and want helm and to borrow me as crew and my boat (March 2006, latest modifications, same as 2005 nat champ & 2006 Salcombe week winners boat), let me know.

As winner of 5 of the last 6 Cherub nationals, I would say that for me, it has been quite easy to win.
2005 - 7 firsts of 7, in 2004 - 9 firsts of 9. - and mostly by 2-3 minutes clear.

However for the rest of the fleet, that means that it was almost impossible to win!

( and on a related rant re the foiling cherub article in Y&Y -
pipped - definition - defeated at the last moment

Quote " Ben/Daryl pipped into 2nd place by Andy P"
Dream on Daryl.

Andy's results ... seven firsts of seven.
Ben/Daryl's results ... a solitary first, + an assortment of 2nds, 3rds etc
more like complete domination of the whole fleet by Andy P and Tom G. )

what does Tom think about how easy it was?

In development classes, it's not just the sailing that counts - it makes it easy if your boat is faster. - which comes from careful consideration of design and construction.

It is possible to buy a ready to win Cherub, but at ~£13k, there aren't many ( any ) customers.

The reasons why I might be the champ -

Immense skill ( obviously )
lots of practice
The best boat
a bit of luck.

The boat bit is important here
My boat is the lightest all-up, and also carries the heaviest correctors ( and some new boats are significantly overweight )
The boat and rig is tuned for the average windspeed ie 10-15kts. Early planing in 10kts wind gives a massive advantage.
The crew weight is suited to the boat.
Lots of practice - this is my 32nd year of cherub sailing, so i must have many hours of sailing time.
It's much easier sailing in clear wind at the front, and luck just happens when you're ahead.

But now I've sold the boat!

So it won't be easy at all to win this year.

I hope the new owners will get to grips with it, but i am confident they will have a good chance of continuing the wiining streak.


Other classes ?

I did a breakthrough design int moth Axeman , and finished 3rd in my second year mothing ( which was good for a noob ) - but the design got 'borrowed', so it took a while - ~ 10 years - to get back near the front, but only got to runner up before i got too old!

I had an invisible first in the pico nationals ( sailing my son's boat )

Int Canoe ... coming soon.


new avatar ... IC in red!

Edited by I luv Wight

Originally posted by Stefan Lloyd You still haven't told us how many Cherubs were at the last Nationals.

Wouldn't know sunshine. Wasn't there, didn't have a current Cherub. I am in no position to make any comment.

As I've said before, I'm not sure one can usefully define harder to win.

Presumably one measure would be the status and prestige of the event and the amount of money and committment it takes to put a winning campaign together compared to other avents in similar sizes of boat.

Presumably then amongst the top of the tree are the Olympic medals, the World match racing, the Volvo, the Vendee and the Americas Cup. I don't know that, looking at those, you could make an especial correlation between fleet size and "hardest to win". After all anyone who thinks the small Star Olympic fleet makes it an easy medal to win is welcome to try.

The reason most of the top twenty in the World didn't attend the 49er Nationals is because they were practising in Weymouth for the Europeans which kicks off in just a few days time...

 

Often the quality of the regatta depends on timing, for example at the Laser/Radial Nationals the top two Men/Women will be away sailing in China...

Originally posted by laser47 hey i'm supprised no laser sailors have popped up yet and pointed out that Robert Scheidt sails Stars now

Does he win?