Hardest nationals to win?

Agree it's hard to define 'hardest to win', but maybe if you could for a moment imagine a child of immense talent say offspring of Ben and Shirley (sorry to any partners) - we can asume a degree of natural talent will be inherited. So also assuming that resources are unlimited, what class will that child  find the hardest to win of the many choices he/she has (dinghy, sportsboat, cat singlehander, doublehander or whatever).

I'd guess it's either Optimist or Laser.

 

I Luv Wight wrote: [QUOTE

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. )

[/QUOTE]

OK we all know you have a business to promote but please get the facts
right.

2 Wins for Ben & Daryl and for the rest of the week we sailed with an
undersize kite - that's under size by 6 meters! And no 't' foil which you
hasterly made ready after the first day.

your results for the week - 61112111

ours -14721233


I Luv Wight wrote: [QUOTE " Ben/Daryl pipped into 2nd place by Andy P"
Dream on Daryl.

[/QUOTE]

Why not dream on Ben? or Ben and Daryl? why single me out? Ah yes I
know why, becasuse for the last few years I've been your publicity officer,
but the Cherub fleet is such a bunch of left wing socialists it can't cope
with a little marketing, even if it has done wounders for the class. I
appologies for injecting a little tension and interest into my reports,
thank god I won't be doing it anymore or a member of the class.




Edited by Jack Sparrow

I think the higher performance the boat the more vital the crews role is... You are never going to win the 49er Worlds with a scratch crew!!!  (In fact you probably shouldn't even bother turning up...)

Edited by Jon Emmett

I quite agree with CT249. All the classes Steve has dominated have been singled handed. For Steve to be able to perform as well in a double handed class he would require a crew who is a good a sailor as he is...

Originally posted by Alan F Steve Cockerill is RS300 National Champion, Blaze National Champion, UK Laser Masters National Champion (Std rig), Laser Masters Worlds 2nd Apprentice (Radial rig), Laser Radial National Champion. In the 2005 Merlin Rockets at Hayling Island, he came 15th Overall, winning best new comer (best result a 6th overall). Out of 76 boats. Come to Tenby 5th August and give it a go, see how competitive the Merlins are. http://www.merlinrocket.co.uk/  Infact I'm looking for a crew, Private Message me if interested. (Brand New Merlin, would be pleased to get 40th out of 80.)

Many previous examples show that a Laser sailor of Steve's ability or  better, a triple World Fireball champ, or someone of that calibre would finish in almost exactly the same position (as a % of the fleet) in our Tasar State titles as Steve did in the MRs. Does that mean that the Tasar here is more competitive than Lasers and 'Balls, and as competitive as the MR's biggest regatta? Hell no! It's just a different boat.

A former world Soling and J/24 champ said he'd spend 3 years getting to club level in Lasers. Does that mean that the level at that ordinary club's Laser fleet was more competitive than the entire world's Soling and J/24 fleets? Hell no! It's just a different boat!

The World A Class champ did the Radial states and got 5th last. Does that mean that all but 4 of the Laser Radial fleet are better sailors than all the A Class sailors? Hell no! It's just a different boat!

If I put most Laser sailors of Steve's (great) ability into some sailing classes/disciplines I know, I can guarantee very few would get in the top 20% in their first regatta, like Steve did in Merlins. They probably wouldn't make the second mark. Does that prove that these classes or disciplines are more competitive than Merlins? Hell no! They're just different.

In fact I'd bet Ainslie, Robertson, Connor and Elvstrom at his peak wouldn't actually get through the competition in some of these disciplines or classes, and may well break his or her body, mast and sail.

Does that mean that the classes or disciplines that would punish Ainslie et al is more competitive than the Finns, Lasers, Stars, Europes or America's Cup????
Or does it just mean that some kit is easier to adapt to than others?

Out of interest, how did the top Merliner go in his first Laser nationals?


Edited by CT249