Hardest nationals to win?

Originally posted by JimC Originally posted by aardvark_issues I have met quite a few people coming up from one designs trying to get to grips with the more technical classes and having to fill huge gaps in their knowledge... And, to be fair, some others coming up from the one designs and picking it all up at an almost humiliating rate...

The thing about having been successful in a one design, you have
residual self confidence. You know as you lose, that it's the boat rather
than you.

Not having that knowledge, gives you twice the disadvantage, you never
know wether its you or your kit that's going slow.

There's an old adage, boatspeed makes you a tactical genius, but its
wasted if you dont realise it is the boat rather than your ability to sail it
fast and in the right direction.

So development classes and handicap stuff like we race in are a useless
environment in which to learn to sail competitively so many folk will never
get it. Only place to really measure the man is where all the kit is the
same. Boards or Boats, makes no difference.

Me, I've done one designs and I've done what we call open class which is
the equivalent of development I guess, and winning Open is a darn site
easier than One Design, all you need to do is throw money at it.

Originally posted by Bumble Nobody has ever won by ''7 straight wins' like the more feeble boat/gear orientated development classes. I can't remember when the scorp nationals wasn't decided on the last day. Without a doubt the most difficult national to win. I encourage you all to come and have a go.

I did my first scorpion nationals this year and I would agree that the level is very high. We made things harder admitedly by hitting the social scene as hard as the sailing itself but it was a very enjoyable week sailing.

In one race we got to the windward mark in around 4th and in others we rounded in next to last without noticeably doing anything different. We were giving it 110% in all the races and people are still sailing faster than you... very irritating but very satisfying when you get it right. I'll be there next year without a doubt!

Regarding the "I can't remember when the scorp nationals wasn't decided on the last day" it just so happens that it was won this year with a day to spare but it was still very tight racing every day

Originally posted by Jamie600 If you were lent a boat for a Nationals, which is the hardest to win?

Easy. International Moth. I could at least hope to finish on the same lap as the current Champ in a Laser...

Edited by JimC

[QUOTE=Jamie600]Using the same argument, Lasers also are the same weight, have the same gear, and similar speeds. You can't tune the rig at all, and they all have the same tacking angles. The only advantages come from playing the shifts and boat handling, but the boat handling on a single sailed boat is easier than a two-mans, three-sail boat, so there is even less margin there for an advantage.

QUOTE]

So it must be much easier in a OD fleet, because you don't need to consider boat design, sail design, tuning, and all that other stuff that is essential in a development class. ( ie only about half the stuff you need to get right!)
And also it must be easier in a singlehander, cos you don't have the crew co-ordination problems etc.

Originally posted by Graemef separate the knows from the dont knows

I know I deleted all the stuff around it, but this is just to emphasize there is a lot more to know in boats where you have the ability to tweak it and play around. I have met quite a few people coming up from one designs trying to get to grips with the more technical classes and having to fill huge gaps in their knowledge...

As usual, I suspect there is no correct answer to the question, but isnt that half the point of the internet - we can all be right!