More New Designs

Originally posted by blaze720 Of course there is not an inexhaustible desire for new designs .... any more than there is for new cars.  The working of the question leads one way only.  Ask the question whether people would prefer one-design racing and very likely you will get a 'yes'.  Therefore perhaps clubs should have limited their racing to 'approved' classes  like many did years ago and a few still do .... not think carefully about the implications .... no new designs or very very few.    Countries where clubs are very prescriptive are not always the ones with 'better' racing inho.  Years ago I raced OK's .. lovely boats and still are .... then along came the Laser.  Unfortunately (this is what we thought at the time) our club allowed a few in and 'diluted' our fleet (and the Solo fleet).  The rest is history and dinghy sailing was the better for its appearance.   We were simply wrong.  So how far back now do you think approved classes should have been forced on us - before the 90's boom in new designs, before the laser ?  before the Mirror ?  Enterprise ?  Firefly ?  etc etc All these are great boats but please please not imposed on us for a whole lifetime ! Good racing is not produced by imposing old (or new) classes on people - it is the people who take part who make good classes and good racing. Today at club level that often means handicap - but we all have the chance to class race around our various CA run circuits.  If is hardly a new model but 'club' for practice and handicap racing and 'one-design circuit' several times a year or more for well one-design racing whenever you want it.  Perhaps we should simply recognise this model now as the norm ... and all get out a bit more !!. Mike L.

My own experience of that in Germany casued me to join another club. I introduced the National12 to the Germans on the Ammersee, got too heavy and wanted to change classes to the Taser. This was not approved by the local club committee, so I was obliged to leave the club and join another, where the Tasar was accepted. I then got a 59er, which was accepted even more. Ironically, I was congratulated by an old rival at an open handicap meeting held at my previous club for having such a great boat!!!! I replied simply, that he could have been sailing something similar had he and others not voted against my motion.So much for class politics. Let people sail what they want to.

 

People will buy into a new class, and when it fails buy into the next one,
so unless a new design is the be all and end all design for every sailor,
highly unlikely, there will always be a market for them,

Interesting example of a class that rose and fell

When you want the ultimate in twin trapeze sailing you just have to try
the *****. With it's extensive use of carbon fibre, long bowsprit and huge
spinnaker, the ***** is one of the fastest two-man skiffs in the world and
is smply unsurpassed downwind. The ***** is a sailboat without
compromise. Designer ***** ***** developed and refined his World
Champion International 14's proven lines, lengthening and flattening to
maximise the potential of the superlight, super-stiff carbon foam
sandwich hull that the ********** team perfected. Years of experience
have been utilised in optimising and refining the rig and control systems.
Every component and fitting have been rigorously examined for total
performance, efficiency and elegance. Where no proprietary fitting would
match the specification, custom versions have been designed and
incorporated The country's top sail and spar makers have produced a rig
that blends staggering amounts of power with a depth and sophistication
and control never before achieved. "Simplicity, lightness, strength,
elegance of design, efficiency, balance and class leading performance are
the elements that have been refined and optimised alongside *****
*****'s fantastic hull design. The ***** is going to set the standards by
which manageable, very high performance dinghies are judged for many
years to come." The ***** is the definitive expression of excellence from
*****. Nothing else comes close!

Can you tell what it is?

Edited by MattK

Originally posted by blaze720   Perhaps we should simply recognise this model now as the norm ... and all get out a bit more !!.

Isn't that the problem ?   We are not getting out a bit more because it is Handicap racing.

Firstly there is the excuse that the wind strength does not suit my handicap today so I might as well give it a miss.

Secondly there is no one around at my club with the same boat so there is no one to compare notes with and therefore I only improve when I go to the class association events.  Therefore why not just go to the class association events and forget about the club membership that involves duties, etc.

The next step is that there is no club racing and that probably will kill off class association events because there will be no clubs left to host them. 

The solution must be to re-energise club fleet racing.  Laser look as though they are supporting something http://www.yachtsandyachting.com/news/?article=150390.  When are the other boat builders going to join in ?

Mike

 

Originally posted by MattK Can you tell what it is?

It was a classic example of the principle that if you start with the wrong model you're *******d!

Originally posted by Steve411 if that was the only way forward then I'd have to sail a Laser and, quite frankly, I'd rather slit my wrists.

I know what you mean. I think its good my club has a strong Laser fleet and its something to be encouraged, but if I had to sail one I'd stay in bed. I borrowed one for a race last Summer when the Canoe was off the water and wished I hadn't bothered... I'd rather sail a Topper to be quite honest!

Edited by JimC

Just voted "yes" , the question is too broad and I totally believe we all want to see new designs, thinking & innovation coming through.  Whether we choose to follow/buy-in is a seperate question....