If Boats were Football Teams

Back on topic..........

Football teams

I-14- definately Chelsea due to the changing nature of the boat, its successfulness and the cheque-book nature of the class (think that's been covered before)

Laser 5000- Blackburn Rovers, can mix it with the best, play rough, been up and down over the years, had major success in the early 90s and seriously underated.

49er- Glasgow Rangers, constantly successful and will always be successful in the future and as the chants go at Ibrox (Rangers stadium), "Simply the Best"

505- Celtic football club, great history and also very succesful......... (and I know it will annoy lozza when he reads this post )

From what I imagine with kayaking, tactical knowledge focuses mainly upon tidal flow and currents. That is one part of sailing also but wind strategy is another factor which you have to consider more with sailing.

Correct me if I'm wrong, but, my guess is that you may have done a few one day, 80 mile races, not a three week tour with mountain stages, flat stages, time trials, team time trials etc., do you go for stage wins, general classification, points jersey, or king of the mountains?  As part of a team with climbers, sprinters, domestiques, time trial specialists, leadout men & a team leader, then it gets a whole lot more tactical!

I reckon that taking part in the Volvo Ocean Race would be immensely more challenging than a 3 week cycling trial, at least with the cycling the competitors get some significant rest compared to the guys out on the VO70s. The mental strains upon the sailors are much higher, lack of sleep with the constant thought in the back of their mind that one significant mistake or gear failure would mean the possible loss of their lifes. I'm not saying that cycling is not a highly challenging sport but when you compare the top levels of each sport, sailing, in my opinion is definately more challenging as there are a lot more variables which are outside your own control. If you injure yourself on a bike, you can pull over to the side of the road and pull out of the race, the Southern Ocean doesn't give you that option.