Swift Solo Class Web Page

Originally posted by swiftsolo.org Hey Bram, I was thinking that 90 kg would be about perfect. Guess how much I weigh??   In reality I guess that the skill of the sailor will have a lot to do with it. The good thing is that we'll be able to fine tune the mast sail combinations to suit different weights as well. This is another advantage of not having class mandated masts and sails.

Steve,

In the past it has seemed that I was fast in light and heavy air but mediocre in 8 to 12 (at 200 lbs).  Ron Watt and I have been doing a lot of head to head sailing in light air and the importance of shifting gears correctly has become even more apparent.  It's not rocket science since nearly every skiff sailor knows what needs to be done, it's just that on the Swift everything is adjustable.  If you don't make the adjustments as the wind velocity changes, someone else will and you'll be left behind.  I suspect that weight is important but relatively insignificant when compared to rig adjustment.

Bram 

And who said THEY could put 'international' in front of their name for that matter .....  many large organsisations think they can simply hijack words and then impose their conditions on its use by others due to their own use of english language words  - this is just another example.  True they are 'international' in scope so why should ISAF not use it themselves .... but so are many other groupings whether they are fully ISAF recognised as 'international' or just 'international' by virtue of a great geographic spread.  Some will choose to remain semi seperate in any event.  What next .... a declaration on what is their definition of a 'skiff' a 'dinghy' etc etc and implied penalties on those who dare to use the words without permission when describing something they sail !!   It's the 'thought police' again who want tight control on everything or else - a moden epidemic.  So they pull the rules together for racing ..... so ?  Surely that does not bestow absolute right over how we use english as well ?

Or do we really care anyway ?

Blaze 720

I find it interesting that the use of the "international" is such a big deal. For thos that do care, I think it is a typo that will be dealt with. The boat class is "Swift Solo" pure and simple. There are governing bodies. At the top is the "International Swift Solo Class Association", then there are other bodies by country. This should be addressed some time in the next upgrades to the site.

For me, this is what matters....

Of course, you can also come and sail at Lancing!

 

I would go for 'Swift Solo Class International Association' myself...