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Has it all gone too far?
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    Posted: 10 Oct 06 at 12:04pm
Watching out the window of the Weymouth Sailing Academy as the 49ers
set off for their start, and having spent the previous evening chatting with
an old windsurfing buddy, a good racer in his day, and now the owner of
a 49er recounting the previous days trials and tribulations.

I have to say, my opinion is it has gone too far.

If Olympic Class riders cannot even get to the start line without falling
over in what was the lightest wind day, you have to wonder.

We reckon those wing things would be better served as supports for
outrigger floats then at least they wouldn't keep falling over.

It was flat water, blowing less than 15 at the time, and once they got their
spinnakers up and running they looked great, but watching what
happened when it goes wrong, especially when it happens right in front
of the club house. Doesn't do much for folks desire to go sailing, thats for
sure.

Now and again most sports go down blind alleys, windsurfing had round
boards and DSB's

I reckon the 49er is it.

A blind Alley

Time to pause

Unless of course there's some here who know otherwise.

And what a shame there are no dinghy sailors left with the bottle to do
Weymouth speed week, not surprising I guess if the best example of
modern sailboat is a 49er that even the best can't keep upright in 15
knots.

Edited by Graemef
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Pierre View Drop Down
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Posts: 1532 		Post Options Post Options   Quote Pierre Quote  Post ReplyReply Direct Link To This Post Posted: 10 Oct 06 at 12:36pm
A refreshingly honest point of view Graemef, and I understand and to a certain extent empathise with your comments.  I will be very interested in the responses.
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Posts: 962 		Post Options Post Options   Quote Matt Jackson Quote  Post ReplyReply Direct Link To This Post Posted: 10 Oct 06 at 12:48pm

I'm assuming that 'Doesn't do much for folks desire to go sailing' means attracting newcomers to the sport and I'm not sure that's true.

Yes, the 49ers are fairly 'crash and burn' but there is a fairly broad spectrum of classes represented with possibly the worlds most accessable dinghy on the market there.
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Posts: 2415 		Post Options Post Options   Quote Scooby_simon Quote  Post ReplyReply Direct Link To This Post Posted: 10 Oct 06 at 12:48pm

If people did not push barriers, we would still be sitting in caves eating roots.

 

So, Graemef, you spotted people falling over, well so be it - they were trying something difficult !  They will get better.

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Posts: 100 		Post Options Post Options   Quote SetSail Quote  Post ReplyReply Direct Link To This Post Posted: 10 Oct 06 at 12:54pm
It also depends a lot on what the sports aims are to the spectating public at
events such as the olympics.

It is good that there is a 'crash and burn' element to the sport, as well as the
closer tactical sailing you get from the lasers and 470's etc. Gives people a
choice which is very good i think.
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Posts: 76 		Post Options Post Options   Quote redhotchilicat Quote  Post ReplyReply Direct Link To This Post Posted: 10 Oct 06 at 12:58pm

Firstly I was one of those guys sailing round sail boards Division II class proper olympic race courses and proper sailing great.

However I must agree with comments re 49ers and other high perf skiffy type things it has gone beyond a joke for most abilities of sailors ok the 49ers are meant to be elitist however for the avge punter turning up at a local race finding that there's a reach or two, this can mean only one thing carnage . But a good location for camera boats. 

Maybe they should fix outriggers onto their racks.......and then get rid of the middle hull ...... and put up a bigger rig with wing mast........ hey then they would have a proper performance catamaran that goes faster and can achieve all points of sailing, without going swimming at every available opportunity.

go on you know it makes sense
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Posts: 14 		Post Options Post Options   Quote snoopy Quote  Post ReplyReply Direct Link To This Post Posted: 10 Oct 06 at 1:00pm
I think it depends entirely on the sailor's ability. The 49er is undoubtedly
a difficult boat to sail, so you progress upwards from other classes. The
boats falling over before the start, sure its suprising for that calibre of
event, but they could've been the less experience members of the class
(who are still very good) or for several reasons.

The 49er has done wonders for sailing's reputation - they provide
fantastic footage and therefore receive a lot of media coverage and
sponsorship. Its important for our sport to have media interest so we get
more people interested in the sport!

On the other hand, there are a lot of other boats, much easier to handle
that have also been great for sailing - but different things attract different
people.
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Posts: 710 		Post Options Post Options   Quote Chris Noble Quote  Post ReplyReply Direct Link To This Post Posted: 10 Oct 06 at 1:29pm

I'd almost forgotten about your last post which seemed ever so slightly rediculous and sounded very much like the voice of no experience and well i have to say, i hadnt looked at who the author was when i was reminded of that last topic and well, then i scrolled up...no surpirse then.

Where to begin,
blind alley?!? Last i checked the 49er had international class status, must be doing something VERY VERY right. Not so much a blind alley as a yellow brick road! just remind me, what is it you claim to sail? ah yes musto reject by chance? yeh thats the one its all coming back now... perhaps it is you and not new comers that are so put off with the idea of falling over. Theres a company out there, they make thses things called challengers, they're litle trimaran things, quite easy to sail and they very very very rarely go over, i think even you'd feel comfortable in one

i would however thank you on behalf of the computer suite im sitting in as youve given the majority of folk here a good chuckle mainly at your expense. Mind you the best laughs are always at someone elses stupidity.

 

sorry guys had to edit it a wee bit and hold back.



Edited by Chris Noble
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Post Options Post Options   Quote Guests Quote  Post ReplyReply Direct Link To This Post Posted: 10 Oct 06 at 1:31pm
Originally posted by Scooby_simon

So, Graemef, you spotted people falling over,
well so be it - they were trying something difficult !  They will get better.



Trying something difficult?

There were trying to get 200 yards off the clubhouse in flat water, gybing
and falling in, not just one, and these are Olympic Aspirants.

The RSX fleet was there, they are only the very best of the best, I've no
reason to asume that wasn't the same calibre of sailor in the 49ers.

My Chum and his brother, he's no slouch, a previous national windsurfing
champion, an excellent helm, with many years experience a fit and agile
guy.

Trying something difficult?

They were sailing, it aint meant to be difficult, the wind and bad weather
will do that for you, why on earth design a boat that's near impossibe to
do anything other than go upwind and dead down.

We have something similar, Formula Windsurfing, its all but killed
competitive windsurfing.

Its all very well saying its elitist, thats o.k. if the elite can still do it.

The elite can't still do it.

Its gone to far.

Remains my considered opinion.

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Posts: 583 		Post Options Post Options   Quote m_liddell Quote  Post ReplyReply Direct Link To This Post Posted: 10 Oct 06 at 1:34pm
The harder it is, the more rewarding it is when you get it right. End of story.
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