New Blaze

Welcome .. as ever !   

Edited by Cirrus - 25 May 21 at 7:57pm

Originally posted by Cirrus And so we are now in the familiar territory of PN ... and so quickly.  It is as traditionally British to do so on this forum as stuffing down cream teas while watching green field leather and willow combinations in the Summer.  Why not just skip all the preliminary waffle trying to justify the agenda and start there in the first place ?  ...(You know you want to - don't you ! ) Definition of a Bandit - a boat sailed by someone that beats you. (... but when you beat them it is because althouth that someone has a 'superior boat' they are c**p at pointing it in the right direction and 'you' are very clearly the better helm and prevailed.   Same as always. Or you could just try one....

Read the original post. The question was specifically about PY. The topic started as a PY topic.

Regarding agenda, we all have agendas the question is are they hidden? Given your past interests in the Blaze surely levelling agenda issues at someone as an argument is treading on very dangerous ground.

As for your definition of a bandit  I have been beaten by just about every boat on the list, I have no illusions about my ability or lack of it. That's why I got out of the Laser II when it became obvious to me that my results didn't match my ability. An exercise in self assessment. I enjoyed the flattery briefly before realizing that I needed to do the right thing....I was embarrassed into changing class.

As for trying one? Our circumstances have changed in the last couple of years. Sailing in club races has ended for us, we were always "double handers" anyway. Maybe we'll come back in a couple of years, maybe not. My interest in all things sailing is in decline. The decline might even get to the stage that I stop coming on here and giving you lot a pain in the arse....or it might not 

Originally posted by Sam.Spoons Thanks Mike, I'm about to fit some new spreaders to 671 so will cut them to the recommended length. Originally posted by Sussex Lad And the class is now looking like a "one design" that isn't. It appears to have allusions of being a development class.........Modern times huh?  sections of the community who are factually and by conception one thing but desperate to be something else?.....mind you, I can't think of many more "ease of use ;-) improvements" that could be made without making a total mockery of the one design ethos. Can you name an established 'one design' that hasn't been improved (Foxer maybe, even the Sunfish has standard and 'racing' rigs)? The Blaze is hardly a 'development class' (Moth for example), it's even close to being a 'restricted class' (like a Merlin).If you sail on open water I guess they are a little bit of a bandit but the opposite applies on a confined sailing area.

I was going to reply with the Laser II but even that started life without a spinny chute. Apart from the chute though I don't think there have been any changes (I could be wrong as I'm not that familiar with it's early history). As a consequence the class died.

So yes, there aren't many classes that haven't changed but like most differences in life it's a question of degree. How many has the Blaze had at separate times? At least 5 maybe (Is it 5?) spread out over approx 15 yrs.

One thing the L2 now has in common with the Blaze, albeit for very different reasons, is that they are both outrageous bandits on open water.......So I disagree with the phrase that they are a "little bit of a bandit" on open water.

With the advent of the new Blaze sail, and I wish it all the success in the world, it looks like the situation will remain the same for the next few years........ One step ahead of the numbers.

Edited by Sussex Lad - 25 May 21 at 4:28pm

As I said earlier, I totally understand the commercial reasons for constant tweaking and as grump suggested, it's great to see a class moving with the times. All of this has no doubt contributed to the success of the class.....brilliant, brilliant, brilliant.

And the class is now looking like a "one design" that isn't. It appears to have allusions of being a development class.........Modern times huh?  sections of the community who are factually and by conception one thing but desperate to be something else?.....mind you, I can't think of many more "ease of use ;-) improvements" that could be made without making a total mockery of the one design ethos.

also, while obviously good for class racing these improvements, that stay one jump ahead of the numbers, are not so good for the handicap racers, the strategy contributes to the *ugg**ing up of the system.

 The irony being that the strategy of staying "one jump ahead of the numbers" is dependent on handicap racers for  market stimulation whilst simultaneously detracting from handicap racing......the very definition of a parasite. (no insult intended to anyone who sails one or makes them, I genuinely see the attraction of these marvelous boats. I also have some good friends who sail them).

Maybe the constraints and weaknesses of the current handicap system are the problem?????

Edited for spelling, clarity and tone.

Edited by Sussex Lad - 25 May 21 at 1:38pm