Streaker PY number

Originally posted by steve123497 Originally posted by Steve411 At what age does a good sailor stop being a good sailor? It would appear that you are not allowed to beat a 'hotshot' once you are in your 70s. How absurd! You are missing the point.  I don't mind that the 70 year old had beaten the Laser sailor in a race. One is my cousin and the other a long term friend. What I am saying, if you read my post, is that a Laser sailing in clear air with a young, very experienced helm, was beaten on handicap by a 70 year old sailing in dirty air. Surely you must be able to see the absurdity of that.

I see the absurdity of whining about handicaps instead of admitting the laser probably went the wrong way up the beat.
Perhaps the streaker sailor is a good tactician and has an excellent grasp of windshifts?
I know a few older sailors like that, a few Solo sailors come to mind. They can come up trumps now and then.
Only real answer is to buy a streaker and race level with the man.
You may learn fom him.

Can't understand why a young laser sailor of any quality would need to worry about whether he beat a streaker on handicap anyway.

Originally posted by steve123497 Originally posted by RS400atC Can't understand why a young laser sailor of any quality would need to worry about whether he beat a streaker on handicap anyway. May I make one thing perfectly clear here. The winning laser sailor was not in the slightest bit worried about coming second to the streaker. He accepted his defeat with the good grace and humour that we have all come to expect from him. He does after all have "far bigger fish to fry".  It is my self and the other also rans who have a problem with this.

You have four options
1) attempt to fiddle with PY's to come u with local numbers which everyone in your club accepts as fair
2) Sail a class of boat that does well on PY on your patch of water
3) Move to a patch of water that suits your boat
4) Not worry about it, instigate a laser class prize as well as the overall

I've never seen option 1 work properly, in general I think people trust local PY's even less than the RYA list.

'Having a problem' with the situation indicates to me too much focus on published results and not enough on personal goals and self improvement.

Originally posted by RS400atC 'Having a problem' with the situation indicates to me too much focus on published results and not enough on personal goals and self improvement.

I am 56 years old and have been sailing since I was 11. I can assure you that my personal goals have long since been met.
In all that time, however, I have never come across boat which, in my opinion, is so blatantly wrong.
I would say again that you have gone away from my initial discussion but, having now read through this thread from the beginning it seems that I am also guilty of that.
Let the discussion continue.

Originally posted by G.R.F. Originally posted by Steve411 At what age does a good sailor stop being a good sailor? Er 62 . Now ignoring for a moment the fact that if anyone sails such a silly archaic tub they should be in either a home for old folks or an asylum,  I do find it a little offensive having to call 70 on a bloke.

Oh dear. The PC generation.  Now this is but a total aside to the discussion, however, no one has ever been insulted by quoting there correct age.. Secondly I was simply drawing your attention to all the facts of the case so that you could make an informed decision. Without a description of both sailors it would simply lead to speculation.

If you are so convinced that it is all down to PY and want to convince your committee, why not demonstrate your point by borrowing an appropriate Streaker and beating the regulars. If they beat you, then at least you'll know it isn't just the PY.