Heartwarming

   This threa has turned sour, and the OP was so positive.  That said I'm picking up some ironic tones in JC's post above, I hope I'm right.

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pondmonkey Send Private Message Find Member's Posts Really should get out more Joined: 12 Aug 11 Online Status: Offline Posts: 2202	Post Options Post Reply Quote pondmonkey Report Post Quote Reply Topic: Heartwarming Posted: 06 Sep 12 at 6:01pm
	This threa has turned sour, and the OP was so positive. That said I'm picking up some ironic tones in JC's post above, I hope I'm right.

tickler Send Private Message Find Member's Posts Visit Member's Homepage Really should get out more Joined: 03 Jun 07 Location: Tunstead Milton Online Status: Offline Posts: 895	Post Options Post Reply Quote tickler Report Post Quote Reply Posted: 06 Sep 12 at 6:30pm
	A couple of years ago the Olympc 470 sailors raced the 24 for charity, Blithel was threre. They won by two laps. I have never seen a GP go so fast.......believe me, they really are good!

Rupert Send Private Message Find Member's Posts Really should get out more Joined: 11 Aug 04 Location: Whitefriars sc Online Status: Offline Posts: 8956	Post Options Post Reply Quote Rupert Report Post Quote Reply Posted: 07 Sep 12 at 8:53am
	They are very good. As are the top end of the Merlin fleet. But they have to work for a living (at least a little bit) whereas the 470 guys have been sailing full time for a while now. It must make a big difference, even when swapping boats, especially when going back to a class you grew up sailing anyway. There are an awful lot of reasons why one person or team might win out over another. Talent is a pretty important one, but has to be backed up. So long as the hotshots have an interest in the class they are jumping into, which in both these cases they do, then it does a lot for a class, and can really build a profile for the boat.
	Firefly 2324, Puffin 229, Minisail 3446 Mirror 70686

Dougal Send Private Message Find Member's Posts Really should get out more Joined: 23 Sep 09 Location: England Online Status: Offline Posts: 556	Post Options Post Reply Quote Dougal Report Post Quote Reply Posted: 07 Sep 12 at 10:57am
	In which other sport can you turn up and race side by side with guys who won Olympic medals only a few weeks before? All credit to them for doing it, but also the structure of the sport lends itself to this type of participation. Face it, none of us are going to ever get the chance to take on Usain Bolt on equal terms.

pondmonkey Send Private Message Find Member's Posts Really should get out more Joined: 12 Aug 11 Online Status: Offline Posts: 2202	Post Options Post Reply Quote pondmonkey Report Post Quote Reply Posted: 07 Sep 12 at 11:13am
	Maybe they've just missed good old fashioned amateur dinghy fleet racing- against people better than you, worse than you, happy to share a laugh and hopefully a few jars? It's a lovely distraction from the mundanity of your office job- even if that 'office' happens to a 470 campaign (the sailing bit is only part of it) or a 70ft offshore beast, again the sailing being the finale of sh*t load of project management. I know after 18 months off the dinghy racing thing that's what I've missed... and remedial action has been taken in time for next year. Edited by pondmonkey - 07 Sep 12 at 11:14am