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Solo fleet still growing |
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iGRF 
Really should get out more 
Joined: 07 Mar 11 Location: Hythe Online Status: Offline Posts: 6499 |
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 Topic: Solo fleet still growingPosted: 02 Nov 12 at 3:27pm |
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Pop Quiz.
Which would you rather race in a regatta with, 50 Solo's or 50 Punks? To which the answer should be 50 Punks The next question then becomes how can there ever be 50 Punks all the time luddites wax poetic about coffin boats? Edited by iGRF - 02 Nov 12 at 3:28pm |
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pondmonkey
Really should get out more
Joined: 12 Aug 11 Online Status: Offline Posts: 2202 |
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Posted: 02 Nov 12 at 3:21pm |
on the contrary... the reason why so many folks sail solos is because it is neither a bandit, nor hobbled by that stupid PY system. Just check out the thread in the sailwave support forum lost down there where no one dares visit... normally really sane and rational men getting all bogged down in statistics and interpretations and committees and upsetting people for little reward. It's not healthy, it's certainly not sport in the corinthian sense. However, if a Solo is raced in the odd PY race then it held a primary handicap status up until that particular notion was canned this year, therefore the handicap is 'right enough' for all PY racing is good for anyway- the odd mad idiots' events in the depths of frozen middleshire or something as silly and perfectly loveable as a club regatta day or the Forum open meeting. Where we are, the Solo is just a boat to go race against similar 'in class' boats across the water, first is first, last is last. It doesn't pretend to be cool. It doesn't claim to be fast. It certainly wouldn't win any prizes for aesthetic design, modernity or product desirability. It doesn't even claim to be truly 'equal'. Newer ones can be faster and a new sail makes a difference, as does having the right mast for your weight/condition. Everyone who signs up for the class knows this, or they should if they've researched properly. So no one is claiming an event supplied equipment 'regatta equality' (although ask the RS:X lot about that batch of fins Pryde delivered to Weymouth). The average age of a Solo sailor will mean they've long since got over the other great disappointments in life and realise life isn't always fair and equal, but by adjusting expectations we can still have a competitive sailing environment... they don't need to worry about the tooth fairy, santa claus or the monsters in their closet either. They just need to get up to the club or the odd circuit event and/or the 50 to 100+ boat championship and go and have a good race every now and again.
Edited by pondmonkey - 02 Nov 12 at 3:28pm |
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iGRF
Really should get out more
Joined: 07 Mar 11 Location: Hythe Online Status: Offline Posts: 6499 |
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Posted: 02 Nov 12 at 3:18pm |
It's a natural part of growing up son, everyone has wicked and evil thoughts, silly fantasies, then we meet a nice girl (or boy) start a proper relationship, commence the process of adulthood get a job, get some cash of our own and buy something we actually enjoy. Then life happens er fairly quickly in fact, it whizzes by. Then we find we can't get about as much, the bones creak, trips to the loo become more frequent and all our friends die. Then it's time for a Solo. (That's what Solo means, alone, no friends, nobody speaks to you..) Edited by iGRF - 02 Nov 12 at 3:19pm |
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iGRF
Really should get out more
Joined: 07 Mar 11 Location: Hythe Online Status: Offline Posts: 6499 |
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Posted: 02 Nov 12 at 3:09pm |
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Was, was a great boat got some problems with your tense there Sheetpuller and anyway it's also questionable use of the term 'great'.
The 505 was a 'great' boat so arguably was the Flying Dutchman in its day, one could also almost be persuaded by the argument for the Finn being listed as such, not me, but some might. The Solo however does not rank up there, it ranks down amongst all the other self build kit boat dross even I know the difference between kit boats and proper professionally built stuff. Now the fact some chancers may be milking the kit boat genre for survival off the back of the handicap Bandit market doesn't make the fruits of their moulds great, they are just sad revisitations of a bygone era served up for the undead, mentally deficient and charismatically retarded. Nothing great about them, horrid things, why do we need reminding grown men can act like fools and there's no fool like an old fool. Edited by iGRF - 02 Nov 12 at 3:12pm |
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frow3n
Groupie 
Joined: 14 Aug 12 Location: London Online Status: Offline Posts: 95 |
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Posted: 02 Nov 12 at 3:07pm |
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I thought about getting a Solo when I was 13... yes you heard me ! But then I decided against it... as I'm not heavy enough its not quick enough for me :)
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Laser Radial 201357
29er 1907 Queen Mary SC |
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pondmonkey
Really should get out more
Joined: 12 Aug 11 Online Status: Offline Posts: 2202 |
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Posted: 02 Nov 12 at 2:56pm |
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Despite his outward appearance, Graeme's still in his 'dinghy sailing adolescence'. Once that sh*t's out his system he can come back to sailing a well mannered, popular boat again (it doesn't have to be a Solo, I reckon he's bang on the right weight/build for a Streaker. But if there's no fleet considerations and I were sub 75kg, I'd be very, very tempted to offer Dan enough green to part with that Punk!!!)
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Sheetpuller
Posting king 
Joined: 22 Feb 11 Online Status: Offline Posts: 114 |
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Posted: 02 Nov 12 at 2:47pm |
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Solo's a great boat. That's why it's survived as long as it has. Unfortunately for the likes of GRF, those of us over the age of thirty aren't going to dry up and blow away and we need something to sail too!
I'm considering getting another singlehander, and whilst I haven't yet made up my mind a Solo certainly isn't off the 'possibles' list!
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I'm not arguing. I'm explaining why I'm right.
Merlin Rocket 3545 - 'Smooth Operator' Sprint 15 1342 - 'Still Crazy' |
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Rupert
Really should get out more
Joined: 11 Aug 04 Location: Whitefriars sc Online Status: Offline Posts: 8956 |
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Posted: 02 Nov 12 at 2:23pm |
What, not even collecting a pension yet? |
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Firefly 2324, Puffin 229, Minisail 3446 Mirror 70686
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jeffers
Really should get out more
Joined: 29 Mar 04 Location: United Kingdom Online Status: Offline Posts: 3048 |
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Posted: 02 Nov 12 at 1:36pm |
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We had a guy go from Hunts. He is a yoof by Solo fleet standards but he said he had a great time.
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Paul
---------------------- D-Zero GBR 74 |
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pondmonkey
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Joined: 12 Aug 11 Online Status: Offline Posts: 2202 |
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Posted: 02 Nov 12 at 1:25pm |
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