420 winged rudder

Originally posted by winging it Originally posted by mikeriley1960   Best all race against them on the water in the true sailing spirt and sportsmanship like most of these young sailors do each weekend as they may just be an olympical sailor in a few years.   keep sailing     The thing is Dad, there's a large number of us on here that have been there and done that, and have a very large collection of t shirts to prove it.  Some of us even kept going when the bank of mum and dad ran dry, and well before the injection of lottery funding that meant swanky jackets and stuff showing how great we were.  We only stopped when we realised we were never going to be 'olympical' (is that a new word?) and now, actually, many of us spend our days and dollars doing what you do.  I think that gives us the right to be cynical and yes, sometimes a little short sighted, but at least we're still interested and still getting out and afloat rather than just watching and judging.

Nessa, a fair comment from some one who has been there and done it, you probably have a more knowledge from your 470 days with Vronny, than most that post here.... Just keep getting the young 'uns interested, and that is the best reward you can get, far better than an Olympic medal!!

Jon

Originally posted by rogerd My Nephew and Neice are both doing squad stuff. Good mannered, and generally nice. My brother and his wife spend most weekends ferrying them about, normally in different directions as one is in toppers and the other in 420s. The children do it because they enjoy it and their parents do it because they chose to. I would not describe either my brother or his wife as pushy, just prepared to support them whilst they still enjoy themselve. My niece is gutted as she has just broken her ankle in a snowball fight so will be missing out on the qualifiers etc. I think it is a big generalisation to put all these parents as pushy and funding little Johny. My brother choses to spend his money on his children, not fancy cars and holidays. Give them a break.  Its the good old british way to knock anything or anyone who might be getting successful. The deal is that the parents will support them for as long as they enjoy it and as long as my brother can fund it. I wish I had had those opportunities when I was younger.

Originally posted by 2547 There was a guy at our club who thought he was going to the Olympics in a Laser, his mum & dad thought so too ... it's great to have dreams but in this case this was pure fantasy.

Is Dad not a little bit entitled to come in here with something of an attitude?

Da yoof went to the BM, got told his boat - L3000 - was 'crap' by a 420 dad, and told he should buy a 420!  All well and good, but the 3000 is da yoof's pride and joy, all he could afford and he loves it.  Dads can and will have attitude, but they need to know where to use it.

I don't think Richard accused them of cheating, I think worse invective was levelled elsewhere, perhaps justifiably.  I'm actually impressed Dad came in and stood up to us all and defended the honour of his kids and their class.