4000 Facelift by Rooster

Originally posted by SimonW99 We regularly put 40+ boats on the water but are lucky if 3 are the same.

Telling you something, isn't it ?  A clear case for some decent, big fleet handicap/pursuit racing. 

Try reading what I said Simon. I said that one design racing is rubbish if the boat doesn't suit you. Me, being a bit of a bloater would be seriously hampered if to fit into a fleet was to sail toppers for example (obviously a bit of an extreme example). For one I'd hate it, secondly there is no way I could compete on a level playing field. Therefore the concept of it all being equal is flawed. That can only happen if all the competitors in a fleet were at the minimum all the same weight.

That is why I said that there is no such thing as true "racing" even in a single design fleet. It is not a level playing field in any sense of the word. Weight equalisation was the answer for these classes like the 4k, but even then it wasn't completely perfect either. Tall people have an advantage over short.

Personally I'd rather sail a boat I enjoy in a py race than sail in the fleet of solos..... Which is why I sailed a 300 for 5 years at my club and was the only one. I didn't care, I got a race of sorts and I loved the boat.

What we need to do, obviously, is to all move. All the 8 stone people can be sailing Toppers in one place, while the 16 stone ones can be sailing Phantoms somewhere else. We could create zones, just like the RYA have, only in these zones it would be illegal to live in Oxford, say, if you don't weigh betwen 9 and 11 stone. If in that area, your choice of boat is between a Byte and a Fireball. Whether you helm or crew the Fireball will be determined by height, as you'll only be allowed to live in the area and sail a Fireball if you are either below 5'6" tall (helm) or above 6' (crew). Anyone outside of these criteria will be forced to take up SUP as a sport instead of sailing.


OR


We could just let people do the sailing that they want to do. It is a hobby, after all.


Edited by Rupert - 24 Jan 14 at 9:18am

"We could just let people do the sailing that they want to do. It is a hobby, after all." 

Originally posted by SimonW99 Rupert, you are right it is just a hobby and anyone can sail what they want where they want. But go back to the basic comments on this thread and the point is that the vast variety of classes has had an overall negative effect on club sailing. Having a core set of supported boats by any club increases there likelihood of survival. We have had quite a lot of sailors give up in recent years because they don't feel they ever really sail with anyone as people chop and change boats. We have one guy who is on his 4th different singlehander in 2 years because 'none of them are right'.

Didn't know that yellowwelly sailed at your club Simon