David Henshall's article

Originally posted by Riv

   On a different note, if I may, about the same article; David, you point out that there's a major difference between Continental and British fleets. Do you know whether the sport is stronger (at least in terms of the way the numbers are holding up over time) in areas where they are following the Continental approach (which seems to be one of sticking to established classes more) than it is in the UK?
I've done almost no sailing in Europe but last year I came across the astonishing sailing scene on the Alster, a tiny lake in Hamburg. The lake's circumference is about 6.5km but inside that space there are some 50 active Dragons, several clubs including at least one gingerbread palace, marinas that house up to 50 of one type of small, slow dinghy alone, and big fleets of sailing dinghies for hire. 

Interestingly, there was an extreme emphasis on traditional styles; even most of the hire boats appeared to be traditional Zugvogels (?), which are like a 12 Sq Metre Sharpie. There were also some lovely classics, like the amazingly long and low Z Jollen (sort of like a streamlined Rater) and an O-Jolle (predecessor of the Finn) which had been in the same family for something like 60 years.

In many ways, the Alster appeared to be the most vibrant sailing scene I have ever come across, and yet apart from the many Lasers and Optis, a very small number of cats and many Congers, just about everyone was sailing a boat that would have been old hat in the sixties. Maybe it's just a German thing, but even if that's the case then perhaps the lesson is that what we sail has to vary according to the locale and its culture.