Tiger Trophy 2015 results

Further to your post and the lack of knowledge of Skiffs and Moths. It would seem that you need some enlightenment. By the very nature of the boats, the crews when sailing them, unless light airs, tend to finish well ahead of the rest of the fast handicap (800s as opposed to 1000), and tend to be high powered machines with very little protection from the elements. Crews can spend around 1 hr. awaiting the rest of the fleet and restart in wind chill where they cannot sit down as they need to balance the boat in 16+ knots. So what happens is the sailors are heavily exposed to the elements and suffer greatly compared to Merlins and Fireballs etc ( I know as I have sailed many classes in 42 years and skiffs are the hardest in chill factor conditions). So with a couple of harsh winters, these sailors think twice prior to attending events where there is a possibility where they may have to hang around for twice the length of time as others, and then have greater wind chill post race start. You will stomach this for so long, but where you have a combination or chance of combination of these factors, most will step aside after a few events as they feel they cannot give their best as they cannot feel their feet or hands if that extreme. So after a few of these condition type events you decide where and when to step up and compete. B14s, RS800s, 49ers, MPSs, Moths and 29erS have all dropped off with a few harsh winters and resulted in some events dropping off by 25%. 

Originally posted by BarnsieB14768 Further to your post and the lack of knowledge of Skiffs and Moths. It would seem that you need some enlightenment. By the very nature of the boats, the crews when sailing them, unless light airs, tend to finish well ahead of the rest of the fast handicap (800s as opposed to 1000), and tend to be high powered machines with very little protection from the elements. Crews can spend around 1 hr. awaiting the rest of the fleet and restart in wind chill where they cannot sit down as they need to balance the boat in 16+ knots. So what happens is the sailors are heavily exposed to the elements and suffer greatly compared to Merlins and Fireballs etc ( I know as I have sailed many classes in 42 years and skiffs are the hardest in chill factor conditions). So with a couple of harsh winters, these sailors think twice prior to attending events where there is a possibility where they may have to hang around for twice the length of time as others, and then have greater wind chill post race start. You will stomach this for so long, but where you have a combination or chance of combination of these factors, most will step aside after a few events as they feel they cannot give their best as they cannot feel their feet or hands if that extreme. So after a few of these condition type events you decide where and when to step up and compete. B14s, RS800s, 49ers, MPSs, Moths and 29erS have all dropped off with a few harsh winters and resulted in some events dropping off by 25%.  That is probably the main reason high powered skiffs/moths etc have dropped off in the last few years May be at the Grafham Grand Prix, but in a Merlin rather than B14 with the weather forecast :)

So what you're kind of saying is boats designed for Aussie climates aren't great at the sh*t end of the UK season? Sounds fair enough, well done to anyone braving those temps for big events!!!

It's all very well but it doesn't explain the Bloody Mary, fast boats sail for less time, have the best launching etc.  But numbers have been dropping for years. Same with the Steve nick?  And Grafham Grand Prix,  those fleets have their own asymmetric starts.  So no waiting around for the solo's to cross the line.  Let's not forget we have also been bloody lucky with the weather until very recently this winter.

Bloody Mary, many have been put off by the fact that when the Asymmetric kite is up, due to the shape and area, you are sailing fairly blind. I haven't, but know of a few who have had some very close calls and possible incidents, hence why some have given it a miss. That is when the rot sets in, and people drift away (class by class). However, you have also seen a resurgence in the Merlin and Fireball over the last few years and that may have saying in the matter as well. Stevie Nicks, I personally enjoy that one, but the course for a high performance dinghy is very small and again you have to have your whits about you. Moths, yes, how do you handicap them as they are yearn year going faster as the weights go up (improvement in foils and sails) and so horse power improves (going up for 70s to mid 80 kg according to Team New Zealand guys in Melbourne). The advantage of pond type boats like the Laser, Merlin, Fireball and N12, is you can sail them well and have a lot of fun on restricted waters. A 49er at the SN is an adrenaline rush for some of the wrong reasons. Have the right course on the right water in favourable conditions for the right boats and you get a great turnout of high performance dinghies. 

Originally posted by sargesail Originally posted by turnturtle Originally posted by BarnsieB14768 Further to your post and the lack of knowledge of Skiffs and Moths. It would seem that you need some enlightenment. By the very nature of the boats, the crews when sailing them, unless light airs, tend to finish well ahead of the rest of the fast handicap (800s as opposed to 1000), and tend to be high powered machines with very little protection from the elements. Crews can spend around 1 hr. awaiting the rest of the fleet and restart in wind chill where they cannot sit down as they need to balance the boat in 16+ knots. So what happens is the sailors are heavily exposed to the elements and suffer greatly compared to Merlins and Fireballs etc ( I know as I have sailed many classes in 42 years and skiffs are the hardest in chill factor conditions). So with a couple of harsh winters, these sailors think twice prior to attending events where there is a possibility where they may have to hang around for twice the length of time as others, and then have greater wind chill post race start. You will stomach this for so long, but where you have a combination or chance of combination of these factors, most will step aside after a few events as they feel they cannot give their best as they cannot feel their feet or hands if that extreme. So after a few of these condition type events you decide where and when to step up and compete. B14s, RS800s, 49ers, MPSs, Moths and 29erS have all dropped off with a few harsh winters and resulted in some events dropping off by 25%.  That is probably the main reason high powered skiffs/moths etc have dropped off in the last few years May be at the Grafham Grand Prix, but in a Merlin rather than B14 with the weather forecast :)     So what you're kind of saying is boats designed for Aussie climates aren't great at the sh*t end of the UK season? Sounds fair enough, well done to anyone braving those temps for big events!!! My heart bleeds!