Frankenboat - what's yours?

That is very true Jack, deliberate on my part... focusing on the gender bias over the racial one.  

Originally posted by turnturtle Originally posted by davidyacht Originally posted by turnturtle Where I do have a bit more thoughts (mixed opinions too), is gender inequality.  I think it's strange that in the 21st Century sailing clubs needs to promote single sex sessions - Women on the Water as they have become known.   I totally RESPECT women taking ownership over these sessions and getting on the water as they see fit.   I'm just curious as to why they are necessary and what environment the blokes were creating in the first place that these women feel the need for them?  It's a genuine question - as a dad of two girls, I can't imagine introducing them to a sport where they will want segregation by gender in the future.  It's alien to every other aspect of how we are parenting them. I am really intrigued by this point ... we have a very successful (well as I see it) Women on the Water program ... I stand to be castigated, but as I see it, it is not intended to be competitive, though as competencies improve we see more of this group progressing into the weekend racing programme.  I don't see the problem with this single sex group (safety boats manned by men), I think it is great that participation in the sport is being expanded by such initiatives.          indeed- I agree, it is great to see participation expanded.  And I would re-state - total respect for the people (women) who have driven it forward.   But I do have a mixed/confused opinion on it....  merely from the point of view on what these sessions offer that clearly wasn't in place before and if actually there really is need for gender division to provision for what it offers.     As just a passing example of gender bias, check out this picture from the front page rallying talent for sponsorship.... how many women do you see in the picture?  What message does this send to female athletes?  Do female athletes even care they are not 'represented' in this picture, or do they feel the men featured represent all sailors anyway?  Who knows....

Originally posted by JimC Clearly trolling is a sport open to all income groups, although I suspect, on the basis of minimal evidence and unjustifiable preconceptions, that it too probably has an educated middle class bias. Like racism though*, it probably knows no cultural barriers.

I do find all this rather amusing coming from TT who clearly possesses a much greater disposable income than I have ever enjoyed. Clearly trolling is a sport open to all income groups, although I suspect, on the basis of minimal evidence and unjustifiable preconceptions, that it too probably has an educated middle class bias. Like racism though*, it probably knows no cultural barriers.


*if you've ever had the dubious task of monitoring an email content checking system, you know that racism does indeed know no barriers, and its rather amusing how quickly a new racist joke is circulated with only the names changed.

What all this has got to do with Frankenboats I've no idea, I don't care what your ethnic background is and I can count amongst my son in laws and would be son in laws as diverse a background as anyone could imagine and I've tried to get them sailing but so far failed other than one pathetic attempt when they both put their wetsuits on back to front, city boys that most of them are. They took a trip out in a Vision found it brain bleedingly boring and I've never bothered to try since, they've gone off SUP and Kitesurfing since. Now maybe if I'd had one of those new three hull foiling do dahs they might have been a little more enthralled, who knows, the moment has past. We have to accept, well I do, that we're not doing this for excitement, I do it because it tests my brain as well as providing light exercise and the reason we currently have the racial profile we have is because mostly you are all here because of your parents before you, or you went to posh schools or uni that had sailing as part of the PE available.

Dinghy sailing has long past the 'sport of the moment' appeal that likely would attract a wider more representative example of the current population, as for example does SUP, or Kite. My business these days has an incredible variety of un pronounceable surnames much much different from even 10 years ago, so they are out there, but like everyone else, sailing aint attracting them.

Edited by iGRF - 14 May 18 at 12:09pm