Edition
Boats for sale
| Laser 28 - Excellent example of this great design Hamble le rice |
 |
| Rossiter Pintail Mortagne sur Gironde, near Bordeaux |
 |
List classes of boat for sale |
Structure |
Post Reply 
|
Page 12> |
| Author |
 Share Topic Printable Version Delicious Digg Facebook Furl Google MySpace Newsvine reddit StumbleUpon Translate Twitter Windows Live Yahoo Bookmarks Topic Search  Topic Options
|
Oinks 
Far too distracted from work 
Joined: 24 Oct 14 Location: Bandol Online Status: Offline Posts: 267 |
 Post Options
 Quote Reply
 Topic: StructurePosted: 07 Nov 19 at 11:24pm |
|
Once upon a time classes were categorised by Olympic class, International, National...and all the rest. It seems we've lost that a long time ago. Just looking at the "Laser Club Edition" thread. It just seems we once had some sort of structure and now anything goes. I just wonder whether dinghy sailing as a competitive sport just needs to get back to something similar to that sort of structure. What might that structure be? I know its anathema to a "Dinghy Development" forum!
|
|
 |
|
|
ian.r.mcdonald
Far too distracted from work
Joined: 24 Feb 06 Location: United Kingdom Online Status: Offline Posts: 440 |
Post Options
Quote Reply
Posted: 08 Nov 19 at 7:01am |
|
Not many clubs are still restricting the number of classes that can be raced. I remember thinking how old fashioned and out of date this type of restriction was but perhaps they were right.
Rather than working to support and ( within the rules) improve a class, the drive is to constantly add " new" classes. Anything not selling in sufficient numbers is ditched- not unreasonable in some cases but as this becomes the norm, the constant addition accelerates. By changing from class racing to a group of assorted boats racing, the motivation to get out and race your fellow like minded sailors is reduced. Access to the experience of others in particular boat is reduced. |
|
|
|
|
Sam.Spoons
Really should get out more 
Joined: 07 Mar 12 Location: Manchester UK Online Status: Offline Posts: 3400 |
Post Options
Quote Reply
Posted: 08 Nov 19 at 10:34am |
|
Extreme case but if in the 60's every club had fleet racing only there would be no opportunity for new boats and we would still all be sailing Ents, GP, Solos and Merlins (other pre-'69 classes exist). So, no skiffs or 400s and, no Lasers
This was not the case though so the change was member driven, if a club doesn't offer racing for the class you own or want to sail you would change clubs, any club not offering what enough people wanted to sail would wither and die. Even in the '80s I was aware of a couple of clubs that only allowed certain classes (Hollingworth Lake SC and Pilkingtons IIRC, the latter sailing only Enterprises, the former Merlins, Solos, GPs plus a couple of others). Both now have handicap fleets. Edited by Sam.Spoons - 08 Nov 19 at 10:41am |
|
|
Spice 346 "Flat Broke"
Blaze 671 "supersonic soap dish" |
|
|
|
|
Noah
Really should get out more
Joined: 29 Dec 04 Location: United Kingdom Online Status: Offline Posts: 611 |
Post Options
Quote Reply
Posted: 08 Nov 19 at 10:46am |
|
I think the structure is still there, but it has become a bit blurred by the proliferation of classes. World Sailing (ISAF as was) seem to have claimed the term 'World Championship' somehow so classes which are not recognised as international (Solo, Wayfarer) have to name their milti-national events something else. Solo : Nations Cup? Wayfarer : Internationals?
|
|
|
Nick
D-Zero 316 |
|
|
|
|
ian.r.mcdonald
Far too distracted from work
Joined: 24 Feb 06 Location: United Kingdom Online Status: Offline Posts: 440 |
Post Options
Quote Reply
Posted: 08 Nov 19 at 10:47am |
|
I can see the downside in restricting classes but if we had fixed at some point including the Laser we would also miss out on the diversity which reduces commitment to come and sail. And would have escaped from the horde of plastic moulded boats hiding in the nettles of most dinghy parks
The other issue is the " different rig" option boats. A smaller rig to get kids into the fleet is fine but having a range of rigs loses the advantage a lightweight or heavyweight used to have in extreme conditions. And the skills involved in adjusting the rig is not the important factor it used to be |
|
|
|
|
JimC
Really should get out more
Joined: 17 May 04 Location: United Kingdom Online Status: Offline Posts: 6662 |
Post Options
Quote Reply
Posted: 08 Nov 19 at 10:49am |
Perhaps a touch exaggerated. Even clubs with strict fleet only policies would drop and adopt classes from time to time. What's ironic is that there were many more new classes introduced back then than there are now. Edited by JimC - 08 Nov 19 at 10:56am |
|
|
|
|
ian.r.mcdonald
Far too distracted from work
Joined: 24 Feb 06 Location: United Kingdom Online Status: Offline Posts: 440 |
Post Options
Quote Reply
Posted: 08 Nov 19 at 10:51am |
And I believe that World Sailing has voted to have kite surfing in the Olympics? Clearly TV sales are more important that promoting sailing. |
|
|
|
|
Sam.Spoons
Really should get out more
Joined: 07 Mar 12 Location: Manchester UK Online Status: Offline Posts: 3400 |
Post Options
Quote Reply
Posted: 08 Nov 19 at 10:57am |
Agreed Jim, but those new classes had to start developing in the handicap fleets at clubs which had them before becoming popular enough to be considered by fleet only clubs.
|
|
|
Spice 346 "Flat Broke"
Blaze 671 "supersonic soap dish" |
|
|
|
|
ian.r.mcdonald
Far too distracted from work
Joined: 24 Feb 06 Location: United Kingdom Online Status: Offline Posts: 440 |
Post Options
Quote Reply
Posted: 08 Nov 19 at 11:00am |
A regular review is sensible. It's the acceptance of all boats with no consideration that stops the creation of support groups within clubs and the motivation to get out and race. I would suggest that clubs promoting "suggested boats" whilst allowing most others is a reasonable compromise. Edited by ian.r.mcdonald - 08 Nov 19 at 11:02am |
|
|
|
|
H2
Really should get out more
Joined: 26 Jul 17 Online Status: Offline Posts: 750 |
Post Options
Quote Reply
Posted: 08 Nov 19 at 3:08pm |
|
I suspect that clubs dictating what people sailed went out of fashion when the iron curtain came down and we moved away from calling each other "Comrade". Sometimes it does surprise me that sailing ever survived the boomers.
|
|
|
H2 #115 (sold)
H2 145 OK 2082 |
|
|
|
|
Post Reply
|
Page 12> |
| Forum Jump | Forum Permissions You cannot post new topics in this forum You cannot reply to topics in this forum You cannot delete your posts in this forum You cannot edit your posts in this forum You cannot create polls in this forum You cannot vote in polls in this forum |
Bulletin Board Software by Web Wiz Forums® version 9.665y
Copyright ©2001-2010 Web Wiz
Change your personal settings, or read our privacy policy
Copyright ©2001-2010 Web Wiz
Change your personal settings, or read our privacy policy