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Grumpycat
Far too distracted from work
Joined: 29 Sep 20
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Topic: 50S Posted: 14 Mar 22 at 7:55pm |
Mmmm. We seem to have distilled down to 2 main thoughts . 1) sail the boat you like best. AND. 2) Class racing is best . Not sure these thoughts work well together  . For the record , I am definitely in the sail the boat you like best camp, not that a surprise to anyone to thats looks at my boat buying history  .
PS If you want to know your place at the end of a handicap race, just sail pursuits. Simples . 
Edited by Grumpycat - 14 Mar 22 at 8:12pm
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davidyacht
Really should get out more
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Posted: 14 Mar 22 at 7:42pm |
Ok Graeme I fallen for the bait … have never suggested that handicap is for plebs, just that for me one design racing overcomes many of the failings of PY, I also find that handicap racing does not tend to provide the social catalyst that one design achieves, mainly because you know the results without waiting for them to pinned up on the board. IMO it is worth compromising the thrill of the ride for the quality of the racing.
However each to their own, so if resigned to handicap racing and PY in particular, I do participate in a bit of handicap racing, and my observation is that the cream invariably floats to the top, especially over the length of a series, which tends to cancel out the vagaries of wind and tide. Also I have raced in PY races in probably ten different classes, and I am pretty sure that I have always finished in approximately the same part of the fleet, regardless of the boat. I am unconvinced that The PY system can be significantly improved.
However, I look at the increasing number of mates who are happy to ruin a good walk by holding a stick and swinging it at a ball, and it strikes me that their activity relies on an arbitrary personal handicap system, and I wonder if this is what you are really looking for?
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Happily living in the past
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Noah
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Joined: 29 Dec 04
Location: United Kingdom
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Posted: 14 Mar 22 at 7:27pm |
Originally posted by eric_c
Surely most people who buy a Fireball or a Musto etc and race it in the PY fleet are mostly concerned about either the challenge of getting better at sailing a technical boat, or their performance against either boats of the same class or very similar classes? Some people I would go as far as to say they buy a boat they like that's 'different' and really are not interested in having their personal performance compared to anyone else's. They want to buy a shiny toy, go sailing and socialise with a beer or two.
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Indeed. Class racing is (was) the primary purpose for me, but those ‘special’ races endure in the memory. One such was a breezy winter series club race and we were chasing a good team in their Hornet. According to the PY they were a bit faster than us but in that breeze, on that day, the Fireball came into her own and we got past and made it stick. When their Hornet was replaced by a 5o the challenge became seeing how long we could stay in touch.
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Nick
D-Zero 316
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eric_c
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Posted: 14 Mar 22 at 6:58pm |
Originally posted by A2Z
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I understand that you like OD racing, but you let your preference blind you to facts. There are many, many people who spend lots of money on boats that will race almost exclusively in handicap fleets. In my handicap fleet we have a National 18, some Finns, Aero’s, RS1/2/400s, Fireballs, Musto’s, Scorpions etc all of which probably cost more than the price of a new Laser. |
There are lots of people Sailing in lots of PY fleets, but how many of them are really there for the racing? As in most amateur sports, a lot of people don't really care if some spreadsheet shows they came 13th. They want to get out there, enjoy doing the activity, get some exercise and compare their performance against their mates or their own personal goals. Just as lots of people buy expensive bicycles to ride around with their mates.. Surely most people who buy a Fireball or a Musto etc and race it in the PY fleet are mostly concerned about either the challenge of getting better at sailing a technical boat, or their performance against either boats of the same class or very similar classes? Some people I would go as far as to say they buy a boat they like that's 'different' and really are not interested in having their personal performance compared to anyone else's. They want to buy a shiny toy, go sailing and socialise with a beer or two.
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Do Different
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Posted: 14 Mar 22 at 6:56pm |
Spot on DavidYacht. An old rules FiveOh with the small kite could arguably be a demon on Club courses or my particular favourite an old style Olympic triangle sausage course.
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davidyacht
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Posted: 14 Mar 22 at 6:46pm |
Originally posted by A2Z
Originally posted by davidyacht
Apart from Sailjuice events, the only benefit that I can see of PY is to truck up in an old (cheap) boat and be in with a shout for a good result, since few people bother to invest heavily in boats except for one design racing |
I understand that you like OD racing, but you let your preference blind you to facts. There are many, many people who spend lots of money on boats that will race almost exclusively in handicap fleets. In my handicap fleet we have a National 18, some Finns, Aero’s, RS1/2/400s, Fireballs, Musto’s, Scorpions etc all of which probably cost more than the price of a new Laser. |
If I had/have no choice I would go PY racing, but sailing in a 15+ one design fleet works better for me at all sorts of levels. If It wasn’t for the strength of my local one design (Solo) fleet I would buy an H2 for £10k and race in our handicap fleet, the PY number would be of no interest.
My point is that if handicap racing is your only option then you could quite easily buy a lovely older 505 and have a blast … without the need to purchase a 50S
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Happily living in the past
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Do Different
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Posted: 14 Mar 22 at 6:40pm |
Exactly Fab100. Sail the boat you like as best you and let the results fall how they do.
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Do Different
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Posted: 14 Mar 22 at 6:39pm |
A2Z @ 6.22 And.................? As far as I am concerned excellent racers they may be but sailors they are not.
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fab100
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Posted: 14 Mar 22 at 6:37pm |
Originally posted by A2Z
Quite agree, but anyone who has been to a sailjuice event will have seen the hotshots turn up with a two boats so they decide on the day what to use, with the decision based precisely on which one’s PY gives them the best chance of winning in the conditions. |
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Except Messrs Gilbert and McGrane who have dominated this winter.
In a 505
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Guests
Guest Group
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Posted: 14 Mar 22 at 6:22pm |
Originally posted by Do Different
<span style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue", "Lucida Grande", "Segoe UI", Arial, Helvetica, Verdana, sans-serif; : rgb251, 251, 253;">"Oh, and anyone buying (or not) any boat on the basis of it’s PY needs to get a life, frankly."</span><span style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue", "Lucida Grande", "Segoe UI", Arial, Helvetica, Verdana, sans-serif; : rgb251, 251, 253;"></span> <span style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue", "Lucida Grande", "Segoe UI", Arial, Helvetica, Verdana, sans-serif; : rgb251, 251, 253;">Absolutely, couldn't agree more, end of. </span> <span style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue", "Lucida Grande", "Segoe UI", Arial, Helvetica, Verdana, sans-serif; : rgb251, 251, 253;"> </span>
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Quite agree, but anyone who has been to a sailjuice event will have seen the hotshots turn up with a two boats so they decide on the day what to use, with the decision based precisely on which one’s PY gives them the best chance of winning in the conditions.
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