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Is sailing too complex

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tink View Drop Down
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Post Options Post Options   Quote tink Quote  Post ReplyReply Direct Link To This Post Topic: Is sailing too complex
    Posted: 24 Jan 20 at 7:36pm

a picture of the very simple Australian Sailfish (scow rather than pointy American one) 


In a FB group a respected Australian designer reported  the following:


‘The sheer compactness and ease of transport has meant that a classic dinghy regatta can attract 17 sailfish all over 40 years old. Maybe 5 moths turn up despite moths outnumbering sailfish over 25 to one’ 


I appreciate that this is a bit too wet for us in the UK but I had the thought, has sailing become too complex? Is that why our sport is in decline?

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Rupert View Drop Down
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Post Options Post Options   Quote Rupert Quote  Post ReplyReply Direct Link To This Post Posted: 24 Jan 20 at 7:55pm
Too expensive, maybe, with the expectation that you need the "right" class and all the gear. But forgetting cost, the Aero is pretty simple for the end user - maybe why it is a success?

The Minisail filled this niche in the UK for quite some time, and still does in my garage, and sometimes on the water.

The Open Goose seems to do well in trade wind areas, too.

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Post Options Post Options   Quote RS400atC Quote  Post ReplyReply Direct Link To This Post Posted: 24 Jan 20 at 8:57pm
That blunt scow has about twice as many varaibles as a  Laser.
Rake, rig tension, lowers, battens, then all the variation in wood-built hulls etc
Probably a more complex style of sailing too, as it may work well sailed on its ear at times?
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Post Options Post Options   Quote Rupert Quote  Post ReplyReply Direct Link To This Post Posted: 24 Jan 20 at 9:07pm
The mast is held up with string, the boat will sail well heeled, so no stupid Laser style hiking. And the variation in the hulls means you can nail one together in the garage.

And you don't have to lift the whole damn rig into the boat all at once.
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Post Options Post Options   Quote zeon Quote  Post ReplyReply Direct Link To This Post Posted: 24 Jan 20 at 10:12pm
The fact is a dinghy can be simple or complex. But the fact is, the simple act of racing a boat around a race course is always complex  Smile

Edited by zeon - 24 Jan 20 at 10:15pm
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Post Options Post Options   Quote Sam.Spoons Quote  Post ReplyReply Direct Link To This Post Posted: 24 Jan 20 at 10:53pm
^ This ^

It's as simple or as complex as you want to make it. Even racing, if you re happy to potter around at the back with getting round the corners upright the nadir of your expectations. Whatever, literally, floats your boat.  Thumbs Up
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Post Options Post Options   Quote iGRF Quote  Post ReplyReply Direct Link To This Post Posted: 24 Jan 20 at 11:09pm
There is nothing more simple than a sailboard and it's rig, but there is nothing more complex than getting it around a given course in less time than others.
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Post Options Post Options   Quote tink Quote  Post ReplyReply Direct Link To This Post Posted: 25 Jan 20 at 7:16am
Originally posted by iGRF

There is nothing more simple than a sailboard and it's rig, but there is nothing more complex than getting it around a given course in less time than others.

Yes but also no, quiver of boards, multiple rigs and the obligatory V-dub 
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Post Options Post Options   Quote tink Quote  Post ReplyReply Direct Link To This Post Posted: 25 Jan 20 at 7:36am
Originally posted by RS400atC

That blunt scow has about twice as many varaibles as a  Laser.
Rake, rig tension, lowers, battens, then all the variation in wood-built hulls etc
Probably a more complex style of sailing too, as it may work well sailed on its ear at times?

Wasn’t necessarily thinking about the Australian scow Sailfish, it was just the catalyst for the question.


The simple Laser, all the XD stuff, probably necessary but carbon top section of the mast, carbon tillers don’t to, my mind, add anything.


The Aero, D-zero etc; choice of rigs, so do you buy both? do you take both with you on Sunday? Carbon mast and UV, do you take it down or buy the sock thing. Completely at a loss to why they can’t make with a UV protection pigment in it. 


Any these are boats at the simplest end of the whole array, foiling moths, Merlins and 505 are very complex but there are many other classes than over time have allowed adjustable on the water forestays, lowers, etc.  


Sorry about font size, frequently when I post it looses the post so I write in notes and copy and paste and it comes in big. It won’t then let me adjust.

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Post Options Post Options   Quote epicfail Quote  Post ReplyReply Direct Link To This Post Posted: 25 Jan 20 at 8:42am
It doesn't have to be complex, there is a huge range of classes available. If you want to sail something straightforward buy an unstayed single hander. Laser, Topper, Lightning, Comet etc.


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