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Twenty years from now

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Jamesd View Drop Down
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Post Options Post Options   Quote Jamesd Quote  Post ReplyReply Direct Link To This Post Topic: Twenty years from now
    Posted: 29 Jan 15 at 2:03pm
But Thunder Road, did you sit in that changing room wondering what Richie McCaw, Brian O'Driscol, Wilkinson etc were going going to do in the first half? I can sit in changing rooms wondering what way ben Ainslie is going to go up the first beat, will he go the same way as I intend to? Maybe you were playing Pro rugby, I don't know, and I do get your point, I played a lot of rugby, but there are very few sports (any others?) where you can easily turn up and race the best in the world.
That excites me, that there is no clear division between pro and amateur sailing. Sure you don't get the same adrenaline in 6 knots of wind, but after the thousands of starts I have made in my life, I still get that massive adrenaline rush lining up, with 30s to go in a big fleet, rolling waves, knowing that what happens in the next 30s will make or break you! and don't get me started on what I feel when I round that top mark.
I guess the thing is (and this is not at all judging your sailing ability) when people start out, they are not at that level, bobbing about in a dull boat doesn't cut it for some, including me. For me it is the racing that does it, the competitiveness, and pushing myself to get every little bit I can out of me and the boat.
If I were to start sailing now, in a dinghy, I know I wouldn't last more than a few weeks. Perhaps a big boat, sitting on the rail and pulling the kite halyard when we get to the top mark may.
But then it is a sport for all, a very similar yet very diverse sport, I like to race, Rupert like to sail with his kids, I know a guy with a moth who sails it 3 times a year and spends every night bimbling and epoxying new bits on it and then theres the old man who leaves the harbour in his 30ft caravan, sails to the next bay, reads the paper and sails home.

The more I think of it, the less I think there will be any change in participation in 20 years. I may be the 'racer' now, travelling to opens and championships, but in 20 years time I will (hopefully) have kids sailing around in whatever the kids boat is in 20 years, while I race round the club cans as quick as I can so I can help them pull their boat up the beach when they get in to save me spending the week nights repairing it. a few years later and I will be the old boy sat in the committee boat who week in week out manages to mess up the flag sequence.
Most people who have sailed, even if they sailed until they were 18, before uni, girls/boys, drink, drugs and cars got the better of them will have enjoyed it and I expect most, if they are still close to the coast or lake will try and get their kids into it or at least give them the opportunity. At that level it is a cheapish sport. That is where your 30-40 year olds come in/back.

Most of you probably knew this haha, infact it is probably written in this thread already, but that has all just clicked in my mind hahaha
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The Moo View Drop Down
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Post Options Post Options   Quote The Moo Quote  Post ReplyReply Direct Link To This Post Posted: 29 Jan 15 at 2:09pm
Originally posted by Time Lord

Swimming participation dropped by nearly 10% last year according to a Sport England survey. Cost can hardly be a factor as a pair of Speedos and some goggles don't cost a lot. OK you've got to pay to get into the pool but the costs are still reasonable.

What's the answer - haven't a clue as the only swimming I do is when I make a mistake!


They obviously didn't include our local pool when they compiled the stats. At the moment it's packed first thing in the morning on the way to work.

Hopefully it's just the New Year's resolutioners and they will probably give it up for Lent (other religions are available!)
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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: 29 Jan 15 at 2:13pm
I've raced all my life, but recently begun to wonder about getting a larger cruising dinghy to replace the old Mirror. Trouble is, I'm not sure it would get used much - the racing gene has passed on down a generation, so while we may camp out at the club, we are all sailing different boats, and likely having more fun that way. Should I buy a 2nd Mirror so 4 of us can go cruising at the same time when we go on holiday, yet have that element of competition, rather than a boat which holds 4 people? Double stack them and it is almost as easy as one bigger boat - maybe more so?
Firefly 2324, Puffin 229, Minisail 3446 Mirror 70686
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Jack Sparrow View Drop Down
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Post Options Post Options   Quote Jack Sparrow Quote  Post ReplyReply Direct Link To This Post Posted: 29 Jan 15 at 2:13pm
Originally posted by bustinben

Originally posted by Jack Sparrow

Life isn't all that bad for these poor impoverished kids that have to buy houses a 5.5 times salary. People were asking regularly for that amount of mortgage back in the 90's. 

... because they knew that prices were rising and rising!  And they were right!  Not a valid comparison Tongue


And there's help now...

http://www.helptobuy.org.uk

"Help to buy" ?  Give me a break.  Help to people who banked their retirement on the housing market by propping up prices at the bottom end more like.

All help to buy does is push prices up, it's not a "bailout" or "help" to first time buyers unless you have a degree in economics from the Express.


No one bailed me out. Even though Nigel Lawson & Normal Lamount f**ked the economy for us.

So I'm currently sitting with a mortgage that will be paid off when I'm 75!

And what am I doing with regard to sailing? I've invested quite a bit of time and money in bringing a great little boat over that 'the kids' should all be sailing in 20 years time ;-). Coz it's hands down the funnest thing everrrrr...

Obviously I'm generalising here.  The value of your investment may go down as well as really down.  Not everyone got lucky in the housing market LOL 

 

1. What? House prices aren't rising now? Give me a break.

2. Hope your pensions advisor took all your pensions investments out of Russia before they shot down a airliner.

3. I think you mean to say - 'not everyone GETS lucky in the housing market'. Frankly that is a oxymoronic statement, given your predication of your comments. So therefor you are just a TROLL.
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iiitick View Drop Down
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Post Options Post Options   Quote iiitick Quote  Post ReplyReply Direct Link To This Post Posted: 29 Jan 15 at 2:34pm
I did not get 'lucky' in the housing market but hard work on houses paid off very well.
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winging it View Drop Down
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Post Options Post Options   Quote winging it Quote  Post ReplyReply Direct Link To This Post Posted: 29 Jan 15 at 3:10pm
http://www.sportengland.org/media/645773/weekly_table_sport_aps8q4_16plus.xlsx

Sport England Active People survey, results just out.  No change for sailing.  Her upstairs is probably sitting a bit more comfortably given the athletics figures.

My attendance at the Sailjuice series was an attempt to redress the balance for swimming, apparently to no avail.
the same, but different...

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Washy71 View Drop Down
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Post Options Post Options   Quote Washy71 Quote  Post ReplyReply Direct Link To This Post Posted: 29 Jan 15 at 3:11pm
An interesting discussion this. How's this for a tangent. I was looking at lawnmowers the other day, exciting I know, and was stunned to discover it's now hard to find a 17 inch mower that you push yourself. Apparently the masses now demand "self propelled" mowers. Now, if your average mower of lawns cant even be bothered to push a small domestic mower, what hope do we have of getting them to participate in any kind of sport?
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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: 29 Jan 15 at 3:13pm
I hated my push mower, but love my boats - one feels like hard work, the other like play. Our next door neighbours view gardening like I view sailing, so are very happy pushing a hand mower.
Firefly 2324, Puffin 229, Minisail 3446 Mirror 70686
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Thunder Road View Drop Down
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Post Options Post Options   Quote Thunder Road Quote  Post ReplyReply Direct Link To This Post Posted: 29 Jan 15 at 3:40pm
Originally posted by Rupert

I hated my push mower, but love my boats - one feels like hard work, the other like play. Our next door neighbours view gardening like I view sailing, so are very happy pushing a hand mower.

As a former second row forward I enjoy pushing things :-)

Finn GBR16 Thunder Road.
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Woodbotherer View Drop Down
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Post Options Post Options   Quote Woodbotherer Quote  Post ReplyReply Direct Link To This Post Posted: 29 Jan 15 at 3:42pm
Pushing back was a Rugby thing as well wasn't it? Wink
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