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Club fleets and critical mass
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H2 View Drop Down
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Joined: 26 Jul 17
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Posts: 750 		Post Options Post Options   Quote H2 Quote  Post ReplyReply Direct Link To This Post Topic: Club fleets and critical mass
    Posted: 14 Aug 19 at 2:45pm
Originally posted by jeffers

Originally posted by H2

Hi GML, at our club a separate "fleet" implies a separate start and separate set of results / prizes but all fleets sail on the same course with starts 3 minutes apart.

Same here and it does annoy me when the RO is lazy and chucks the fleets together so you end up racing boats that are in a different race to you.

Our FF fleet goes off first, then handicap after 3 mins and solos last 3 mins later. In any kind of breeze I easily catch most of the FFs within 30 minutes and they get very grumpy that this wipper-snapper in his fancy carbon boat is going over the top of them and they shout at me for interfering with their race. Lost count of how many times I have had to point out that I am racing too!
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Woodman View Drop Down
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Posts: 19 		Post Options Post Options   Quote Woodman Quote  Post ReplyReply Direct Link To This Post Posted: 14 Aug 19 at 7:13pm
Well I have been sailing an H2 in a handicap fleet and got a bit bored of no boat on boat when surrounded by Solos and Aeros, so will be heading in one of those directions at the end of the year.
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H2 View Drop Down
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Posts: 750 		Post Options Post Options   Quote H2 Quote  Post ReplyReply Direct Link To This Post Posted: 15 Aug 19 at 9:09am
I would probably get a Solo if I was not naturally 95kg, same probably applies for an Aero which is why I went for the H2. If you are willing to travel to events there is plenty of close racing to be had!
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ian.r.mcdonald View Drop Down
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Posts: 440 		Post Options Post Options   Quote ian.r.mcdonald Quote  Post ReplyReply Direct Link To This Post Posted: 16 Aug 19 at 7:07am
Very few clubs restrict the number of classes that can race now, so the number in each fleet is bound to reduce. Just look at the sailors and not the boat and enjoy the competition with them. For example a well sailed Solo can compete with a slower Laser etc etc. Dont look at the insignia on the sail and enjoy the racing.
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JimC View Drop Down
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Posts: 6662 		Post Options Post Options   Quote JimC Quote  Post ReplyReply Direct Link To This Post Posted: 16 Aug 19 at 10:21am
Originally posted by ian.r.mcdonald

Very few clubs restrict the number of classes that can race now, so the number in each fleet is bound to reduce.

If there were such a thing as critical mass in dinghy fleets then there would be a point at which fleet size would start to grow as everyone piled into the newly popular class. To my mind there isn't.
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DiscoBall View Drop Down
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Posts: 305 		Post Options Post Options   Quote DiscoBall Quote  Post ReplyReply Direct Link To This Post Posted: 16 Aug 19 at 2:03pm
Originally posted by JimC

 
If there were such a thing as critical mass in dinghy fleets then there would be a point at which fleet size would start to grow as everyone piled into the newly popular class. To my mind there isn't.

But is the inverse true? If clubs leave fleets to dwindle to 1-2 boat turnouts then does it have no effect? Or does it make people more likely to decide to move classes / stop sailing? 

I wonder if it is easier to move classes within a handicap fleet where (assuming a not too large PY range) the style of sailing remains broadly similar and the social group remains the same. 

Moving between  OD classesis perhaps more of an upheaval (different social group and maybe significantly different type of sailing/ownership/maintenance) which might make people more inclined to just stop sailing?
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tink View Drop Down
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Posts: 789 		Post Options Post Options   Quote tink Quote  Post ReplyReply Direct Link To This Post Posted: 18 Aug 19 at 7:17pm
Originally posted by ian.r.mcdonald

Very few clubs restrict the number of classes that can race now, so the number in each fleet is bound to reduce. Just look at the sailors and not the boat and enjoy the competition with them. For example a well sailed Solo can compete with a slower Laser etc etc. Dont look at the insignia on the sail and enjoy the racing.
 
Very nicely put, and with this mindset you can sail an old uncompetitive boat and still enjoy. I have always targeted sailors, regardless of class, to beat on the water as my goal. 
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