Dinghy development: Now the revolution's here, how is the sport going?

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Now the revolution's here, how is the sport going?

Printed From: Yachts and Yachting Online
Category: Dinghy classes
Forum Name: Dinghy development
Forum Discription: The latest moves in the dinghy market
URL: http://www.yachtsandyachting.com/forum/forum_posts.asp?TID=11945
Printed Date: 08 Jul 25 at 10:51pm
Software Version: Web Wiz Forums 9.665y - http://www.webwizforums.com

Topic: Now the revolution's here, how is the sport going?

Posted By: Chris 249
Subject: Now the revolution's here, how is the sport going?
Date Posted: 03 Apr 15 at 1:24pm

The recent fiasco in the AC triggered a quote (from Pete Melvin, IIRC) saying that the speed of AC boats had quadrupled in a couple of years. Many other people have been burbling with enthusiasm about the way that performance had leapt ahead recently.

For many years many people have been saying "sailing has to go high tech and high performance to keep up with the times and attract kids who are used to video games*". OK, so now we seem to have arrived at the promised land; lots of craft are going faster than we ever dreamed possible.

So has anyone seen the big surge of participation in the sport that we were promised that high-speed sailing would deliver? By my normal measure (national titles attendances) there seems to have been a dip lately (although I haven't run actual figures recently).

We've got foiling cats in the AC, foiling Moths on the covers, (tiny) kite fleets at Olympic events, the speed records lie in shreds all over the oceans - so where are the hordes of new sailors that we were told would be attracted by these feats ? Sailing in general still seems to be losing numbers, with no trend towards faster boats being more popular. Sure, we have vast fleets of Optis, Toppers, Fevas, 4.7s, Radials etc, but most of the kids I know in such classes seem to be no more obsessed with speed than my generation was, and arguably these kids are showing that what they really want are accessible boats.

And if the hordes of new sailors still haven't arrived, at what stage will those who keep on promoting inaccessible high-performance craft as "the future of sailing" actually admit that they were wrong, and that their route just hasn't delivered?

* By the way, are there many keen gamers here, or parents/sibs of keen gamers? My kids seem to spend hours playing video games, and so do many other people - so where is the evidence that that gamers have short attention spans and need 'crash and burn' sailing.

Of course, those who say "we need to promote crash and burn sailing for kids because they have short attention spans" seem to be unable to explain exactly how people with short attention spans will learn how to sail well enough to blast around on a 9er or foiler, let alone how their short attention spans will handle the extra rigging and travelling that normally comes with high performance sailing. But the whole concept that high performance is the way forward seems to be full of such gaps.

Replies:

Posted By: maxibuddah
Date Posted: 03 Apr 15 at 1:59pm

They may want crash n burn sailing, but to get there they need to learn how to do it on boring slow craft. Interest level dies very quickly and they don't bother anymore.

That is of course presuming that they get off their arses away from the computer screen, which of course they won't cos they're addicted to the things and nothing will get them away. Forget targeting them and aim at fuddy duddies, they are the ones with cash and time.

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Everything I say is my opinion, honest

Posted By: davidyacht
Date Posted: 03 Apr 15 at 2:31pm

I was thinking along similar lines, I anticipate the arrival of Aeros at our club, which will (according to the PY) be quicker than my Solo. Will the faster lap times make the experience more enjoyable, probably not.

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Happily living in the past

Posted By: RS400atC
Date Posted: 03 Apr 15 at 6:10pm

The AC and so forth are not interested in 'participation' any more than ManU shareholders care about Sunday league in the park.
They want circus, spectacle, TV viewers and advertising $$..

Not sailed an 'ero yet, but I can well imagine that if it's got a little more speed to fight the tide and feels a bit more responsive than a Solo, it might get a few people into racing.

I'm waiting for the ultralight 2 hander.

Posted By: ChrisI
Date Posted: 03 Apr 15 at 7:54pm

Well, one is here already RS400atC... although its not a boat for the C I'm afraid....

But re the OP I think Chris249 is completely right...

I'm more and more thinking that dinghy sailing needs (in awful consultant speak) a 'new paradigm'.
And by this I don't mean anything to do with boat design.

Posted By: turnturtle
Date Posted: 03 Apr 15 at 9:40pm

Originally posted by davidyacht

I was thinking along similar lines, I anticipate the arrival of Aeros at our club, which will (according to the PY) be quicker than my Solo. Will the faster lap times make the experience more enjoyable, probably not.

Will it f**k. happy Easter David.

Posted By: maxibuddah
Date Posted: 03 Apr 15 at 10:38pm

Originally posted by turnturtle

Will it f**k. happy Easter David.

Of course they will, you won't be in a solo for starters

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Everything I say is my opinion, honest

Posted By: JimC
Date Posted: 04 Apr 15 at 1:59am

To my mind a lighter boat enhances the day from the moment you pull it out of the berth to the moment you push it back.

Posted By: RS400atC
Date Posted: 04 Apr 15 at 3:17pm

Originally posted by ChrisI

Well, one is here already RS400atC... although its not a boat for the C I'm afraid....

But re the OP I think Chris249 is completely right...

I'm more and more thinking that dinghy sailing needs (in awful consultant speak) a 'new paradigm'.
And by this I don't mean anything to do with boat design.

I think what dinghy sailing needs is to stop trying to 'include' and 'convert' and 'entertain' all those who are not really interested and just get on with being a great sport for the minority who love it.

Posted By: iiitick
Date Posted: 04 Apr 15 at 3:27pm

Originally posted by RS400atC

I said that in so many words a few pages back. I agree.

Posted By: Dougaldog
Date Posted: 04 Apr 15 at 6:54pm

Chris 249. Here on the Solent, one of the jewels in the sailing world's crown, (NB - not including Hayling or the Chichester Harbour Clubs in this) - the biggest fleet of one designs dinghies offering regular fleet sailing is................... the Foxer! Yes, the little David Thomas 11ft dinghy that sails on a par with a piece of driftwood. But week after week, you have a collection of top class sailors (including the likes of Ian Southworth) enjoying close racing, within the confines of the busy Hamble river. Speed - be it is a sailing dinghy or on a hotted Honda, is great...but it can soon pall.
History tells us that revolutions are fed by the lack of a middle ground, which suggests to me one reason why the Laser revolution - which sits firmly in the middle ground, is the one that has stood the test of time. Watching a fairly good sized handicap fleet today, I was struck by the exceptions - a 29er and an RS 500, rather than the rest of the fleet, which was a dependable mix of the so called 'older' boats.
Ca plus ca change.....

D

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Dougal H