Heartwarming
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=9789
Printed Date: 16 Jan 26 at 4:55pm
Software Version: Web Wiz Forums 9.665y - http://www.webwizforums.com
Topic: Heartwarming
Posted By: alstorer
Subject: Heartwarming
Date Posted: 05 Sep 12 at 10:27am
|
Dunno about you, but I really love that Ian Walker did the http://www.yachtsandyachting.com/news/165640/NandG-Mirror-nationals-at-Itchenor-overall - Mirror Nationals with his daughter (and won, but that's secondary). It's great to seesailors of his level reconnecting with their roots; sailing for the pure joy of doing so. Not as if he ran away with the evnt either- 2nd place got just as many 1sts and 2nds, not bad for a helm less than half his age! ------------- -_ Al |
Replies:
Posted By: Dougal
Date Posted: 05 Sep 12 at 10:32am
|
Good on him. Great for the other competitors as well to be able to measure themselves against someone that good. Stuart Bithell did the Merlin nationals as well, winning it I think. |
Posted By: pondmonkey
Date Posted: 05 Sep 12 at 10:34am
|
What's also great to see is that 126 competitors got on the water in the Mirror fleet. They might not be everyones cuppa tea, but that's pretty impressive all the same, especially given the wind strength reported. I've never had the good fortune to sail at Itchenor, but everyone I know who's been there loved it. Lucky people!
|
Posted By: RS400atC
Date Posted: 05 Sep 12 at 10:42am
Itchenor must have been less than paradise for everyone else with 63 Mirrors in the way! Great that kids are still racing in Mirrors at all levels. I know the ones at the champs will be new and serious, but spare a thought for all the Dads fixing up eBay Mirrors to teach their kids. |
Posted By: getafix
Date Posted: 05 Sep 12 at 10:49am
| excellent event and lovely place to sail, assume this qualifies the Walkers for the Endeavour Trophy? |
Posted By: alstorer
Date Posted: 05 Sep 12 at 11:13am
|
The Mirror champions were invited last year, so I'd guess o. Notice of Race last year puts no restrictions on eligibility with regard pro helms ------------- -_ Al |
Posted By: tedm
Date Posted: 05 Sep 12 at 3:29pm
There's still between 45 and 60 Mirrors at Abersoch Mirror Week each August. All abilities catered for and just 2 shortish back to back races each day 200m off the shore - loads of Dads with daughters (may have been won by Mike Budd crewing for his 6 year old daughter this year). Strong possibility that mr Bear Grylls and/or his sons are racing next year as he's just bought my mates Mirror - lord only knows what he'll do to you if you get in his way  ------------- http://www.wrpclothing.co.uk"> 
|
Posted By: pondmonkey
Date Posted: 05 Sep 12 at 3:37pm
he'll probably strip naked and roll around in the mud... he should probably have bought a Blaze, those guys are well known for their stripping antics given any (alcohol fuelled) opportunity [TUBE]tO2XjBDVwQ4[/TUBE]
|
Posted By: jeffers
Date Posted: 05 Sep 12 at 3:41pm
LOL I never dis-robed when I was a member of the Blaze fleet but having seen the antics of others not to mention the legend that is Andy the Dancing Farmer I know exactly where you are coming from. ------------- Paul ---------------------- D-Zero GBR 74 |
Posted By: tedm
Date Posted: 05 Sep 12 at 4:07pm
Having seen him wakeboard naked in from the island he lives on just off Abersoch I'd say you're probably right...... either that or call in an air strike from his buddies in the RAF! ------------- http://www.wrpclothing.co.uk">
|
Posted By: blaze720
Date Posted: 05 Sep 12 at 6:29pm
|
Correction: 'Andy' the dancing Farmer has not stripped off during any of his 'exhibitions' to date ... he quite rightly leaves that to others (or the imagination perhaps of still others). However the reputation for 'dancing' that now surrounds him is truly far-reaching and seems to be growing by the month ... he obviously has a fan club ! Some think his 'dancing' should be considered a warning to all middle-aged folks who remember their youth fondly through the slight haze of sponsors alcohol that seems to 'float' all too many of the Blaze events. (He even arrives at some locations with the sponsors offerings as well since his farm hosts the premises of at least one brewer of note). Anyway when he's not building his reputation ... fortunately only an occasional vocation ... or Blazing he can be found in an Icon and should be at the Forumites open next month. Mike L. |
Posted By: brys
Date Posted: 05 Sep 12 at 7:29pm
|
as Ian won 23 years ago, does this indicate that the standard of sailing in the mIrror fleet has not moved forward in the interim? ------------- Never enough time for sailing |
Posted By: Rupert
Date Posted: 05 Sep 12 at 8:45pm
|
Or that Ian has rather more experience now?
------------- Firefly 2324, Puffin 229, Minisail 3446 Mirror 70686 |
Posted By: Lukepiewalker
Date Posted: 06 Sep 12 at 5:36am
|
Why would the standard of sailing have moved forward?
------------- Ex-Finn GBR533 "Pie Hard" Ex-National 12 3253 "Seawitch" Ex-National 12 2961 "Curved Air" Ex-Mirror 59096 "Voodoo Chile" |
Posted By: ifoxwell
Date Posted: 06 Sep 12 at 10:59am
|
I think its great, on so many levels. And its great that sailors of Ians stature come back down to our level. And how cool for the rest of the fleet to be able to say that they raced against him, and for a few of them to say that they have beaten him, all be it just in a single race. Ian ------------- RS300 |
Posted By: alstorer
Date Posted: 06 Sep 12 at 11:00am
|
The same goes, in my view, for Bithell coming off the back of the Olympics to take the Merlin title. ------------- -_ Al |
Posted By: RS400atC
Date Posted: 06 Sep 12 at 11:30am
Particularly as it went to the last race, shows the level of talent at the top of the Merlin fleet. |
Posted By: Rupert
Date Posted: 06 Sep 12 at 3:12pm
Or that he is an even better crew than he is a helm? ------------- Firefly 2324, Puffin 229, Minisail 3446 Mirror 70686 |
Posted By: Dougal
Date Posted: 06 Sep 12 at 5:17pm
Or was it close because he's still on a bender after the Olympics? |
Posted By: JimC
Date Posted: 06 Sep 12 at 5:55pm
| Or that the class is easy because someone can just jump in a boat and win... |
Posted By: pondmonkey
Date Posted: 06 Sep 12 at 6:01pm
| This threa has turned sour, and the OP was so positive. That said I'm picking up some ironic tones in JC's post above, I hope I'm right. |
Posted By: tickler
Date Posted: 06 Sep 12 at 6:30pm
| A couple of years ago the Olympc 470 sailors raced the 24 for charity, Blithel was threre. They won by two laps. I have never seen a GP go so fast.......believe me, they really are good! |
Posted By: Rupert
Date Posted: 07 Sep 12 at 8:53am
|
They are very good. As are the top end of the Merlin fleet. But they have to work for a living (at least a little bit) whereas the 470 guys have been sailing full time for a while now. It must make a big difference, even when swapping boats, especially when going back to a class you grew up sailing anyway. There are an awful lot of reasons why one person or team might win out over another. Talent is a pretty important one, but has to be backed up. So long as the hotshots have an interest in the class they are jumping into, which in both these cases they do, then it does a lot for a class, and can really build a profile for the boat. ------------- Firefly 2324, Puffin 229, Minisail 3446 Mirror 70686 |
Posted By: Dougal
Date Posted: 07 Sep 12 at 10:57am
|
In which other sport can you turn up and race side by side with guys who won Olympic medals only a few weeks before? All credit to them for doing it, but also the structure of the sport lends itself to this type of participation. Face it, none of us are going to ever get the chance to take on Usain Bolt on equal terms. |
Posted By: pondmonkey
Date Posted: 07 Sep 12 at 11:13am
|
Maybe they've just missed good old fashioned amateur dinghy fleet racing- against people better than you, worse than you, happy to share a laugh and hopefully a few jars? It's a lovely distraction from the mundanity of your office job- even if that 'office' happens to a 470 campaign (the sailing bit is only part of it) or a 70ft offshore beast, again the sailing being the finale of sh*t load of project management. I know after 18 months off the dinghy racing thing that's what I've missed... and remedial action has been taken in time for next year.
|