R Speculation

Most of the CA's that I've belonged to have been happy to see steady development.  Weight reduction and revised foils for the Snipe - a class that already permits considerable freedom in rigging, and weight reduction and the introduction of trapeze and genoa and a bigger kite in the Hornet (that dates me!); crikey, even the Laser 2 CA was more innovative than the manufacturer who resisted change.  Many on here have accused the 3k CA of being too innovative; without the CA, the 3k sails would have remained very '90's and the V3k would have been much more similar to the L3k - the builder was grateful for our input.

I 'belonged' to the Original Windsurfer Class Association, ran the class mag, they threatened to sue me for using the word Windsurfer in the title so I shortened it to Windsurf which I later sold to Ocean Publications of Dinghy & Boardsailing fame.They refused every innovation, even to this day I believe they still have a one piece mast which makes shipping Internationally prohibitively expensive, but the convicts still have a local builder so it is still in existence down under and I believe it did eventually get the retracting centreboard and boom made of something other than wood, (years too late) although unlikely they went to carbon.

I belonged to and helped develop the Mistral Class Association which thrived all through the eighties on sponsorship money I managed to prevent falling into the hands of the RYA, by not going to the Olympics personally. (I would have had to give them ownership of the funding and they would tell me what I'd do to get access to it, like I'd take longer than two seconds considering that one.) When the class eventually did fall into the hands of 'them' it lasted a couple of years then failed. The Interntional class (now influenced and part funded by the IYRU) rejected the Mistral Prodigy which might have kept them in the Olympic ball game, but by then politics were not favouring the new corporate owners and they didn't know how the Olympic "lobbying" game was played.
I also belonged to the UKBSA for many years, mainly to keep my sail no, but I haven't done one of their championships since my daughter and I went in 1999 and we both won our separate classes, funnily enough I came across the trophies this very day, my Mrs is chucking them out along with dozens of others, we're moving house.

Edited by iGRF - 27 Sep 14 at 12:23am

Originally posted by iGRF [QUOTE=Medway Maniac] Class assns do a lot for builders, not least by organising events which provide a reason for buying the boat.  Just ask a builder.  No class assn, no opens, no nationals.  Not that you dare appear at either of course after your drubbing at your first.

You're a little bitch tonight, tell me, what have you ever won? Some 'National Championship' of two dozen boats? Make you a National Champion does it? Big Hero? You people and you're silly value structure.

QUOTE]

These sort of idiotic posts are why so many good sailors have left this forum.

The only good thing about it is that MM didn't even bother to dignify it with a response.

Such comments from someone who even admits to still grasps the basics of dinghy sailing/racing are ridiculous.

As a club sailor who will apparently never travels or competes in anything other than local handicap races, what right is there to even question the ability or achievements of other sailors ?

If I played at a sport at which I was not much good but constantly moaned about the equipment, the regulating bodies, other competitors, how unfair it all was etc etc - I'd just do something else and let those who enjoy it and are good at it to get on with it ?



Edited by rich96 - 27 Sep 14 at 9:05am

Grumph, I suggest you ring Richard or Mark Hartley today and ask them if they'd relish the Wayfarer and Osprey CA's disbanding. Or Winders re. the Fireball or Merlin CA's. No, on second thoughts, don't waste their time.

I think I finally get where you're coming from. You don't want to sail at class events so the only major reason you'd value a CA is for its helping to maintain second-hand prices. But that advantage is as nothing to you compared to having the freedom to mess about with the design, right?

OK, fair enough, but I don't think that is a majority view, so don't expect to go anywhere with it.

Originally posted by iGRF Originally posted by Medway Maniac Class assns do a lot for builders, not least by organising events which provide a reason for buying the boat.  Just ask a builder.  No class assn, no opens, no nationals.  Not that you dare appear at either of course after your drubbing at your first. You're a little bitch tonight, tell me, what have you ever won? Some 'National Championship' of two dozen boats? Make you a National Champion does it? Big Hero? You people and you're silly value structure. .