Dinghy sailing's for old men and kids

   the statement presented to me by a connection through work when chatting about leisure activities and sports.
I tried to defend it, naturally... but did he have a point?  

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yellowwelly Send Private Message Find Member's Posts Really should get out more Joined: 24 May 13 Online Status: Offline Posts: 2003	Post Options Post Reply Quote yellowwelly Report Post Quote Reply Topic: Dinghy sailing's for old men and kids Posted: 29 Nov 13 at 2:57pm
	the statement presented to me by a connection through work when chatting about leisure activities and sports. I tried to defend it, naturally... but did he have a point?

Ruscoe Send Private Message Find Member's Posts Really should get out more Joined: 12 Jan 10 Online Status: Offline Posts: 1514	Post Options Post Reply Quote Ruscoe Report Post Quote Reply Posted: 29 Nov 13 at 3:11pm
	I get that all the time from my mates, one pal says its not a sport. He doesnt understand whats physically demanding about sailing a boat. Actually he has probably got a point!


Bootscooter Send Private Message Find Member's Posts Really should get out more Joined: 15 May 07 Location: United Kingdom Online Status: Offline Posts: 1086	Post Options Post Reply Quote Bootscooter Report Post Quote Reply Posted: 29 Nov 13 at 3:12pm
	Yup, he does - there seems to be a lull during the 20's when people are forging careers/getting over the fact that they've not gone all the way with squads/having families/doing other things, before they get back in to it in their 30's. Maybe what's missing is a vibrant, large, social racing circuit class that'll keep the young'uns coming. In the 90's we had the Laser II, which did this until it was killed off by "progress", and I suspect the only one that really comes close these days is the RS200s.

winging it Send Private Message Find Member's Posts Really should get out more Joined: 22 Mar 07 Online Status: Offline Posts: 3958	Post Options Post Reply Quote winging it Report Post Quote Reply Posted: 29 Nov 13 at 5:25pm
	Average turnout of 12 ladies per session every Tuesday morning.
	the same, but different...

Wee Man Send Private Message Find Member's Posts Far too distracted from work Joined: 24 Aug 06 Location: United Kingdom Online Status: Offline Posts: 213	Post Options Post Reply Quote Wee Man Report Post Quote Reply Posted: 29 Nov 13 at 5:39pm
	My wife will often tell me that the older I get the more childish I become.
	Nacra Infusion F18

NickM Send Private Message Find Member's Posts Far too distracted from work Joined: 27 May 09 Location: United Kingdom Online Status: Offline Posts: 328	Post Options Post Reply Quote NickM Report Post Quote Reply Posted: 29 Nov 13 at 7:20pm
	I think we have been here before. I'm sure other sports which require significant time input suffer the same dip as people go off and produce families and develop careers.

yellowwelly Send Private Message Find Member's Posts Really should get out more Joined: 24 May 13 Online Status: Offline Posts: 2003	Post Options Post Reply Quote yellowwelly Report Post Quote Reply Posted: 29 Nov 13 at 8:02pm
	yep, it did kind of feel reminiscent of early discussions on here Nick, but they tended to have more of an ex-youth / early twenties tone to them. This guy was talking sailing being something that retired blokes do... not something your middle age person (male and female) would be interested in. He termed it something 'coffin dodgers' do, and he all-but laughed at it being considered a sport.

E.J. Send Private Message Find Member's Posts Posting king Joined: 19 Feb 06 Online Status: Offline Posts: 175	Post Options Post Reply Quote E.J. Report Post Quote Reply Posted: 29 Nov 13 at 9:01pm
	Was your friend picturing a scene of pottering about in a swallows and amazon style or actual racing. There is broad range incorporated in sailing and I have found people who are not close to it often refer to the cruising world which they will have encountered at the seaside, whereas racing sailboats are to far removed from their experience as they tend to be congregated in the exclusive world of Sailing/Yacht clubs.
	Rebel Scum.

sargesail Send Private Message Find Member's Posts Really should get out more Joined: 14 Jan 06 Location: United Kingdom Online Status: Offline Posts: 1387	Post Options Post Reply Quote sargesail Report Post Quote Reply Posted: 29 Nov 13 at 9:01pm
	Well there are those that buy substitute lilac topped coffins..... Not much you can do about pre-conceived rubbish is there.... Take the 300 for example - a physically demanding boat, with very hard conditions at this year's Nats, won by a 50 year old, with a 50 year old in second. Sailing a sport for all the ages which allows the less young to compete with the fit but callow! And therein lies lots of the attraction.

yellowwelly Send Private Message Find Member's Posts Really should get out more Joined: 24 May 13 Online Status: Offline Posts: 2003	Post Options Post Reply Quote yellowwelly Report Post Quote Reply Posted: 29 Nov 13 at 10:26pm
	haha- yep, it is totally pre-conceived and EJ's probably spot on, the guy probably sees it as pottering around (which is ironic, as that's essentially all I do on my windsurf boards and he thought that sounded 'cool')! Anyway, I just wondered if anyone else faced similar perceptions from the 'outside world' when it comes to sailing.