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Defeat at the hands of Europe! |
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Blue One
Far too distracted from work Joined: 09 Nov 13 Online Status: Offline Posts: 317 |
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Topic: Defeat at the hands of Europe! Posted: 21 Feb 14 at 12:39pm |
That's the thing with sailing unlike most sports, you can compete at a high level into old age. That's if you were good enough in the first place.
In my case, I was useless at thirty, am slightly less useless at fifty but at least with a bit luck I still might be slightly less useless at seventy.
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JimC
Really should get out more Joined: 17 May 04 Location: United Kingdom Online Status: Offline Posts: 6649 |
Post Options Quote Reply Posted: 21 Feb 14 at 12:41pm |
The way I think of it is that sometimes old and cunning beats young and fit, and sometimes young and fit defeats old and cunning. I fear I've somehow managed to arrive at old without acquiring the cunning.
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Blue One
Far too distracted from work Joined: 09 Nov 13 Online Status: Offline Posts: 317 |
Post Options Quote Reply Posted: 21 Feb 14 at 1:14pm |
So true! I understand physically what it takes to make the boat move, even if I cannot always do it. I also know a bit about sail sets and shape. Even a little about when to tack and angles etc. But when our class champ did a talk on how he sailed, I realised how little knew. He talked about adjusting and thinking about all of the above, while racing and timing wind shifts at the same time. It this point my brain exploded and my eyes glaised over!
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iGRF
Really should get out more Joined: 07 Mar 11 Location: Hythe Online Status: Offline Posts: 6496 |
Post Options Quote Reply Posted: 21 Feb 14 at 10:30pm |
Ha, I've always been that 'old' person, I didn't start competing til i was thirty, so had to be a bit cunning in the world of young fit kids.
But Twiname had it dialled , there are two basic things you need, one boat/board speed, basically the ability to make it go at least as fast as everyone else (that's the bit I still haven't got in dinghies) two the knowledge of where to go, I was always lucky in knowing that bit, it became instinctive, got to the point it's almost like cheating, I couldn't believe it was 'allowed', anyway it saved my ass on numerous occasions when some young fit hotshot was tearing all over the course, generally in the wrong direction. Anyway, that girl.. she's got both, in spades. Edited by iGRF - 21 Feb 14 at 10:35pm |
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yellowwelly
Really should get out more Joined: 24 May 13 Online Status: Offline Posts: 2003 |
Post Options Quote Reply Posted: 22 Feb 14 at 8:29am |
Now this isn't a criticism, as it would be totally pot-kettle-black, but you and I are never going to get the boat speed dialled when chopping and changing with boats- especially into ones which are, on the face of it, more technical or techniquey than something simpler and more generic. Even the spreaderless Solo is a notch above on the technical rating than say something like the Laser or Supernova.
But there's more to life than winning a drift around a puddle... I find work competitive enough, and I don't do badly at that game.... long may that continue. So if chopping and changing our toys gives us a bit of laugh and adds some variety to the limited freetime, then SFW... just don't expect the same boat speed out of it compared to someone who's put 5 consistent years into the same class.... even if that 5 years was a decade or so ago.
Edited by yellowwelly - 22 Feb 14 at 8:30am |
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Rupert
Really should get out more Joined: 11 Aug 04 Location: Whitefriars sc Online Status: Offline Posts: 8956 |
Post Options Quote Reply Posted: 23 Feb 14 at 10:06pm |
I've owned a couple of Europes, and raced against some very good Europe sailors - the time spent in the boat, week in, week out, by some people who were already very talented makes a small boat go far faster than one thinks it ought. The Yardstick of the Europe was hellish for many years - 1139, I think it was, for a boat a foot shorter than a Solo with a metre less sail.
Loved sailing it, especially in a blow. What put me off in the end was the low boom - not the getting under it, but the feeling of being somewhat cut off from the rest of the fleet - all you can see is the sail! Buying the Lightning gave me a similar feeling boat - albeit with fewer tuning possibilities - but with a bit bigger hull and a better view! I do sometimes look at photos of my old boat and wonder whether another one would be fun. |
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Firefly 2324, Puffin 229, Minisail 3446 Mirror 70686
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winging it
Really should get out more Joined: 22 Mar 07 Online Status: Offline Posts: 3958 |
Post Options Quote Reply Posted: 24 Feb 14 at 8:29am |
Rupert, I have a Europe hull here in my garden....
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the same, but different...
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iGRF
Really should get out more Joined: 07 Mar 11 Location: Hythe Online Status: Offline Posts: 6496 |
Post Options Quote Reply Posted: 30 Mar 14 at 10:06pm |
It happened again today, lucky for me i was languishing at Hythe, all rigged and no wind down there yet the Lake crew obviously got one in and the Europe piloted by my Topper nemesis Yvonne Mumford who is Karens sister, came through the fleet life a knife through butter I understand and she did it coming from behind, dangerous combination that, good Topper sailors switching into it, now I'm even more certain I'm not going to show myself up by trying one.
Really annoyed at missing the race though, spent all day yesterday bimbling the Alto, the bread knife not speaking to me, a warm bright day and I ended up doing nothing worthwhile, our anemometer was stationary, yet the lake had a passable breeze on it, very strange indeed, we need a webcam/weather station down there. |
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