New Boats 2005

   A lot of sailors are just fickle in what they sail, going back many years the Fireball lost sailors to the ISO when it first came out, then those sailors went for the L4k and then the RS800 etc etc. Look at the number of "new" boats that have come and gone, iso, Laser 2, Boss, B14, L3k, L5k. Not to mention some of the single handers and no doubt some cats as well.
More boats doesn't equal better sailing, just fewer sailors at each event. And a class with few sailors will eventually disappear.
There are some truly horrible old boats still going, likewise there are some horrible new boats about. Of course there are good old and new boats too. 
Older classes lost out to the professional Class assoc management that Laser, Topper etc started using, but they are making a come back in some cases, take Fastsail as an example.
Perhaps we need to get more people sailing rather than worrying too much about what they sail??

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Ian S Send Private Message Find Member's Posts Groupie Joined: 18 May 04 Online Status: Offline Posts: 68	Post Options Post Reply Quote Ian S Report Post Quote Reply Posted: 14 Jan 05 at 12:28pm
	A lot of sailors are just fickle in what they sail, going back many years the Fireball lost sailors to the ISO when it first came out, then those sailors went for the L4k and then the RS800 etc etc. Look at the number of "new" boats that have come and gone, iso, Laser 2, Boss, B14, L3k, L5k. Not to mention some of the single handers and no doubt some cats as well. More boats doesn't equal better sailing, just fewer sailors at each event. And a class with few sailors will eventually disappear. There are some truly horrible old boats still going, likewise there are some horrible new boats about. Of course there are good old and new boats too. Older classes lost out to the professional Class assoc management that Laser, Topper etc started using, but they are making a come back in some cases, take Fastsail as an example. Perhaps we need to get more people sailing rather than worrying too much about what they sail??

sailor girl Send Private Message Find Member's Posts Visit Member's Homepage Really should get out more Joined: 13 Jun 04 Location: Spain Online Status: Offline Posts: 1031	Post Options Post Reply Quote sailor girl Report Post Quote Reply Posted: 14 Jan 05 at 12:40pm
	Very well said, and I think fast sail is a brilliant way to bring back some of the 'older' classes, when i told people about the javelin (as an example) half of them hadn't even heard of one, but hopefully with fast sail and events like the SGP these classes will get some publicity and hopefully become more popular.
	Sailor Girl, Queen Of The Forum!

Offshoretiger Send Private Message Find Member's Posts Posting king Joined: 12 Jan 05 Location: Scotland Online Status: Offline Posts: 179	Post Options Post Reply Quote Offshoretiger Report Post Quote Reply Posted: 14 Jan 05 at 12:53pm
	The other advantage of Fastsail, SGP and the shared events for this year is it is widening the network of helms and crews and making it easier for people to try other classes or find a helm or crew for events.

lozza Send Private Message Find Member's Posts Visit Member's Homepage Far too distracted from work Joined: 23 Sep 04 Online Status: Offline Posts: 262	Post Options Post Reply Quote lozza Report Post Quote Reply Posted: 14 Jan 05 at 1:31pm
	i'm not sure that the laser II can be described as a dead class. Universities still race them along side fireflies and larks at busa events (both fleet racing and team racing). Have a look at the busa fleet racing nationals to see how "dead" the class is. Havig said that, the L2 doesn't seem to have much of a following outside of the uni's anymore. http://wpnsa.org.uk/results/BUSALaser2.htm Offshoretiger - you work offshore in the north sea?
	Life's a reach, then you gybe

Offshoretiger Send Private Message Find Member's Posts Posting king Joined: 12 Jan 05 Location: Scotland Online Status: Offline Posts: 179	Post Options Post Reply Quote Offshoretiger Report Post Quote Reply Posted: 14 Jan 05 at 1:46pm
	lozza, yeah I get to go an play with the oilrigs, mostly north sea but some other places as well We had Laser2s when I was at uni and I quite liked them. Not bad boats and not to easy to break.

Wave Rider Send Private Message Find Member's Posts Visit Member's Homepage Really should get out more Joined: 27 Oct 04 Location: United Kingdom Online Status: Offline Posts: 909	Post Options Post Reply Quote Wave Rider Report Post Quote Reply Posted: 14 Jan 05 at 2:10pm
	They do look very similar to the normal laser except for being stretched, having a trapeze and putting on a symmetric tho !
	-[Franko]- Chew Valley Lake Sailing Club RS600 933

lozza Send Private Message Find Member's Posts Visit Member's Homepage Far too distracted from work Joined: 23 Sep 04 Online Status: Offline Posts: 262	Post Options Post Reply Quote lozza Report Post Quote Reply Posted: 14 Jan 05 at 2:44pm
	They're good boats - if you're helming. If the control systems were updated (like the laser) they could be really good. Always had trouble with the kite being dropped: A) The kite usually ends up round the d.board due to it being too big for the chute. B) The cleat for the halyard is really nastily positioned and sized Offshoretiger - i work in the Southern north sea (blocks 49/23 and 49/27) as a student process engineer
	Life's a reach, then you gybe

Offshoretiger Send Private Message Find Member's Posts Posting king Joined: 12 Jan 05 Location: Scotland Online Status: Offline Posts: 179	Post Options Post Reply Quote Offshoretiger Report Post Quote Reply Posted: 14 Jan 05 at 2:56pm
	49/27 and 23, is that not Inde and Leman? I try and stay out of SNS, they get even more fog than Northern sector. Missed 2 events last summer cos I was fogged in offshore.

lozza Send Private Message Find Member's Posts Visit Member's Homepage Far too distracted from work Joined: 23 Sep 04 Online Status: Offline Posts: 262	Post Options Post Reply Quote lozza Report Post Quote Reply Posted: 14 Jan 05 at 3:03pm
	yep its inde and leman. Not much chance for fog at the moment cos of the 60 knot winds. Only here for a year for uni placement. How i'd like to get my 505 offshore and go wave riding!!! Where abouts you based? P.S. - do you reckon anyone could get a topper to plane if it was this windy?!!!
	Life's a reach, then you gybe

Offshoretiger Send Private Message Find Member's Posts Posting king Joined: 12 Jan 05 Location: Scotland Online Status: Offline Posts: 179	Post Options Post Reply Quote Offshoretiger Report Post Quote Reply Posted: 14 Jan 05 at 3:22pm
	Im based in Aberdeen, work for a contractor so we get sent all over. Did a job on Inde & Leman about 3 years ago, lots of day tripping and the job took forever cos of the fog Had some good big wave pics somewere, any wave that make the supply boat look small cant be good!