The 2012 Olympic Legacy

   So it's all over, what (if anything) has the Olympics done to change your perception of the sport, funding in your club, how you go about your sailing or anything else really?

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pondmonkey Send Private Message Find Member's Posts Really should get out more Joined: 12 Aug 11 Online Status: Offline Posts: 2202	Post Options Post Reply Quote pondmonkey Report Post Quote Reply Topic: The 2012 Olympic Legacy Posted: 13 Sep 12 at 9:29am
	So it's all over, what (if anything) has the Olympics done to change your perception of the sport, funding in your club, how you go about your sailing or anything else really?

I luv Wight Send Private Message Find Member's Posts Visit Member's Homepage Really should get out more Joined: 28 Jan 05 Location: United Kingdom Online Status: Offline Posts: 628	Post Options Post Reply Quote I luv Wight Report Post Quote Reply Posted: 13 Sep 12 at 9:43am
	The noticeable difference between sailing and Olympic sailing - the Olympians do massive amounts of pumping, ooching, rocking that is not allowed for 'normal' people/the kind of sailing everyone else does. It looks like a completely different sport.
	http://www.bloodaxeboats.co.uk Andy P foiling Int Moth GBR3467 Freedom 21 Codling

r2d2 Send Private Message Find Member's Posts Far too distracted from work Joined: 29 Sep 11 Online Status: Offline Posts: 350	Post Options Post Reply Quote r2d2 Report Post Quote Reply Posted: 13 Sep 12 at 9:58am
	well the tv coverage is getting better (even if the commentators arn't) and several people at the club have said they are now playing with pumping etc

GybeFunny Send Private Message Find Member's Posts Far too distracted from work Joined: 27 Oct 09 Online Status: Offline Posts: 403	Post Options Post Reply Quote GybeFunny Report Post Quote Reply Posted: 13 Sep 12 at 10:49am
	Yes, I have noticed people pumping more. Someone told a Finn sailor at my club that he could pump now, he thought as it was allowed at the olympics it was also allowed for club racing! As much as I enjoyed watching Ben manhandle his boat down the runs I dont agree with the open pumping rules at the olympics, how many people seeing sailing think 'I couldnt possibly take up sailing, it looks far too physical for me'?

ASok Send Private Message Find Member's Posts Really should get out more Joined: 26 Sep 07 Location: United Kingdom Online Status: Offline Posts: 739	Post Options Post Reply Quote ASok Report Post Quote Reply Posted: 13 Sep 12 at 11:17am
	I've changed so much that I'm looking for a velodrome to start training in

pondmonkey Send Private Message Find Member's Posts Really should get out more Joined: 12 Aug 11 Online Status: Offline Posts: 2202	Post Options Post Reply Quote pondmonkey Report Post Quote Reply Posted: 13 Sep 12 at 11:18am
	Alternatively how many people looked at it and changed their perception that sailing wasn't just sitting their sipping a G&T? I really don't know, I'm not really convinced that many people watched it outside of sailing anyway, the Viper Higgins commentary was probably more on par with everyday perception than any notion of speed, pumping and physicality us lot bang on about. For me, watching the finns and 470s in tactical racing was enough of a kick up the arse to make me order a boat again. I'd previously written off dinghy racing as a no win situation for a few years until I could travel for opens again- either (crappy) handicap racing in boats I thought I'd like to sail (so frustration on a stick) or "boring, slow old boats" with nothing to do downwind and only pain up it. The Finn coverage put that little prejudice / 90's hangover to one-side (I even started a thread at the time) The 470s were enough of supporting act to the great finn coverage to remind me what I was missing... close tactical sailing. I even 'appreciated' the star racing that I saw, but I have to say the best keelboat action was the match racing, which I can only look back fondly on from uni days when I had a brief introduction to it. It was a real eye-opener as the classes I was looking forward to watching pre-regatta (RS:X and 49er) were actually the most dull. I'm not saying they're not worthy of inclusion, but they didn't inspire me to pick a boat up and stick on the 'race track and hope I don't have to play my joker'. In fact the RS:X put the final nail in the coffin for me that says windsurfing's a beach sport, not a racing discipline as I'd once tried to have a crack at on Grumpf Kona, and was tempted to try again with the new RS:One board from Neil Pryde. Anyway, I was cynical about the Olympics, and still think the Nothe was crap and Old Mr Whatsiname was damn lucky to have Macmillan & Bornhoft to act as foils to his utterly terrible commentary. I'll admit even Shirley wasn't too bad on reflection; at least she smiled a lot, which says a lot for Scot that far south. So generally I'd say thanks to the Olympics, and also the great commentary on here from Mark, Gael and other forum members. It's given me some renewed love for the sport and I'm looking forward to racing again next year. Edited by pondmonkey - 13 Sep 12 at 11:19am

SUGmeister Send Private Message Find Member's Posts Sailwave Moderators Joined: 08 Jun 07 Online Status: Offline Posts: 265	Post Options Post Reply Quote SUGmeister Report Post Quote Reply Posted: 13 Sep 12 at 11:26am
	What it showed me was that skiff sailing really isn't the be all and end all of sailing, if you covet close racing then slow and tactical is the way to go as seen in the amazing coverage of the Finns. Explains the enduring popularity of things like the Solo and their consistent massive turnouts at their championships. Having regard to pumping over 10 knots wind if a class's PY takes account of said pumping then surely it would be wrong for clubs to arbitrarily ban it. That said having shoulders that are beyond knackered I can only sit and watch in admiration at those that are able to do it so effortlessly and skilfully

alstorer Send Private Message Find Member's Posts Really should get out more Joined: 02 Aug 07 Location: Cambridge Online Status: Offline Posts: 2899	Post Options Post Reply Quote alstorer Report Post Quote Reply Posted: 13 Sep 12 at 11:30am
	as rule 42 is in force unless the SIs say otherwise, no class's PY takes account of it. I don't think 42 can't be modified by class rules, can it? Would be a nightmare to have SIs that switch 42 off fo certain classes but not others in handicap racing.
	-_ Al

Rupert Send Private Message Find Member's Posts Really should get out more Joined: 11 Aug 04 Location: Whitefriars sc Online Status: Offline Posts: 8956	Post Options Post Reply Quote Rupert Report Post Quote Reply Posted: 13 Sep 12 at 12:26pm
	Different classes switch on and off in different windspeeds, too. And we will have to allow RS's to hit the marks... As a slow boat sailor (or should that be a sailor of slow boats? - maybe both) it is good to hear people saying that it was the most interesting to watch. Mind, in real life, if I'm on the shore watching a boat blasting past, it is usually the boat with the big kite and spray everywhere that catches the eye most. As for any lasting legacy for me? Not really. Maybe another trip to Minorca Sailing in 4 years to do it instead of watching it.
	Firefly 2324, Puffin 229, Minisail 3446 Mirror 70686

gordon Send Private Message Find Member's Posts Really should get out more Joined: 07 Sep 04 Online Status: Offline Posts: 1037	Post Options Post Reply Quote gordon Report Post Quote Reply Posted: 06 Oct 12 at 1:51pm
	Rupert - Finn and 470 changes to rule 42 only apply to official class racing. When these boats are sailing in a handicap fleet then the rules of the handicap system apply. The same with the RS boats. Their apparent inability to sail round a mark without hitting it is only allowed in class racing, not in handicap racing. This was the last Olympics with a true boat for heavyweights. The Star will of course continue to develop and expand as a class but now sailing is officially a sport for light weights
	Gordon