How the hell can it be a fair contest when some of the "INDIVIDUAL" competitors are made up of a sailor, a Laser, a powerboat, a food and liquid supply, weather radios, Radios tuned to the RC, spare clothing, spare parts, a comfy matress, a spouse and or a girlfriend or boyfriend or all three.
For all you that are so against it, have you ever had it? How can you be so against it without ever having it, and reaping all the benefits.
To which I responded with a parody post, as "Mommy Boat Driver," that expresses many of my feelings on the topic:I have three children in Optimists this year and I guess I drive a Mommy Boat...I want to defend us Mommy Boat folks...we are not all overprotective psychotic parents...some of us (me) just like to be out on the water...and yes, we can help the kids between races..but hey, I help ALL kids...if a storm comes through I check on my daughter and everybody else around her...I bring out people's nonboating relatives for a glimpse of this great life...and I am NOT overprotective...I agree that sailing is about independance...if my daughter flips or has an issue I PURPOSELY pretend to be watching some other part of the race...she solves her own problems, but secretly I am proud because I got a glimpse of her doing it. I am a sailor, I don't make a big wake, or cut off mid fleet, or block people's air...I am just happy to be there and happy my kids didn't choose ice hockey!
Although I intended the post as a joke, I have since seen coaches do many of the above for their sailors. I find the outside knowledge of wind and current that many coaches provide their sailors particularly annoying.I am a sailing coach and my RIB is bigger than yours. I tow my privileged little protégés out to the racecourse; I wouldn't want them to get tired or wear out their sails. After making sure they are all checked in at the committee boat, I head upwind to scout the course; I can't let my little racers go the wrong way upwind. On the way back to the starting area I make sure to check to start line bias; it would be embarrassing if my team started at the wrong end. I then have a few minutes to round up my little sailors and give them the benefit of my years of experience. They really enjoy the opportunity to rest on the boat and get a cool drink of the sports beverage of their choice before the start. After watching the start, I motor upwind towards the favored side of the course (shhh...only my kids know this trick). I take notes upwind on my sailors' sail trim and tactics to give them feedback after the race. After the race is over I let my little yachtsters rest on the boat while I adjust their rigs for the wind conditions and fix any worn parts. I make sure to let them know what to do differently in the next race. When my sailors are well rested, watered and fed, I give each of them my personalized feedback. I make sure to let one little hotshot know that I will have analyzed the foul he was involved with in the race so that he will be prepared for his protest hearing. At the end of the last race I make sure to tow my little guys and gals back to shore and de-rig their boats so they can get out of their wet clothes in time to meet their parents back in the club for dinner.
For all you that are so against it, have you ever had it? How can you be so against it without ever having it, and reaping all the benefits.
I've been at a disadvantage because of the coach boats. In particular during a D13 race last year in Sarasota where the coach boats would race around the course watching their sailors handle the marks then take off to the next mark. They really messed up the waves on the reaches for the mid fleet sailors. Then between races there was one coach boat that could care less about other sailors, he just wanted to get to his sailors and talk to them. There was one time I had to get out of the way of the coach boat because of that. And finally on Sunday, between races, when it was windy & wavy as I was drinking water the wind blew my water bottle out of my hands into the cockpit. I was trying to get the water bottle but the wind was blowing me to another Daddy boat. Well I ended up losing the bottle overboard because I had to get out of the way of the Daddy boat.
I love Master Laser racing, no coach boats there....
Ross, I think once again that you are missing the point. Nobody is arguing that coaching won't make you a better sailor (quite the opposite in fact). The issue is that the added comfort and situational intelligence from an on the water support team un-levels the playing field. If coach boats are going through the additional step to indicate favored courses, that's just plain cheating. It's a little Pollyannaish of you to assume that people choose not to hire a coach because they are "against it."Maybe I've been biased because I've had the opportunity have coachboats....
For all you that are so against it, have you ever had it? How can you be so against it without ever having it, and reaping all the benefits.
But seriously, be a little more open to things, and go get yourself some coaching, somehow, some way, just do it, it'll make you a better sailor
so what do you have have to say to all the olympians that hire coaches for Trials and the Olympics? and everyone in other classes that uses them for worlds and nationals?
seriously, this is ridiculous
next thing you guys are going to complain that the rules state what car you can and can not tow you laser with, as per the rules
so what do you have have to say to all the olympians that hire coaches for Trials and the Olympics? and everyone in other classes that uses them for worlds and nationals?
[FONT=Verdana, sans-serif] they must stay at least 500m from any boat out racing, preparing to race or waiting to race again (notice the "small print" there).[/FONT]
[FONT=Verdana, sans-serif]Of those who organise regattas where coach boats arrive, how many people would not attend it they were not allowed their coach boats out on the water stalking them ?[/FONT]
Before the recent US Nats, I requested CB guidelines from the Class and others. None were available, but some new ideas have been tried, and were discussed. So, we did our own, and placed them in the SI's, where they had some voice of authority. Each was required to register, display a numbered flag, stay outside the entire Trapezoid while any class was racing, and be available to assist anyone when requested by VHF. We provided trash bags, so all would help collect empty bottles, etc, from anyone. And we charged for dockage, etc. but supplied lunches and water to coaches, plus on shore meals. We also had them pull out at another location, to lessen the Sunday night scramble.
The US Sailing Olympic Trials (ongoing as of 10/06/07) have detailed rules regarding both spectator and coach boats. Please check the respective websites for details.
So what is your point?
Is it that personal assistance must be tightly controlled and acceptance of any help that is not available to all competitors must always be illegal unless there is a clear description of the conditions by which it may be given and received in the NOR??
I would agree.
PS: In my next Masters event I will ask my support boat to have my Dark and Stormy ration ready, at the appropriate temperature (!), as soon as the AP over H flags go up. Since the racing is over at that point, I shouldn't be charged with a rule 41 infraction.
Prepare thyself for a mugging by 300 old thirsty old crabby old guys
Exactly - without some basic training and control, it's a dangerous situation....
In fact, were there an incident, would a parent rushing in with their private RIB (and probably panicking) actually help or hinder the rescue services? (even if the parents "know boats", etc.)
...
Another perspective: In youth soccer (through high school), we keep everyone 10' off the side of the field for the duration of the event. No one is allowed to run out with Gatorade or advice (they can and do shout it). Except for little kids and a serious injury, parents are strongly discouraged from running onto the field - there are trained people to handle it....
At the Trials, contact with coach boats is restricted in the SI's to a certain amount of time before the first Warning signal, until after the last race of the day is finished. Still, you can't tell me it's a level playing field for the guys who are out there all on their own...
Dyz