Suggestion: make it a poll so people can vote rather than have to read all responses.
Ian
I have not see Nick, John, or Mark at masters events.<<<snip>>> I think Olympic status has really opened up Masters sailing. Many former Olympians obviously stay around and compete as they get older. And I think the Masters events have largely replaced the open championships as an outlet for average Sunday sailors.
<<snip>>
I'll go ahead and vote. I'm sure Merrily is going to merge these threads.
I accept that there are downsides to the Olympic status, but in balance I think it's a good thing.
There are thousands of kids sailing Optis to whom the Olympic Laser sailors are heroes. They mob them to get their autographs, they pin pictures of them on their bedroom walls. Most importantly they aspire to be like them, and you can be sure that when the time comes to move into a new class, this puts Lasers at the top of their list. How can that be a bad thing?
Absolutely spot on....We have just got back from the British optimist national champs at the new 2012 olympic venue in Weymouth/Portland. Nearly 500 boats!!!! Most of the British Olympic team were also there training for Skandia sail for gold next week and were idolised by the young Oppie sailors.
The whole idea of the Olympics really matters to these yougsters, My 9 year old daughter waited patiently for 30 mins to have Sarah Ayton and Saskia Clark sign her buoyancy aid, she is now asking "how long before i can sail a 470?. My son, who is in his last year in Oppies and looking for his next boat, will not consider any other than a 4.7. He wants to sail the Olympic boat.
When i show new sailors and prospective members around our sailing club, They always comment on the Laser as an "olympic boat" it carries with it a huge cache.
slightly off topic (as there are no Lasers involved) but I just found an image from last week's nationals to illustrate the above point.Absolutely spot on....We have just got back from the British optimist national champs at the new 2012 olympic venue in Weymouth/Portland. Nearly 500 boats!!!! Most of the British Olympic team were also there training for Skandia sail for gold next week and were idolised by the young Oppie sailors.
The poll comes close but lacks my favorite option...
"Who cares?"
slightly off topic (as there are no Lasers involved) but I just found an image from last week's nationals to illustrate the above point.
Ben Ainslie leading the senior fleet down to the start line.
I like how they idolise Ainslie but I much prefer the fact that ainslie has one of the oldest Finns around, and the little kids in the optimists all have almost brand new optimists which proves you don't have to own the newest kit to be the best in the world.slightly off topic (as there are no Lasers involved) but I just found an image from last week's nationals to illustrate the above point.
Ben Ainslie leading the senior fleet down to the start line.
Also my mate at P&B just delivered a new race optimist which cost £2846!!!
-snip--- I like how they idolise Ainslie but I much prefer the fact that ainslie has one of the oldest Finns around,
Also my mate at P&B just delivered a new race optimist which cost £2846!!!
That Finn is not that old, and that carbon mast just might have cost as much as the Opti...