Rig swapping...
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My current belief is top sailors should not probably not be allowed the swapping option.
I suggest sailors whose overall score is in the top 50% of the fleet should not be alowed to switch.
"Big guys who used to occasionally win when regattas were 100% big breeze rarely win anymore"
Would love to see the data, as I don’t think this is correct. I'm 190ibs, won the mid week madness this year in wind and can't recall a rig swapping sailor winning a windy race in the last two years.
While in theory it is unfair that heavy sailors can't put up, say, a rooster 8.1 in less than 10 knots overall I think the system works well - every time it is windy you hear lighter/less experienced sailors putting up the smaller sails and as a result many more sailors able to go out sailing than would be the case if they could not swap rigs - I think this ability for people to take part is more important in masters sailing.
Ok, I have to give my input.....
I do like to be able to switch rigs at Master events. I am short and don't weigh as much as most men. Now, when it is less than 5 I do have an advantage but I have seen big guys sailing in light winds up at the top too. Skip Canfield knows how to move the boat in light winds. David Hartman does too. Once the winds get over 10 I like to be in my Radial if racing. At master events I like racing with my friends with what ever rig. Sarasota tried to have a separate radial fleet at MME this year but there were only about 5 boats that signed up so we ended sailing in one fleet. The winds turned out to be very light for this event and I sailed in a full rig. If Master events forced everyone to use a full rig I would not attend the events.
And don't say that I need to get in better shape because I do exercise so that I can hike when necessary.
Light wind sailing does take practice, if you work at it you do get better. I know that I have.
Cindy