I’m not sure why you would find Pete’s post offensive.
If you guys want to switch crews, configuration, sails, hardware, or modify any rule you want within your own class then go nuts, but if you are racing in the open fleet you know as well as I do that it is extremely unfair and will drive people away from racing. The argument that you’ll have perfectly sailable boats sitting on the beach because you can’t switch configurations is bogus and self serving.
Matt anybody that goes to the Alter Cup is taking it “very seriously”. If you’re not taking it seriously why would you be there?
The 07 and 08 AC results show that the F16 number needs to be addressed. I know this hurts one of the selling points of the boat and takes money out of the builder’s pocket, but it’s the right thing to do for the sport.
Dave
Mark S. - This is why DPN sucks!
??? Ding,
DPN in any form will always be a source of argument.
Nobody has said anything about changing configurations etc. The rules for racing are set and they are basicaly the same as in any other class.
I "race" seriously and try may hardest everytime I am on the water. I am not going to be able to race with Gina and be competitive in the F18 class. I am not going to pick up another crew who would be able to handle the boat, just to race in the F18 class. (she would kick my butt). I can race class when there are enough boats, and I can race DPN and be relatively competitive with a number of other similarly rigged boats. If I am on the water I am trying to win boat for boat with whoever is near me be it an F18 or a H16. It makes no difference to me the handicap. There is only 1 race a year where it matters anyway (The qualifier)
Like Timbo said, this event shows nothing about the relative merrit on the current numbers. The Alter cup is about the sailors and the best get on the boat and figure it out the fastest. People who have one of the boats being sailed do not ususally do that well. This is because the boats are not set up the same as their own. I can sail my own boat much faster becuase it is set up for me and I have the time on it to know the feel to keep it moving. I get on another and my head is in the boat as I am not sailing by feel and my strategy goes by the way side. The best teams get "the feel" right away. We were beating the Puerto Ricans early in the evnet and they were beating everyone late. JC got on the 16 last year and figured out the boat spead first and won the event. It is about the sailors not the boat - Remember.
If you want to talk about money in builders pockets, come talk to me, it is not doing this. My involvement here is for the cat sailing. Anyway isn't it about time you flopped classes again <img src="http://www.catsailor.com/forums/images/graemlins/cool.gif" alt="" />
