Dave, that might have been, but I couldn't find any of it to watch on line. I was just speaking in terms of keeping up with technology in the games. I agree, all the boats should be equal and it should be about the sailors, kind of like the Alter cup.

But I still think from the viewpoint of a non-sailor viewer, a faster boat (like the 49'r or Tornado) would be of more interest. Too bad the AC won't be on mega-Tri's going 40 knots, but on leaners going 11 knots. More of the same old stuff, I doubt it will draw any -new- interest from non-sailors.

Now, here is something I have thought about ever since I got into sailboat racing 30 years ago...do we really need "More People" to get into sailing? I mean, ever since I have been paying attention it seems it only appeals to about 10% (if that) of the population, and cats only appeal to maybe 10% of that, or maybe 1% of the total population, but after years of trying to introduce new people to the sport, I have come to realise people either want to sail or they don't, and no amount of us trying to make it "More Exciting" or more TV friendly, or what ever, is going to change that.

Most people are too lazy to put in the time and effort it takes to learn to sail. A quick fix like a Jet Ski or a ski boat is more what they want when it comes to spending time on the water.

But I'm ok with it, I would rather those types stayed on the Jet Ski, way over there, near the beach, than T-bone me on the starting line while trying to learn to sail.

I have found sailing is quite a lot like flying airplanes, it take some time to learn, and most people want it all, and they want it now. So both only appeal to a small percentage of the total population, that will never change, but maybe that's not a bad thing. We've all seen or read the accident reports after someone who doesn't want to take the time to learn to do it (Flying or Sailing) properly.

The Media loves a good crash and burn story, (which explains NASCAR popularity) but with Sailing or Flying, it's usually a novice who didn't take the time to learn to do it right, but WE all get painted with that "It's so hard to learn and so very UNSAFE" brush. Fk'em, let'm stay on their Jet Ski's.


Blade F16
#777