MauganH17,

I find your comments disgraceful.... With veiws like this I doupt that you are an experinced sailor at all.

I am 28yrs old and have sailed for more than 20 years. I have raced many times in 30 knots, sometimes gusting to 42 and have experienced a 60 knot squall on a beach cat on a lake. When the 60 knoter hit I need not say I lasted less seconds than you can count on one hand and washed up on the shore of the very small lake with my tail between my legs.

Just how comfortable were you in these 30 knoters and was it realy 30 knots. I stongly consider staying on shore when it blows 25+ and that is on the sheltered waters of Botany Bay (Australia) with support boats. This weather is boat breaking and crew injuring. In 25+ gusts can be much stronger.

I have been caught in a few life thretening situations including being traped under my boat after pitchpoling in a race where the wind increased to 30 knots sustained and gusts of upto 42 knots. This realy made me re think what I do on the water and puts sailing and your life in real perspective.

Going off shore in anything over 20 you must take into acount the possabilaties of any breakage including new equiptment. You also must be VERY confident in your ability to rescue yourself as help is not always at hand and a bad situation can go to worse quicker than help can arrive. For example take the tragic loss of one of the Tornado competitors at last years Princess Sophia Trophy who drowed under his trampoline before help could arrive.

It is great to explore ones limits but do so in a safe manner with the appropriate safty equiptment. A momentary thrill is not worth your life or that of others.

Sorry about the harsh criticism, but you are baiting us.

Stay safe and live for your next thrill.