I think that whole thing started because Ashby did it once.
I'll bet he does stuff like that once in a while just to F with you guys....
"Look, he painted his daggarboards pink. It must be faster" and then there's a run on pink gelcoat the next week...
For someone who can make a 4x8 piece of plywood somehow sail fast, it must be fun to make the occasional poke at us luddites...