It is really simple actually. However I'm completely at a lost why YOU never understood it.

I list the points

-1- the difference between what would be the case in a perfect world and what is the case in the real world.

-2- Like Jake said, rather be racing open class than not racing

-3- Formula classes are pretty much one-design actually; there are all ONE (similar) in the important features - dimensions.

-4- The best racing is (For Europe at least) to be found in the formula classes.

-5- The OD cats are just a pain in the neck to sail. Cluncky systems, low quality builds, slow and bloody expensive for what you get. I rather go fast and enjoy myself that way then go slow and know that everybody is garanteed to sail equally slow.

-6- OD class sailors are often strikingly ignorant. A character trade that is difficult to life around when not being ignorant

-7- Equality between boats in an OD classes just based far more on principles of religion than reality. Anybody using sails longer than one year old and platforms more then 2 years old IS NOT COMPETITIVE in the important events. We all know it but for some reason always refuse to accept it. Also Hobie 16's from Europe are differently build the Hobie 16 USA. Marstrom Tornado's are different from say Reg White Tornado's (the original designers) and Ovington 49-ers are different from Bethwaite 49-ers. Their can be serious differences in quality between OD boats, OD sailor however refuse to believe that.

-8- It is WRONG to believe that difference in performance between boats of similar dimensions is anyway near as important as s differences in sailing skill. In the Texel committee we plotted the difference between first few and last few placings in the OD fleets to those in formula fleets. You know what ? The averages were exactly the same ! Meaning design did not play any significant role in this

-9- Open class, formula classes and OD classes are 3 different groups and not 2 different group as (only) OD sailors seem to think. There is no handicap sailing in formula classes and formula boat DO NOT differ much between makes.

-10- All sailors like first in wins racing however this does not mean they also like OD racing where you can't even replace a shackle without an official checking wether it is class legal or not.

-11- A good bunch of sailors like to adjust and tweak their boat to their way of sailing. OD classes tread this a paramount to treason. Not a good way to win hearts and minds

-12- While Hobie 16 and Dart 18 OD sailing is (was) big this does not mean that OD sailing is big !

-13- While H16 and D18 can be regarded as part of OD sailing, OD sailing can not be regarded as similar to H16 or D18 sailing. H16 and D18 are monopoly SMOD classes. OD classes are for example Tornado, Taipan and shearwater classes. Within several limits you can do what you like and modifify the design how you like.

-14- In the world of sports OD is a big minority. How many people Bitch aboit motorcycle or car races NOT being OD. Would Greg Lemonts or Louis Armstrong wins in the Tour be the result of their brand of bikes or the fact that they are better cyclist. Only OD sailors think that somehow getting another make of boat is magical and puts you in front of the fleet, THEY are very ignorant in those things and then demand of us to explain why WE are wrong.

-15- The difference between the fastest F18 and faster H16 in open class races is quite often smaller than the time difference between the fastest H16 and one of the slowest. Every year this is apparent in Round Texel and other large open class fleet events. And now OD sailors want us to believe that difference in sailor skill are lost when allowing to race boats of different make to one another even if all important dimensions are the same ? Often the fastest H16 is past the middle of the pack of F18;s




So, here I gave you 15 reasons to start on.

The other 100 reasons I leave to your own imagination. It took me 15 minutes to type it up. from reading your post to pressing Submit

Wouter