OK, enough beating around the bush.

Of course we all enjoy sailing and we don't have to race to enjoy it.
Most of us don't expect to win or even trophy, but we show up and race.
This is not about enjoying whatever sailing our situation allows to participate in.
It is about competitive racing.

As in any competition, the goal is to win.
Anyone who says they don't want to win is LYING.
Most of us want an HONORABLE victory.
That means competing under FAIR conditions and winning through our skill and intelligence.
The sport of organized competitive sailing, ISAF RRS, emphasizes this in Rule 2, FAIR SAILING.

The various handicap systems have tried to create "FAIR SAILING" amongst all boats.
The concept itself is faulty and ALL of the systems have plenty of problems.
Even with everyone "playing fair", different boat designs have advantages and/or disadvantages under different conditions.
Some boats handle rough water better, some like light air.

The Formula system tries to assure "FAIR SAILING" in an even-up situation, while allowing experimentation.
The A Class and F18 have shown that even with boats that are identical, within the Texel measurements, advantages exist.

The best way to prove your sailing skill and have an honorable victory, is single manufacturer one-design.
And, as we previously discussed, the comaraderie is great.
None of that "you need to buy a boat like mine" salesmanship.

Formula racing is the next best.

Open Class, with small sloops against bigger spi boats, is barely better than nothing.
At least the big boats get back to shore quicker and have plenty of hot water and cold beer.

Winning on an underrated boat is B.S.
Winning on a boat because of ideal conditions for that particular boat is B.S.
Winning because the conditions, wind & water, changed during the race and benefitted a boat is B.S.
Chasing faster boats around for a "moral victory" is B.S.
To prefer an Open fleet over an equal size One-Design Class Fleet is B.S.

I believe that Mary was asking the question for an ideal situation.
To say that "The real world is different", is not the point.
This is about how we wish it was.

So I pose the question:
Do you want an opportunity for an honorable victory or do you prefer B.S.?