Both teams are very good and professionals (or are the french non-pros?), demonstrating that this can happen with anybody. Perhaps we should look harder at having windows in our spis?
What does "pro" or "non-pro" have to do with it? And what do you mean by "pro"?
Mary,
I believe this infers that the sailors are paid by their sponsors or are industry professionals. They may have no other job other than racing Tornados. That is typical for the best Olympic class sailors in Europe and that makes it even tougher for US sailors. As an example, Roman Hagara is an officer in the Austrian military and his job is racing Tornados representing Austria which obviously he does very well.
It should also be obvious that if you are a "pro" by this definition, you are probably a better sailor than most of us weekend warrior grunts and Rolf's point was that collisions of this nature can even happen at this level of the sport. It does not matter how good a sailor you are, if you don't see the othe boat, you don't see the other boat.
In my experience racing in the Tornado class against these guys (and I would guess in yours and Ricks experience with them), the top echelon of the class is very friendly, approachable, and humble and contrary to Maugan's assertion, their poop has the same charecteristics as everyone elses!
Bob Hodges
