Rolf wrote


Mark wrote


Rolf wrote


A racing sailor is a sailor who CHOOSES to compete in the game of sailing a boat around a predetermined course against other sailors in a sporting event.

To be a racing sailor, you have to accept and understand a set of rules to play by. (RRS)

You have to buy into the notion of a fleet or class because
with out competitors doing the same thing you are.. ... you are just sailing in circles.

Your racing sailing experience depends on the other racers on the course.

Conversely, Recreational sailors are out on the water sailing in circles and having a grand time doing it. Nobody else is required for them to enjoy the past time of sailing.



Never said that... I said.. Racers must be involved in the community of other racers or there are no races. So, this community has a tendency to talk about it. Forums, email, social media whatever make this happen. Conversations about a regatta develop.... (F18's and Sail material rules,) F16's and uni sailors. The point of these discussions is for the racing group of sailors to keep focused on their core objective... fair competitive racing.

Recreational sailors MAY belong to a community and talk about things on a forum such as this. My point was that many many recreational sailors simply do their own individual thing and have no need to join a group for any purpose. Hell, they don't even choose to go out sailing with another boat.

Racing sailors MUST join with a group to organize the race. forums are invaluable

A sailboat race is two boats on the water. Even if your not in a organized race you see another boat and say "I can catch them" or "they won't pass me".
I'm a recreational sailor that chooses to race.

ah.... done that many a time..

Still the existential question remains... If the other boat is not racing or does not know it... .... is it a race?

nope

If you've got two boats/bikes/cars/4x4s/etc., you've got a race.

Good Point.... so, What would you call Rich's sailing but not racing?

Duh...Winning! It's how you perceive it!

(now wave your hands about your face in circular manner, like when describing a port-starboard mark incident)

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=I0zzaiXn3Cc

I did not know Charlie was also a Cat Racer!

This thread is as pointless as the drill baby drill thread. Damnit! I took the bait!

HA Dave... Here is another conundrum...

If you use an illegal sail at the worlds that you think is legal that is then approved by the technical committee for reasons that are not clear but seem fair but then the sail is banned for further competition....

Do the records stand... or like the NCAA do they forfeit the result. Hmmm... just one of those racing sailor things I guess.

ps... Rolf made me do it.

For some of you sailing is intuitive, you're fortunate. For others, like myself, even the smallest of skills are difficult to achieve. Without racing I'd likely still be sheeting the jib to the wrong side.

Actually Pete... what happened back in the day was that on your standard weekend... the club beach would be busy with lots of boats and sailors of all levels of experience. Some of these guys were racing sailors. You could ask questions and figure things out by asking the appropriate person... you could sail off the beach and try to catch someone and then ask... OK... how did you do that... what should I try? Can we stack the boats up three wide and fly a hull into the beach and show off a bit for the photo op.
What's that weather system look like... etc

As that scene fell apart... only the die hard racing sailors remained and so they just got their fix by in the organized racing.... racing sailor became very distinct recreational sailor and the gulf is wide.

Bottom line... we are all "racing" sailors now because that is what is left.... (even chaser's like Rich (grin))

WHO GIVES A RAT'SASS.

This is easy. IT'S FUN! No frigging politic"s, No rules and No worry about who's stretching the rules.

Then there are those that say I DON'T RACE, but will always brag about how the beat so and so....

Gee! I wish I would have known we were racing that day!

Todd,

Now, calm down big boy ....

The long range forcast is for "Northerly's" for next weekend .... you may have a nice "Spin" run down the bay for you "CRUISING" overnight sail (since you won't be "RACING") .... w/ Rum&Pinapple at the finish.

Harry

PS: Of course if you don't want to RACE .... and since I'm 1st Alternate on the crewlist ....

PS 2: Nice little article that "Katie" posted ... on that OTHER forum .....

PS 3: Sorry I had CRASHED when you bicycled over for the evening "**** Hour" ..... (38 hrs straight was my limit !!!!)

You get my point wrong. I do race. I'm just better at fun sailing than I am racing. I may not win, I may even be in last place, but chances are I'm going to have fun and enjoy myself.

That's it in a nutshell. I only do this for FUN. When I start getting too wrapped up in winning or losing, it's time to do something else.

Funny but when I was doing yacht deliveries I had a pretty quick 38 footer and was overtaking another sailboat coming down the east coast. Before I passed him, he suddely started going faster. It was then I discovered he had turned on the iron jenny. He started racing, even if it required his engine to compete.

I hope as you went past (and close enough for him to see your hand clearly) you held your nose with your elbow up high!

That's what we used to do after Thursday night J-24 racing, to the clowns who would 'race' us back to port...with their motors on, leaving a blue cloud trail of 2-stroke outboard stink. (back before any 4 strokes existed) We would usually yell things at them as well such as,

"Who Farted??" or, "Smell that? Smells like a Pearson 26!"

;^)

Heh!