to watch races. Especially when you're on the water, too. Messrs. Wells and Peck were kind enough to come aboard Surprise and view the four races between the J-80, PHRF, PHRF non-Spinnaker, and J-24 champs.
It became obvious that those folks who are the one design champs are the better sailors. J-80, J-24, Laser and Sunfish are the ones that proceed to the finals. The Portsmouth, and the two PHRF champs were eliminated. This is not a new phenomenon. I recall reading in one of the early DS quarterlies that at one of the first nationals those competitors who sailed in the one design fleets as opposed to a mixed handicap fleet were the better sailors.
So, the objective ought to be to build a One-design fleet up. I've got some boats with potential in the yard. It's time to get working on them over the winter and get them into the hands of sailors who will race them.
Posted by Bob at October 2, 2003 08:33 AM