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The Optimist lobby...

Posted 9 months, 26 days ago

The Optimist lobby...
Great to see that my Oppy vs Topper debate has really kicked off as I got literally deluged with emails. However, I'm really disappointed that the Topper class are yet to send in any decent photos of the boats in big wind and waves - come on chaps, don't let the Oppy lobby get away with this! Topper International, WHERE ARE YOU? Here's what you had to say: Just go to a couple of open events for both classes, compare and contrast the behaviour of the parents... Topper wins by a Country mile! I've avoided procreation, but had I not there is no way I'd want any child of mine associated with such appalling sportsmanship (from the parents not the kids) or in such pressured situations at such a young age... Besides I wouldn't want there to be the slightest chance that I might get infected by such terrible attitudes! We held the RYA Zone Champs at our club, and afterwards all the parents got together and vowed never to by an Optimist! But truthfully the two boats hardly overlap. Kids stay in Oppies far too long just to go potyhunting, which is terrible thing too... --------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- I have a particular interest in your current debate and the anguish it is causing you over what class Harry (the World Champion) should start in. I have 2 x 7 year old twins and a 5 year old, so I am a bit ahead on the curve. I’ll settle for Irish champions, but one of the twins (remember aged 7) is already 32kgs. He’s pretty tall for his age, fit, lean and does loads of sports. But he will be above the 45kg optimum weight for an oppy by the time he’s 10. Given that he will still be very much a beginner at that age, he has no hope of being competitive at the age of 14 when he’s more mature as a sailor but weighs about 70kgs. With only one size rig, the oppy is surely going to become less important as our children get bigger. --------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- reading your blog and getting a daily dose of Sailing Anarchy keeps me smiling even in the winter. But now you completely kicked my ass with pics from Matias Capizzano. I just went through some of his galleries and now I wonder, when and how I get into a dinghy down there. Need to get my mates in the 5o5 class to have a WC there some day. Absolutely fascinating! And be sure that I gonna give my Oppie Kids at the local club a good show! --------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- My comment about Hurricane in his Oppy and my kids in Toppers was meant to illustrate where you needed to be to get good at this game. My kids haven`t sailed Oppys because there aren`t any round here (they are quite a regional class in this country aren`t they) and they might only be 11 and 13 but they are far too big for them anyway. A photographer being in the right place at the right time does not make a class better than another. It`s what suits your circumstances. I bet you think ice dancing and freestyle skiing are great Olympic sports too. Let`s get a panel of judges involved too and award style marks. This first past the post system is so old fashioned !   Full Story »

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