Oz! You forget many racing yachts have adjustable feet. Even our old
Dragon had one.

Cheers

OzOne wrote:

On Tue, 20 Apr 2004 14:34:59 +1200, Navigator
scribbled thusly:


Well if your winning tactics depend a skill base on the behaviour of a
dinghy they would not be much use in a big boat... The fact is that you
sail a big boat differently than a dinghy. I'd say there are far more
variables involved in racing big boats that are simply not there in
dinghies -not least more complicated crew communications, current/tide
etc and the fact that on a keel boat you don't trim in the same way
(note how Doug thinks no heel is the fastest trim).


You've not done much dinghy sailing MC.Top linesailors in both yachts
and dinghy use pretty much the same communication, much is understood
and reflexive. A good trimmer on a yacht will instinctively trim with
very little needing to be said, same as a dinghy.
Spinnaker sets and drops are called just the same and again trimming
is instinctive or requires only a simple command like "bearing/pulling
away" or "heading up"


I'd suggest the only reason this dinghy myth continues is the old "I've
spent my time cold and wet ('cos I'm poor) and so should you" ethos


I hadn't realised you were a snob!
And BTW there is not a huge difference between maintaining a 35' yacht
in top race trim as against an 18' skiff or similar. The purchase
price is a little less for the skiff.
I

maintain that if you taught someone to race a keeler for 5-10 years
properly and then matched them in a race with a pure dinghy sailor on a
keelboat the big boat trained will win every time


Of course, the dinghy guy would require a year or so to adapt, though
I've seen some come from extensive competitive dinghy careers and step
straight onto a yach and perform extremely well.


My view is supported
by the history of the squadron youth MRX training team and why they whip
everyone in the youth worlds.

Your view is distorted.
Those in your training scheme have been selected from the ranks of
dinghys, same as the RSYS scheme.
You don't put green sailors in Elliotts and MRX (a really nice little
boat)


There arec also many round the world
sailors with relatively little dinghy racing experience


And conversely there are many with extensive dinghy racing experience
as there are in AmCup and the rest.
Hell, I've raced against some of the top yach skippers in dinghys at
one time or another.


Of course in a
dinghy you can learn basics of sail trim but that is also true in big
boats...


Quite true, most yachts require more tuning and control that most
dinghys mainly because of size. Some dinghys will have controls never
seen on yachts, mast blocks and rams, and adjustable mast foot so the
guys who move up have to contend with that lack of control and learn
another.




Oz1...of the 3 twins.

I welcome you to crackerbox palace,We've been expecting you.