Gilligan wrote:
Congratulations to Ellen for setting a new World Record. This person
bettered the previous record by a margin of about 2%, a true accomplishment
by almost any measure.

To the thinking person, this accomplishment raises several issues. First is
the issue of sportmanship. Athletes are routinely penalized for
unsportmanslike conduct and can suffer lifetime disbarment for other
actions. Take Pete Rose for example, just for betting. Ellen has put herself
and others at risk, potentially violated international law and treaties -
where are the sanctions?


To some extent, I agree. Imagine a 110' catamaran moving 20 knots
running you down. Even if the skipper is not asleep, or too dazed from
sleep deprivation, it's a difficult craft for one person to maneuver...
impossible for one person to maneuver smartly.

I wouldn't go so far as to say that singlehand racing should be
outlawed, but I think that it needs to be far better hedged. The
liability of singlehand racing event skippers & their sponsors needs to
be spelled out clearly beforehand... maybe they should post a couple
million bond to potentially indemnify their victims.

IMHO doublehand racing is just as big a challenge and far more seamlike.

Secondly is the potential issue of fraud. If a woman took first place in
men's weightlifting in the Olympics, or outran the men in the 100 meter dash
you can bet she'd have a cotton swab jammed in her mouth a for chromosome
testing. If Ellen's feat is so grand and so remarkable even for a man, let
alone a woman, any credible sports sanctioning institute would be testing
away.


You're just saying that because you want to ask her out. Don't be shy now!


Thirdly is the regard of sailing as a sport. The heavy reliance on
equipment, sponsorship (she was sailing a billboard if you failed to notice)
and possibly use of stimulants overweighs physical performance. This simply
says sailing is not a true sport.

Bull****.

If racing cars is a sport, then how can "reliance on equipment" rule out
sailing as a sport?

As for drugs, how many of the Pats & Eagles are on steroids, do you think?

Not even the Olympics follow the Olympic ideal any more.

... As the good Captain has maintained sailing
for most of you is an escape.

That's because he needs an escape more than most.

... Ellens escapade falls into the realm of
entertainment and is a commercial enterprise.

Agreed.

... Proper sailing is a lifestyle

Bull****.

Hanging around on boats, bragging & drinking beer, *can* be a lifestyle
if you're immature enough to admire that. But it's not sailing.


... The few here who execute it with any grace are Captain Neal,
Simple Simon and to a lesser degree, Joe.


heh heh I guess since Joe really does sail, he is less of a "sailor" by
your definition. Glad you left me off that list!

To prove this to yourselves, beyond a trace of doubt, ask yourself this
question:

"Would the oceans of the world be a better place to sail if it had 1000
Captains Neals on it or 1000 Ellens on it?"


Depends on your definition of "better." Less crowded? The Crapton,
definitely, huddling on his mooring.

DSK