Concentrating driving for one hour is hard work.

While sailing downwind driving, its real work keeping the
boat moving, pointed in the right direction, while trying
to surf. Upwind there is the danger of pinching or falling
below the groove. If you have some skills, driving a boat
like this can be done fairly well. Novices would have an
easier time sailing upwind than downwind.

Driving well is how a boat gets separation from the fleet.
In my opinion driving upwind well creates the biggest gains
on a race course.

In any case, I agree, rotating the helmsmen evens out the
race. We can safely assume you have the same average
skill levels on each boat with a big crew like this.

Is there ANY other racing situation where this mulitple
driver, everyone drives concept is used in pro-racing?
No. It is more fun for the paying clients.

You can call it a race. But if so, it just barely qualifies.
Put a $1,000,000 purse on the outcome, and see how
the whole event would change. That's why I call it a
phony race, just a notch above a non-racing
circumnavigation--which it is better compared to.

I don't want to seem overly critical of the event. I still
think it is a substantial accomplishment to sail around
the world. Upwind obviously while safer, is harder
work.

And again, I like these boats. I think they are well
designed and built.

Bart

"DSK" wrote

It may be that the 1 hour stints on the wheel are to keep the races more
even, so that no one boat can gain an advantage by having one particular
better helmsman.

On Sat, 26 Feb 2005 19:03:38 -0500, "Bart Senior"
wrote this crap:


None taken. Still, the reason they sail upwind is because it is
safer sailing upwind than downwind.


????? It is???

I usually sail downhill.





Pathetic Earthlings! No one can save you now!

On Sat, 26 Feb 2005 19:32:26 -0500, "Bart Senior"
wrote this crap:

Concentrating driving for one hour is hard work.


I drive sveral hours each days.





Pathetic Earthlings! No one can save you now!

Phhhht, amateur!


"Horvath" wrote


I drive sveral hours each days.

Concentrating driving for one hour is hard work.

yeah "Driving" a boat is not a science and those who approch it like a
science wear out quick. The trick IMO is to be one with the boat...to
enter the boat's zen. Then you can helm you boat like a lady. Moving
with her thru every curve..soft to the touch.. anticapiting her every
move and need.

The most often mistake I've seen time after time after time is someone
over working the helm...ie: driving the boat.

While sailing downwind driving, its real work keeping the
boat moving, pointed in the right direction, while trying
to surf. Upwind there is the danger of pinching or falling
below the groove. If you have some skills, driving a boat
like this can be done fairly well. Novices would have an
easier time sailing upwind than downwind.


Driving well is how a boat gets separation from the fleet.
In my opinion driving upwind well creates the biggest gains
on a race course.

IMO those who are in the groove help the boat find the path of least
resistance on any course, they give her helm what she needs before she
asks. They become unconsciously competent to the boats needs... top
that with a well balanced set of sails and leading a lady thru the
water is a pleasure... not a chore.

Joe

Well Put Joe...

CM

"Joe" wrote in message
oups.com...
Concentrating driving for one hour is hard work.

yeah "Driving" a boat is not a science and those who approch it like a
science wear out quick. The trick IMO is to be one with the boat...to
enter the boat's zen. Then you can helm you boat like a lady. Moving
with her thru every curve..soft to the touch.. anticapiting her every
move and need.

The most often mistake I've seen time after time after time is someone
over working the helm...ie: driving the boat.

While sailing downwind driving, its real work keeping the
boat moving, pointed in the right direction, while trying
to surf. Upwind there is the danger of pinching or falling
below the groove. If you have some skills, driving a boat
like this can be done fairly well. Novices would have an
easier time sailing upwind than downwind.


Driving well is how a boat gets separation from the fleet.
In my opinion driving upwind well creates the biggest gains
on a race course.

IMO those who are in the groove help the boat find the path of least
resistance on any course, they give her helm what she needs before she
asks. They become unconsciously competent to the boats needs... top
that with a well balanced set of sails and leading a lady thru the
water is a pleasure... not a chore.

Joe

All true, except one doesn't enter the boat's zen. The zen is the
combination of all the elements of the situation. One becomes part of that.

--
"j" ganz @@
www.sailnow.com

"Joe" wrote in message
oups.com...
Concentrating driving for one hour is hard work.

yeah "Driving" a boat is not a science and those who approch it like a
science wear out quick. The trick IMO is to be one with the boat...to
enter the boat's zen. Then you can helm you boat like a lady. Moving
with her thru every curve..soft to the touch.. anticapiting her every
move and need.

The most often mistake I've seen time after time after time is someone
over working the helm...ie: driving the boat.

While sailing downwind driving, its real work keeping the
boat moving, pointed in the right direction, while trying
to surf. Upwind there is the danger of pinching or falling
below the groove. If you have some skills, driving a boat
like this can be done fairly well. Novices would have an
easier time sailing upwind than downwind.


Driving well is how a boat gets separation from the fleet.
In my opinion driving upwind well creates the biggest gains
on a race course.

IMO those who are in the groove help the boat find the path of least
resistance on any course, they give her helm what she needs before she
asks. They become unconsciously competent to the boats needs... top
that with a well balanced set of sails and leading a lady thru the
water is a pleasure... not a chore.

Joe

Interesting post.
There's an old adage ..... the best helmsman is the laziest guy on the boat.
Reason?
Generally he will figure out how to do the least amount of work to keep
the boat on course, realizing that if he keeps the boat on course, he
doesn't have to work ...... BG

otn



Joe wrote:
Concentrating driving for one hour is hard work.

yeah "Driving" a boat is not a science and those who approch it like a
science wear out quick. The trick IMO is to be one with the boat...to
enter the boat's zen. Then you can helm you boat like a lady. Moving
with her thru every curve..soft to the touch.. anticapiting her every
move and need.

The most often mistake I've seen time after time after time is someone
over working the helm...ie: driving the boat.

While sailing downwind driving, its real work keeping the
boat moving, pointed in the right direction, while trying
to surf. Upwind there is the danger of pinching or falling
below the groove. If you have some skills, driving a boat
like this can be done fairly well. Novices would have an
easier time sailing upwind than downwind.


Driving well is how a boat gets separation from the fleet.
In my opinion driving upwind well creates the biggest gains
on a race course.

IMO those who are in the groove help the boat find the path of least
resistance on any course, they give her helm what she needs before she
asks. They become unconsciously competent to the boats needs... top
that with a well balanced set of sails and leading a lady thru the
water is a pleasure... not a chore.

Joe

Ever hear of an autopilot? I rarely waste my time steering my boat.
The autopilot does it almost as well.

CN

"otnmbrd" wrote in message ink.net...

Interesting post.
There's an old adage ..... the best helmsman is the laziest guy on the boat.
Reason?
Generally he will figure out how to do the least amount of work to keep
the boat on course, realizing that if he keeps the boat on course, he
doesn't have to work ...... BG

otn

G Think I've run across one or two vessel's with autopilot.
Problem is, an autopilot can only react, it can't anticipate.
Only a good helmsman can anticipate what a boat is going to do and react
first.
I've seen very few autopilots that can maintain a straight line on a course
recorder, for any length of time, whereas I 've seen a few helmsmen who
could.

otn

"Capt. Neal®" wrote in message
...


Ever hear of an autopilot? I rarely waste my time steering my boat.
The autopilot does it almost as well.
CN

"otnmbrd" wrote in message
ink.net...

Interesting post.
There's an old adage ..... the best helmsman is the laziest guy on the
boat.
Reason?
Generally he will figure out how to do the least amount of work to keep
the boat on course, realizing that if he keeps the boat on course, he
doesn't have to work ...... BG

otn