On 18 Jan 2006 08:34:09 -0800, "Capt. Neal®"
wrote:


9. Did you race (either your own boat or crewed on others) when you
were young and do you still race.

I raced boards when younger but found out most people who race are
losers and decided to no longer associate with that crowd of egomaniacs
who have more money than sense.



~~~~~~~~~~~~~


You have failed to draw an important distinction between racing as
crew and racing as an owner.

As a crew member, you don't have to worry about rounding up a crew, as
an owner you do.

As a crew member you can get drunk and not show up for the Sunday race
after the Saturday party, as an owner you have to hunt up the drunk
crew member who doesn't show up or find a warm body on the pier.

As a crew member, you don't have to pour money into your boat in order
to figure out how to beat the rating, as an owner your ego often
causes you to feel obligated to.

As a crew member you can convince the power hungry owner to press hard
at the start or at marks, as an owner you have to pay to repair the
contact damage created by this tactic.

As a crew member you can beg off of the return trip after a long race,
claiming you have to fly home to go to work, as an owner you have to
figure out how to get the boat home without a crew.

Yes many racing owners are egomaniacs as you state, however, you miss
a great opportunity for great sport with minimal input.

All of the above is related to handicap racing. One design is a more
pure form and the above doesn't necessarily apply.