BW wrote:
I have been a little confused, but I now see where I made my mistake.
Whilst doing background research into the group rec.boats.racing it
included the sub group rec.boats.racing.power. Most of articles I read
were about the thrill of powerboat racing. I subsequently posted my
power boat query into rec.boats.racing which I now know is about sail
boat racing.

Again, please accept my apology.

In my view, not really necessary.

But as my research is still about thrill, sailboat racing is JUST as
interesting. I am revising my question to "what do you find thrilling
about sailboat racing"?

Any comments...

Brendan


Hmm... not sure "thrill" is quite the right word. When you're speeding
across the water at 2mph on a light day, trying to find the gusts and
shifts, watching what the opponents are doing, "thrill" is not the word
that would spring to mind. However it is the kind of thing where you
cannot be thinking about anything else. You just have to "switch off"
from the world of work and concentrate on what you're doing.

Then there was yesterday, where thrill might have been the right word.
Like the end of one race where i was hanging off the side of the boat, 6
inches off the water, with the bow wave from the next boat trying to get
down the back of my neck (after an hours racing we were that close -
shame we weren't winning....) and concentrating absolutely on what I was
doing.

Then there's the fitness side of it. Today I can hardly climb stairs,
my quadriceps muscles are so stiff... There are few sports which engage
your mind and your body, keep you fit with little risk of injury, and
which are suitable for anyone from 5 to 75. Though I must admit in the
wind the age range was down to 10 to 60.

HTH

Andy

Dear Chum (or is it Chump?)

Told you before that blow-bots aren't racing.
*Speeding* at 2 MPH ?????? HAHAHAHAHAHAHA!!!!!!

Racing thrills: Being able to maintain your concentration for up to two
hours or so, when traveling at 120 MPH in 4-6' swells, while at the same
time - navigating - keeping an eye on the gauges - keeping tabs on the
competition, etc.

Speeding sail-bot........HA........like trying to race turtles against
snails................


"Andy Champ" wrote in message
...

Hmm... not sure "thrill" is quite the right word. When you're speeding
across the water at 2mph on a light day, trying to find the gusts and
shifts, watching what the opponents are doing, "thrill" is not the word
that would spring to mind. However it is the kind of thing where you
cannot be thinking about anything else. You just have to "switch off"
from the world of work and concentrate on what you're doing.

Then there was yesterday, where thrill might have been the right word.
Like the end of one race where i was hanging off the side of the boat, 6
inches off the water, with the bow wave from the next boat trying to get
down the back of my neck (after an hours racing we were that close -
shame we weren't winning....) and concentrating absolutely on what I was
doing.

Then there's the fitness side of it. Today I can hardly climb stairs,
my quadriceps muscles are so stiff... There are few sports which engage
your mind and your body, keep you fit with little risk of injury, and
which are suitable for anyone from 5 to 75. Though I must admit in the
wind the age range was down to 10 to 60.

HTH

Andy

Gus Bringard wrote:
Dear Chum (or is it Chump?)

Told you before that blow-bots aren't racing.
*Speeding* at 2 MPH ?????? HAHAHAHAHAHAHA!!!!!!

Dear Gus,
If you find a dictionary you may be able to find a definition of the
word "sarcasm". Try applying it to my previous post.

Then grow up and go away.

Andy

Hugely contrasting opinions from two very different water sports -
both using the same user-group...

Think about replacing the word "thrill" with exhilaration, pleasure or
delight. Sometimes the word "thrill" is interpreted as always needing
an element of danger.

My aim isn't to come up with sweeping conclusion about the thrills of
your sport, or the people who do it. My research is interested in
personal experiences. I think you can understand more by reading
personal accounts, rather than writing "sailing is thrilling because
of X, Y and Z", the latter approach is too analytical.

If you could take the time to answer the following questions, it might
give a good idea about the real differences between the two sports.
I'm posing they same questions to knitters as well as skydivers - so
try and think how they apply to your experiences.

Either do it online, or in the privacy of email. But please email a
copy to me at interview@chromo11[dot]com whatever. I'll post the
results nicely formatted on my website www.chromo11[dot]com along with
pictures.

It'll be a real eye opener for me, and hopefully you'll find it
interesting too. If you don't want to do it, then please take a step
back from the discussion.

Thanks

Brendan

==========
ABOUT YOU
==========

1.Q Tell me about the first time you remember being thrilled.
1.A

2.Q What's the slightest thing to have thrilled you?
2.A

3.Q What's the most frightening yet thrilling thing you've done?
3.A

4.Q Tell me why you're not completely sensible.
4.A

5.Q What's the most uninhibited thing you've ever done?
5.A

6.Q What have you considered doing for pleasure but were too concerned
about the risks?
6.A


YOUR THRILL
============
To answer these next 10 questions, you should think about a particular
time you were thrilled.

7.Q Describe the event in one sentence (there's time to expand later)
7.A

8.Q Tell me a bit about yourself around this time.
8.A

9.Q List the sequence of events leading up to your thrill. Try to
remember how you felt at each stage. The smallest detail could be
important (this is your chance to expand).
9.A

10.Q What were your thoughts and feelings at the precise moment of
thrill?
10.A

11.Q What did you do afterwards?
11.A

12.Q What were the risks?
12.A

13.Q What did you imagine other people thought of you during and after
the event?
13.A

14.Q How often do you think about the event, and why?
14.A

15.Q Some people probably don't understand how such a thing can thrill
you; explain it to them.
15.A

16.Q What three changes could have made the experience better?
16.A

Just to get the record straight, could please tell me your name, age,
sex and where you were born (I'll only publish your surname and
birthplace unless otherwise instructed)

name:
age:
sex:
birthplace: