system for developing the new sailing talent of trimmers and crew, had all but gone when the game moved to winged cats that don’t directly relate to trimming sails on a large keelboat. Because of this… the money involved and the inevitable risk- averse nature of the sport led to an attitude of ‘keeping the band together’, with crew selection largely driven by experience. Crews got older and older! Average age of the trimmers at the last Cup: 50! 50 years of age! Really, really!
At times it almost felt like the old guard had their elbows out, protecting their turf and blocking any young threat. Not enough work to go around so you do what you have to do, human nature. Now that the market has just expanded 300 per cent the future looks far brighter.
There has also been some nice trickledown effect from the last America’s Cup to sailing in general. A-Class catamarans are foiling more and more, the GC-32 foiling cat is getting traction. Of course the boat that started the whole foiling trend, the Moth, is still rumbling along very nicely. The young and the more progressive sailors are pushing the envelope with faster, less forgiving boats.
So there is lots of good news to report, with the sport growing again. That also means some challenges for the future. I would be remiss if I didn’t address these challenges. In order for the foiling boats to become mainstream in the sport they need hundreds of boats, thus hundreds of owners. The challenge is many of the potential new owners, people who can afford a world-class foiling boat, don’t possess the skill level to even sail on the boat. Simply put, there are not enough owner- drivers at this time for a really big foiling market. Owners don’t sit on the shore and write cheques while other people sail their boats. Well, not any more at least!
In any regatta only three people will stand on the podium in the end. If the owners are spending big money, very big money, and not getting to stand on the podium, you better make darn sure they are having a good time. Every owner has a second agenda. One is to win, the second (and just as important as the first one) varies from owner to owner. Some want to sail in really nice places, some want to feel the camaraderie of being part of a sports team. Others want to sail with their wives and family, or get away from their wives and family! Best advice, figure out what that second agenda is and do your best to fulfil both objectives. Keep sailing in the Olympics; it’s important. You have to laugh – ISAF goes to make an aggressive move to bring sailing to the cutting edge with the wow factor by having kiteboards at the Olympics. Then the windsurfing cartel throws a wobbly, saying you can’t race kites, that all kinds of dire things will happen when kites race. Bullshit really, but their statement gets kites thrown out, and windsurfers are back in. Yet in every regatta in the last year where there have been both windsurfers and kites the kite racing has been far more popular than racing Olympic windsurfers. Lesson: don’t ever underestimate self-interest. While we are on self-interest: cheating. I am not talking about the grey area of the rules, where you can read the rule a couple of different ways. Or the intent versus the letter of the law, or even the accidental mistake that anyone can make. I am talking blatant cheating. Where the offender knows they’re cheating, even taking steps to cover their tracks. Yes, it still happens, from the America’s Cup level, and other international events, right down to the local level. Hopefully not often, but more than many people think.
Once is too often. Cheating cannot be tolerated, swift harsh justice is the only way to deal with it. Why do people not cheat? Be it on their taxes, exams or in sport? Because they think they will get caught and face dire consequences. Sailing needs to do the same.
Before someone takes a shot at me for being negative, I will remind you that sailboat racing is in the best shape it has been in for a long time. Things are going better than anyone could have dreamt of five years ago. We should be breaking out the champagne to find ourselves here. So let’s enjoy the moment. Have a glass, but know that in the morning the work goes on to make our sport the best it can be.
HIGH LOAD JAMMER
THE JAMMER THAT WON’T GIVE UP! Make the same choice as the world’s greatest sailors
Following the success of our furlers and blocks, we now bring you the KJ Jammer, equally at home on the Route de Rhum start line, as they are cruising the world.
SEAHORSE 25
© Safran Sealaunay - Graphic design J.A. Souyris
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