A brief history of ... the future : Where Next?

Where next after all this commitment to sailing?


Well now the only over riding motivation is to have more control over the boat and more confidence in utilising that control!

Put less bluntly:

1) helming competantly, assertively and responsibly

2) boat speed and fast helming

3) positioning at marks

4) tactics

5) starts

6) last not least- Going up the Beat: sides, gusts, lifts, fleet-positioning

Given the right day, oban-tob inluded I can pull out something special in all the above.

But I feel I have never really been mixing it on an OD start line and a decent set of beats to windward. I feel all that "going left" and using the bend or tide lines eluded me.

Getting off the start line and going right is often as good as you need to be in H or a large OD fleet. But really going the right way.....that is my next step.


good crew makes you a helming genius.

So all this means:


getting a snipe. Being selective and up front with new boats. Sailing just for fun and occaisionally. I can't kid myself on any longer that I am happy to go out with some tosser who is a controlling tit who won't respect me. I have to stalk my prey and corner them in the bar long before I get on board.

snipe haas a whole host of problems, financing the first, but also crew. But it is the way forward and perhaps if it is not on for next year then I call "T" and just sail when it suits me.

In helping determine what motivates, stimulates and gratifies you on the race course you have to also use what you don't like to define it. Kind of matter-anti matter, yin and yang. No good without an idea of what Evil is all about.

what don't I like:

1) being condescended- Mr. H's wee 'quips' to every boat I have sailed on in his wake! Pricks who presume you have not sailed before. Controlling owners who don't listen

2) not being listened to, not having influence on board.

3) arrogant crew who piss me off, creating conflict.

4) being kept out the 'golden boys' boats.

5) irregular owners ie. invited when it suits them and no reognition for efforts- glamour rew come bak on board for events.

6( lack of deck or fleet fluff.

7( lack of social, wee beers

What I don't mind now are:

beginners, helms who may learn something, HC cruiser/racing under LYS or IRC etc. not going on Tarbert scale piss ups....sailing less often!