scott.projectsomewhere

Last weekend’s 18 footer race was eventful as usual.

We started well, but had a few hiccups at the top mark and first run before clawing back the lead on the 2nd work and holding on til the finish. Woody raced well again to finish in 2nd, and hold the series lead by 1 point going into this weekend’s decider.

Fast starting Sweeny & Pete on Active Air led us up the first work. Bad news for them was that they were a bit too fast to start, with Ace telling them they were OCS at the first rounding. Despite that they were still quick upwind, pulling away from us in the short time we were lined up.

Though for all the upwind speed, fortunately (for us) they’ve still got some teething issues with the new boat turning corners. On the way back to the restart the boat went down the mine and smacked Pete against the wings. After being called a complaining girl, Pete was dragged off to hospital and crutches on returning to shore. Fun times.

Two boats failed to start the race, and will test out the new 15-point Australian Championship penalty. Herman’s AppliancesOnline didn’t make it in his absense, and Joe Turner’s Belle Property also stayed on the trailer. Not a good move if you’re looking to get selected for the Giltinan.

Interesting times.

Rohan tells me his new Bladerider is coming out of the mould at 8.6kgs before painting.

I wonder where the other builders are putting all their excess carbon.

… and looking forward to seeing the boat on the Harbour in a few weeks. Maybe Matty Day or Luka will have their Prowlers out for a bit of two-boat comparison.

Update: Luka tells me the St George “Pre-Nationals” regatta will be on the 16-17 of Dec… since the Moths were uninvited to SIRS this year. Nice.

Another windy day in Sydney. Too windy to go training… or twilight sailing.

Bugger.

Well it wasn’t that windy last Sunday… but the photo from a few weeks ago is still good no?

Why don’t more people sail on a beautiful sunny, warm and moderately windy Saturday in Sydney?

Euan and I did a few hours of 49er training with Emmett & Phil from Woollahra on said Saturday. Despite launching from a club with over 20 rigged 49ers in the boat-park, we were the only ones on the water.

What’s going on with dinghy sailing in this place?

Admittedly, the club normally races on Sundays, and they did have between 12-15 boats on the water that day. But really, in a city of 5 million people, the proportion of people participating in just abysmal.

Then where are the junior fleets? I haven’t seen a fleet of MJs or Sabots for a long time. Woollahra has none. Vaucluse 12 footers, practically none. In the richest part of the richest city in the country with the most incredible weather there is no sign of a budding fleet of juniors or teenagers, or even adults sailing in dinghys.

All that doesn’t bode well for the future. Who is going to come through the ranks to replace the old guard? And where are they going to come from?

Who is doing anything about it?

Woollahra does have a sailing school and private school sailing. But based on the numbers that progress to participation - they’re not successful.

Balmoral has a similar operation, but those kids are stuck in clunking wooden mirrors, condemned to an era that has long passed - hardly appealing to the instant gratification generation.

What to do?

How do we get kids and adults for that matter, interested enough to give sailing a try, and keep them interested enough to keep turning up?

Where are the opportunities for adult beginners (that aren’t over-commercialised)?

Where are the interesting opportunities for girls - apart from being the ‘bit of fluff’ on the rail of a keelboat?

Back in the day, Dad’s sailing programs in a remote coastal backwater resulted in proportionally well over 10-times the racing boats than Sydney. The level of devotion from the families back then was just exceptional. Now I may just be romanticising the past here, but not too much.

Who’s going to devote their time and effort to make it happen again?

What can we do to stop this sport from losing the critical mass it needs to keep churning over?

Ideas?

Another overly philosophical post for Monday eh?

Just imagine how much carnage this would cause at 33 knots.