Has it all gone too far?

Glad to see I'm now classed as an olympic aspirant

I just happen to sail an olympic class, there was an event on and I've signed on. In the Tornado class there were maybe half of the fleet who never think they are going to the olympics, it was just a chance to play with the big boys.

I am sure in the 49er class there ware many people in the same boat. They are hard boats to sail but not impossible and the crash and burn does make good telly. anything that creates the opportunity for positive publicity has gotto be good.

Granted I am not going to take my girlfriend out for her first sail in a 49er or my Tornado, but thats what she wants to be doing. She knows she needs to learn to get to the pinnacle

Sorry Simon,

Will be sailing for gold this weekend, then one more ranker the weekend after Grafham. Was toying with bringing my hurricane to Grafham, but got caught up in Family stuff. still three weekends away in october with weston cat open in november I think I got away lightly

Graeme - I know you're an old fart, but have you really forgotten that a lot of people want challenging, fast, exciting sport (whether that be on windsurfers or 49ers or skis or in cars etc). If no-one pushed the boundaries, we would still be sailing original windsurfers, you've never have had a Parker or been Div II champion and Robbie would have never sailed sawn off  windsurfer 'short' board.

I agree that some 'developments' are either ridiculous or lead up pointless/blind alleys - Div II, or cutaway leach sails being good examples. But the 49er is different to that. Yes, it's challenging, and it's clearly going to make fools of some very good sailors, but it is at (or near) the pinnacle of the sport and so it should. The very best can sail it in most conditions and just because you saw a few wannabes falling in doesn't make it a poor boat for the Olympics.

Watch Ski Sunday -  a good number of the world class skiers/riders on show fall over and fail to complete the courses. That surely doesn't mean that the courses should be made easier or the equipment slower/safer. And later, when they open the course to the public, many excellent skiers will fall but they'll get up and still have a blast trying to do the same course as the best.

I'd suggest that's what  those you saw falling in were doing at Weymouth.