Dinghy Racers are mad (official)

TheBoatman

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After the last 2 days I can officially say that I have no doubts in my own mind that dinghy racers are mad.

Every year here on the Medway one of the local clubs runs an event called “The Hoo Freezer” aptly named when the water is only 2C and the wind chill is –4C.
I get involved because my club offers help with safety coverage and as such I have just spent the w/end plodding around in a rescue boat. Well I saying plodding, more like going ever so demented trying to work out which of the 10 capsized boats need our attention first.

On both days there was enough wind the blow a tinker of his missus!

The fleet consisted of every type of dinghy ever made, now I’m not a dinghy man so forgive me if I get some of these wrong, we had fireballs, wayfarers, 29ers, 49ers, toppers, lasers 2000 – 4000 – 5000, International canoes, Hawk 20’s, Bosses, blazers, a couple of 30+ year old “tubs” and some others.
I would have to say that the event is very well run with 6+ ribs, displacement boats, and cruisers moored at 1000-yard intervals down the course, but when the wind blows like it did this w/end I have to wonder?

I was in a displacement boat and at one stage I was running before the wind – 3200 rpm on the clock doing 7 knts with water flying over our decks when a laser radial came past me doing at least 25 knts, the boat hit a stopper wave and I distinctly heard the crew shout “OHHHHHH Shhhhhh*t as they pitch poled the boat. We recovered them and their broken masted boat towed them to a mooring just in time to see another boat capsized and ground on a lee shore.

This went on all day with the final culmination in rescuing one of the “tubs” that was doing a good impersonation of an ice berg i.e. the boat had sunk and only the top 1/3rd of the bows was above the water. I beached it near to a club ramp to let the tide and time take its course!

Whilst everybody that took part survived, saving the odd damaged boat, I believe that dinghy racers are a totally mad bunch and should be given a wide berth at all times?

I would be more than happy to get replies from dinghy racers out there and answer one question!

Why do you do it and put un-told pressure on us volunteers who believe that you are out there to try and kill yourselves?

Signed

Boatman (gibbering wreck and drinking loads of brandy).


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BrendanS

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Uhmm!

They think it's fun
You don't have to volunteer, especially if it's driving you to gibbering wreck and drink?



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BrendanS

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We all do it because we love it
Just wondered about the context. Forgot to put smiley face at end of post.

I used to be 'wind dummy' for hang gliding nuts. Jump off first to test conditions...especially when inexperienced members on site.

Someone has to do it!




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qsiv

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Never did the Freezer - but any clubs winter/frostbite series has much the same to offer. I distinctly rem,ember having to break the ice of a Flying Dutchmans genny sheets before we could tack in the Hamble River frostbite many, many years ago. The bonus is that you are at least likely to get the best breezes of the year, and the casual sailors are fewer and further between. Best racing of the season!

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DanTribe

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I totally agree, the've no right to be out enjoying themselves.
They should be at home wearing biege cardigans, eating Werthers Originals & watching make-over programmes, like the rest of us.
Dan

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