Twister_Ken
Well-Known Member
Not in English Channel wetsuits it's not.
Olympic Star Class
- Thread starter Lakesailor
- Start date
Not in English Channel wetsuits it's not.
Iain C
Well-Known Member
"Ok ladies...which one of us is going to remind Twister Ken that the next Olympics is in Rio...?"
"Who knows...just don't mention Brazillians..."
"Who knows...just don't mention Brazillians..."
BAtoo
Well-Known Member
"Ok ladies...which one of us is going to remind Twister Ken that the next Olympics is in Rio...?"
"Who knows...just don't mention Brazillians..."
Typical back to basics post
Fast, wet, rubber & a bit of bondage...........should appeal to many
vyv_cox
Well-Known Member
I heard someone on the radio last week claiming that Eventing is a 'democratic sport'. Any millionaire can enter?
Mudisox
Well-Known Member
Typical back to basics post
Fast, wet, rubber & a bit of bondage...........should appeal to many
More like training for the Hooky Kooky, but on the other hand that maybe is what it is all about.
prv
Well-Known Member
Having brought up the 1908 Olympic motor-boating event for Dylan in the other thread, I found myself reading the official report of the whole competition. As an appendix, this included the rules for the various sports, and I skimmed through some of them. Quite interesting in places, but one thing that struck me was quite how snobbish the rowers were (more than the other sports I looked at). Among the extensive list of people not qualified to compete was anybody who was, or had ever been, a "manual worker or a labourer", or who had "accepted wages or payment" for "menial work".
Pete
Iain C
Well-Known Member
Please don't mention competitive "motorboating" in the context of girly skiff sailing. You nearly owed me a new iPad as I nearly spat my coffee out over it in laughter! Have a look at the "urban dictionary" definition of "motorboating" if you are wondering why...
And back on topic and for those not still giggling at the back of the class, here is a shot I got of a Star close up in Portland the other week...
Seajet
...
Gadzooks, that thing's even uglier than I remembered !
benjenbav
Well-Known Member
I'd like to nominate the XOD to replace the Star as an appropriate keelboat for the Olympics.
Much prettier; bags of history and a real connection with what normal human beings actually sail.
My favourite picture of an XOD:
Much prettier; bags of history and a real connection with what normal human beings actually sail.
My favourite picture of an XOD:
Seajet
...
Yes, I nearly nominated an XOD, lovely boats; not too sure about that one's situational awareness though !
Twister_Ken
Well-Known Member
Bear in mind that in the interest of egalitarian access to Olympic events, the blazerati prefer mass-produced lightweight one-design soap dishes that can be bought, maintained and campaigned for (relatively) modest expenditure. What's more you don't need to trail or fly your individual boat around the planet to compete; organisers can buy a new fleet, or borrow a local one, and competitors just rock-up with their dayglo wetsuits and their sunnies.
Don't quite see X-boats hacking it on these grounds.
Seajet
...
Twister Ken,
I was just dreaming, I know what things like XOD's cost, inc maintanance !
I don't think a trailable keelboat is too much to ask though; if it's all meant to be democratic, an uncapsizeable class to suit the older or at least semi-handicapped seems fair, and dinghies are becoming very bland once one gets beyond the dayglo.
I was just dreaming, I know what things like XOD's cost, inc maintanance !
I don't think a trailable keelboat is too much to ask though; if it's all meant to be democratic, an uncapsizeable class to suit the older or at least semi-handicapped seems fair, and dinghies are becoming very bland once one gets beyond the dayglo.
Woodlouse
Well-Known Member
I disagree. I think girls in neoprene can be very appealing.
Seajet
...
TamarMike
Well-Known Member
Gadzooks, that thing's even uglier than I remembered !
Although presumably of the same general dimensions the older Stars do look quite pretty, the stem seems to be a bit curved and the wood deck sat on top of the hull in contrast to the GRP ones which give the appearance of being moulded with the hull . Even older ones had gunter rig which looks good on drawings but I can't seem to find a photo anywhere ...
Romeo
Well-Known Member
The idea was that anyone who did manual labour had an unfair advantage from being stronger and fitter than those who earned their crust while keeping their hands soft.
Seajet
...
Sounds a remarkably lame excuse for snobbishness to me ! I've always had the impression a lot of the rowing clubs are way up themselves.
Woodlouse
Well-Known Member
Nah, it's because by doing manual labour they had clearly never been to university and hence could clearly not know how to row.
Romeo
Well-Known Member
At the time there was a big professional rowing scene on the upper clyde, all for the purposes of betting. You did not need to be at University to learn how to row fast and hard, but the olympics were not open to professionals. To avoid the snobbery some Tradesmen started their own clubs, many of which are still going today.
If you want to row, and don't want to risk snobbery, join scottish coastal rowing. No hiding place for blazers. www.scottishcoastalrowing.org
