I'm an engineer, but I still have not necessarily found a correlation between engineering perfection and fun in boats. I'll even admit that an IOR boat from the 70s was fun as hell (imagine driving a dump truck loaded with lead shot down a mild hill on two wheels).
Dingy Racing - Ogre Sized man
- Thread starter CheapSuitG
- Start date
Steam Flyer
Sophisticated Yet Humble
Correction.... driving a dumptruck NOT OWNED BY YOURSELF.... carry on!
surf nazi
Super Anarchist
So is it that you can't read or that you can't comprehend or that you have to stay on your script no matter the facts ? Are you in media, let me guess CNN ? You tell anyone that disagrees with you ( or presents facts that disagree with your feelings ) to fuck off and shut up and call people old when you don't know their age.
This is the problem with the interweb, people who would never dare say these things to someone's face at a regatta are interweb toughs. This is a real problem. You think you can say whatever you want without repercussions. I hope you find out differently without too much pain.
maxstaylock
Anarchist
- 749
- 462
I'm giggling to myself at the image of a weekend warrior walking up to a group of Finn racers, and telling them that their taste in boats is backwards, and they should all go and buy some carelessly knocked out soon to be forgotten modern one design shitter (insert suitable class name here) instead. They would all just smile and nod politely, up to a point.
The thing about a class, is it's not just a boat, it's a tribe, an army, a clan. All the things different about a Finn, you might call them design flaws, others might call them features. The simple fact is, if you put your neck on the line, and go race seriously in an international, established class like a Finn, or an ILCA, an OK, or an A Cat, a 14, or a Moth, you are racing with and against and of a group of serious legends. These boats might not be an ideal weapon of choice for blasting about on a Sunday afternoon, and are pretty useless for picnics to remote islands, but as a platform to measure your progress through life, and give you a reason to smile on an otherwise dull Tuesday, they are tough to beat. Sure, many have tried to build a better mousetrap, some could even be judged quite good, but if you only have yourself to play with, you already know what they call that.
The thing about a class, is it's not just a boat, it's a tribe, an army, a clan. All the things different about a Finn, you might call them design flaws, others might call them features. The simple fact is, if you put your neck on the line, and go race seriously in an international, established class like a Finn, or an ILCA, an OK, or an A Cat, a 14, or a Moth, you are racing with and against and of a group of serious legends. These boats might not be an ideal weapon of choice for blasting about on a Sunday afternoon, and are pretty useless for picnics to remote islands, but as a platform to measure your progress through life, and give you a reason to smile on an otherwise dull Tuesday, they are tough to beat. Sure, many have tried to build a better mousetrap, some could even be judged quite good, but if you only have yourself to play with, you already know what they call that.
guerdon
Anarchist
Max ,well said.
Steam Flyer
Sophisticated Yet Humble
Thing is, that's not even close to what anybody said. Go back and re-read the thread from the beginning.
The shit-flinging has been mostly coming from your side. Not a good look, in a public forum.
Bugger! You're absolutely right!! I did go back and re-read the thread title.....Apparently the OP was looking for some DINGY sailing recommendations...and as there's nuthin "dingy" (defined as "gloomy and drab") about a Finn, I have to concede that it's definitely not an option for his consideration!
Foredeck Shuffle
More of a Stoic Cynic, Anarchy Sounds Exhausting
You are the one with a name from a 70's-80's term that only old surfers know and predates me by quite a bit, if you are not old then are you really so dense to think that a name like Surf Nazi, is cool?
Your argument about a boat is a complaint that someone gets their politics from talking heads cable television news? A reference that is completely non-sequitur as it was never made? Seriously? Do you watch CNN because they talk about 70 year old dinghies that often?
I'm not buying a Finn to meet you at some regatta even if it would be cathartic, I would be stuck with a Finn afterwards and have no where to burn it.
Santanasailor
Charter Member. Scow Mafia
What he said
Agreed, the MC is a good boat for ogre-sized guys. MCs are happy as a clam with 300 pounds on the rail, and good fun in breeze. I find that MC sailors tend to be a pretty friendly and enjoyable bunch.What he said
surf nazi
Super Anarchist
And Oli is a super nice guy. Have you seen his other u tube video ? It's one of the best sailing vids ever !
Written, produced and filmed by Ben Hartnett as a .....school project!! His dad is a mate of mine....
Totally agree that it's one of the best sailing athlete profile vids ever seen..
Ben is now in high demand in the Auto industry, filming amazing sequences around the world for international auto brands as they launch new products....but Oli was his first!
PS...I now own several OT sails from his program...seriously hurts to have to pay for brand new ones now the Finn program has ended!
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rnl
New member
Seems like a lot of you guys must have fiberglass in your underwear.
I'm sure there's something deeply wrong with it, but I remember singlehanding a Lark in light air. Great fun. Like a little, nautical sports car. But there are a fair number of strings to pull and I'm guessing that the rules would require two crew for racing. Then there's the spinnaker...
Do they still race windsurfers? (no, not the original Windsurfer, which wasn't great in high winds with a heavy person. The mast would flex and backwind at the top.). That kind of sailing is a real rush if you're up for it. Easy to transport and set up, too. I realize they're not dinghies, and I don't know if they make boards for big guys.
I'm sure there's something deeply wrong with it, but I remember singlehanding a Lark in light air. Great fun. Like a little, nautical sports car. But there are a fair number of strings to pull and I'm guessing that the rules would require two crew for racing. Then there's the spinnaker...
Do they still race windsurfers? (no, not the original Windsurfer, which wasn't great in high winds with a heavy person. The mast would flex and backwind at the top.). That kind of sailing is a real rush if you're up for it. Easy to transport and set up, too. I realize they're not dinghies, and I don't know if they make boards for big guys.
Jkdubz808
Megatron
Wow that was a lot of shit flinging lol! Ok, so I am 6'3" 225 lbs. Hope I can help here. Years of racing lasers a a kid and teen, then transitioned into Finns. Finns are AWESOME (and I'm on the younger end, 38). It all boils down to whats around you, if you have a Finn fleet near you I'd say go that route. The Finn is very VERY technical, the top guys have multiple masts and sails for different wind ranges and conditions. The boat itself is challenging but very rewarding. Other boats to consider for adult sized US guys:
RS Aero (the 9 rig)
Melges 14 (Gold rig)
MC Scow (another really fun boat)
Once again it boils down to whats around you. I spent years in Finns, but I'm thinking my next boat will be a double hander for me and the wife/sons (eyeing the Melges 15 heavily) as it is growing in Florida.
The best quote in this thread by far is 'The self bailer is to drain the blood'
RS Aero (the 9 rig)
Melges 14 (Gold rig)
MC Scow (another really fun boat)
Once again it boils down to whats around you. I spent years in Finns, but I'm thinking my next boat will be a double hander for me and the wife/sons (eyeing the Melges 15 heavily) as it is growing in Florida.
The best quote in this thread by far is 'The self bailer is to drain the blood'
The guy who told me that was still picking fights in the boat yard in his 70s. His yard neighbor got so pissed that he ended up chasing him around with an electric planer. Very cool guy with lots of great stories. He lived out at the Channel Islands on his motorless boat for years.
The Video of Oli Twedell is epic, I have never seen anything that shows that sailing can(!) be a very athletic sport like this one.
Now for the Finn Dinghy itself I had to help getting them ashore again two times the last weeks because they are so heavy...
Reading that a 15 year old sees no alternative with a similar level of competition makes me sad.
Now for the Finn Dinghy itself I had to help getting them ashore again two times the last weeks because they are so heavy...
Reading that a 15 year old sees no alternative with a similar level of competition makes me sad.
Pewit
Member
Weta Trimaran - lots of bigger guys sailing them as capacity is up 230lbs and we race solo or 2-up.
- No boom to take your head off
- Speeds up to 20 knots
- No hiking required - either sit on the tramp or floats
- Hard to capsize but easy to right even in strong winds by flooding a float
- Stows in the space of a Laser - 20 mins to rig (with practice).
- Self tacking jib and twin tiller extensions for “hands free” tacks and gybes
More at Wetamarine.com
Main US dealer is EastCoast Sailboats
www.eastcoastsailboats.com
- No boom to take your head off
- Speeds up to 20 knots
- No hiking required - either sit on the tramp or floats
- Hard to capsize but easy to right even in strong winds by flooding a float
- Stows in the space of a Laser - 20 mins to rig (with practice).
- Self tacking jib and twin tiller extensions for “hands free” tacks and gybes
More at Wetamarine.com
Main US dealer is EastCoast Sailboats
Weta Trimaran - East Coast Sailboats Inc.
Zim Sailing's Club 420 has quickly become the Club 420 of choice for yacht clubs, community sailing programs, and individuals.
www.eastcoastsailboats.com
