Re: 29ers

Garry Beattie wrote:
> "Andy Champ" <no.way@[EMAIL PROTECTED]
> wrote in message 
> news:FLednWBPIdcgnUbbRVnyvgA@[EMAIL PROTECTED]
>> Garry Beattie wrote:
>>> I have not heard much more about the 29ers since. I know the 49ers
took 
>>> off quite well, but does anyone know what ever happened to the 29ers??
>> They became an official ISAF youth class.
>>
>> "For the 2007 Youth Worlds, competitors will see a change in the
equipment 
>> used for the double-handed class, which switches from the 420 to the
29er 
>> this year."  [Isaf]
>>
>> Andy
> 
> That's good to see as I felt the 29er was an ideal boat for kids who had

> great potential and a hunger for speed and performance sailing.
> 
> My son was very much like that but he eventually lost interest because
there 
> was nothing to keep him satisfied around here.
> Even his Paper Tiger was not exciting enough. He would have preferred a 
> nacra 5.8 but again, he would have been the only one who had one.
> 
> He is 20 now, but still talks about getting a nacra 5.8 just for fun.
The 
> local sailing club now has a good fleet of Nacra 16 squares and we have 
> often talked about that.
> 
> 
Perhaps he is on the right track all along, something like surfing might 
be a better option for him. There is a contradiction in 49er type boats 
in that it's the conservative, calculating sailors, most interested in 
tactics who do best in them. I don't believe the thrill alone is very 
sustaining and focus on that doesn't win races. There is a contradiction 
in slower, better behaved yachts too, but more people choose them.