I don't mean to turn the sail trim forum into my editorial page but some subjects pop into my mind. Shermandr was talking about match racing can become a race for new sails and actually it happens in all classes but by saying "clothes don't make the man" I mean new golf clubs don't make everyone a better golfer or $300 tennis racket doesn't make everyone a better tennis payer and I could go on and on with examples. Lots of sailors I know use older sails as the reason for their crappy sail trim and crappy sail trim is the reason they aren't getting 100% efficiency from their sails and performance isn't going to change with the new sails.
The question sailors have to ask is do I really know what I'm doing with the sails I've got from a sail trim standpoint? You have to be honest with yourself because it is silly and expensive to kid yourself.
On kidding yourself - I used to play a lot of golf with my son when I lived in So Ca. After the round at the bar he's tell me what he shot. I thought to myself OK if that is what you think your score is what do I care but one day I said enough is enough. I said "Mike, you didn't count this shot and that shot or the 2 lost balls and if you want to kid yourself that's fine but don't kid me". I didn't think I got through to him until 2 weeks later when I was playing with him and his friends. He repeats my same words to his friend as if they were his words. I just smiled to myself and was very happy I got my point across as you've got to take what you can with these kids.
Here's one way to judge your sail trim skills. If you're in a race and say Alan's or RichH's boat is in front of and you check out the set of their sails and if you don't say to yourself this is going to be a very long day as I'll have problems getting by these guys then maybe you need new sails!! If you don't recognize what you're up against then keep the sails you have.
The question sailors have to ask is do I really know what I'm doing with the sails I've got from a sail trim standpoint? You have to be honest with yourself because it is silly and expensive to kid yourself.
On kidding yourself - I used to play a lot of golf with my son when I lived in So Ca. After the round at the bar he's tell me what he shot. I thought to myself OK if that is what you think your score is what do I care but one day I said enough is enough. I said "Mike, you didn't count this shot and that shot or the 2 lost balls and if you want to kid yourself that's fine but don't kid me". I didn't think I got through to him until 2 weeks later when I was playing with him and his friends. He repeats my same words to his friend as if they were his words. I just smiled to myself and was very happy I got my point across as you've got to take what you can with these kids.
Here's one way to judge your sail trim skills. If you're in a race and say Alan's or RichH's boat is in front of and you check out the set of their sails and if you don't say to yourself this is going to be a very long day as I'll have problems getting by these guys then maybe you need new sails!! If you don't recognize what you're up against then keep the sails you have.
