Sorry, Mary, didn't mean be provocative!



I was referring to the Wave Open, Womens, Masters and Youth Nationals. I don't advocate any kind of discrimination!!! But if I'm inferring correctly, and please forgive a genuine mistake if I'm not, the different classes are to allow a litle more "apples to apples" competition, right? That's all I meant to allude to.. that it's sometimes desirable to limit the variables that don't directly involve sailing ability - and sometimes it's not.



I am not taking issue with your basic point; I specifically affirmed it; that we learn from racing, and learn most from racing the best; who usually delight in helping others to excell, too.



An of course you're right, the contents of an ordinary sail box, plus loaners from friendly cometitors, are beyond reproach, or even discussion. I can't imagine wanting to win a race by reason that a better sailor was unable to compete - I'd be crushed, I literally would be unable to value any award won that way. I'd always know it was the other guy's accolade. Most of us feel that way, right? I carry pounds and pounds of pins, shackles, used line, nearly new line, harnesses wetsuits, pfd's just in case somebody on the beach needs a hand - mostly because I'm 'paying forward' many past kindnesses.



But on the other hand, to name a striking example, the Worrell seems to measure a TEAM's ability to meet a challenging and exhillerating course, and the guys with the most back-up can push their boats harder. A regular guy with a single boat could entertain hopes of both finishing and even placing well in the standings, sure, it's been done, hasn't it? But one tough break and he's out - while his peers go on. Can't they push harder? Sure. So preparation and mega-spares can become a factor, under some circumstances.



AND I"m Not complaining about this! It's just different, neither better nor worse, IMHO, than a hyppothetically "less professional" event. I'm THRILLED to see the attention from sponsors and the general public this event gets.



My original, (badly worded) post was intended to point out that the other person's objection may either be to sailing against pro's, or to competing against the better gear and preparation/backup etc., that pro's sometimes can bring to the event.



I object to neither; I have a mild preference that if a guy's sailing faster, it would be neat if I could restrict my questions to how he's handling the boat on the water, and not who cut his sail or milled his rudders or whatever... That said, I freely lay credit for my own small, debatable success lately on Rick's book and Randy's Sails, in no particular order. But ON the other, other hand, I"m excited by Rick's description of how the Wave events focus on sailing ability - I"ll have no excuses for finishing last!!!



I'm curious (read:"ignorant"): do "sponsored" 'big-program" competitors in events like the America's cup and Worrell typically take the "my box is your box" attitude you and I have? I genuinely don't know. Would 3M like to see their competitors helping their competition, in the name of noble sportsmanship (I like this) or would they object on the basis that attrition is part of the selection process that ultimately designates a winner, which they are hoping will be "their boat"??