Perhaps it does or doesn't make a difference, but the constant perceived need to update by the boys at the top does allow really good boats to be sold down the chain to the middle ranking sailors at a price they can afford. Car sales have been built on this model since car production first began.

For guys whose sailing skills are such that these boats then become very affordiable training platforms to hone there skills before committing lots of funds for the latest all singing and dancing toy.

But when they do beat the latest high tech gizmo,and they will on occassion, it makes the win seem even more significant.