Hobiebrat1,
I think your original impression that this thread was started to "praise" is off the mark. It started because a guy wondered why an Aussie didn't sail an Austalian made boat; that's all. Just some guy curious about something he didn't have an answer for. Boy, you must have been having a pretty tough day because you come across as being wound-up just a wee bit tight.

In your follow-up post you say you might have been empirical in your comments. You didn't respond to people's opinions as an empiricist, you were just flat out judgemental. Which, it seems to me, tars yourself with the same brush you've applied to others. And now you're all upset and going to take your marbles and go home. That's what little boys do, but this is a forum for big kids; and I think it might be past your bedtime anyway, so it's probably best you toddle off.

If you weren't wound so tight you might have been better able to take your own advice, and read less into the words of others. Forums, are after all, a very difficult medium for communicating, because with tonal quality and body language absent, nothing but words remain. And words alone we're told, are the smallest portion of any communication. About the only thing I could probably say to you without too much risk for misinterpretation is, whiners just piss me off.

Had you chosen to stick around and participate, I should have said that I agree with: 1) your observation that winners put in a lot of time on the water; 2) good sportsmanship is, as you say, as exemplified by Greg Ashby, very admirable; 3) your willingness to concede a point is an asset to skillful communication; 4) I think your absolutely correct that a well managed class advantages sailors.

It's a shame a person of your religious beliefs couldn't find a more collegial way to engage with others. A lot of the "stone throwing" was aimed at the Hobie Co., and if you read over the replies as posted by Matt Miller, you'd have a pretty good idea of civility in response to some strong opinions, through his poised use of calm and well mannered answers. Without, I should add, any sanctimonious judgementalism. Even Wouter Hijink, who seems able to touch a nerve now and then, mainly confined his arguements to forcibly pushing his particular viewpoint, though in the end he too tired and left to 'hide under a rock'. Well I think you get the idea.

Adios