You need to be telling this to the parents! You'd be the pervert for letting you mind go in that direction.

I didn't bring this up but I'm all done with the PC horsecrap.

If you don't want me to look at something don't display it in public.

Probably what I should do is call Child Protective services the next time I see an inappropriately dressed minor and accuse the parents of pandering.

+1

Still laughing my a$$ off!

Truth be told - I was going to comment about how nice it is to have a female component to our regattas...but every time I tried to phrase it, once considering the bulk of the age group, I sounded like another dirty old bastard.

I still look good in spandex -As good as any overstuffed chia pet, at least.

And yes, getting women on the boats should be key, if for no other reason than to get you old farts off the tiller and up front! Probably will reduce the number of crashes on the course....The rest will certainly take care of itself.

I don't care what you say, today's multihulls aren't so much about strengh as they are finesse. I could saw the main at T-winds all day block/block in 18 kts for 9 races and was still outgunned by several teams sailing smarter than me. Two even had female crews trimming. And arguably I'm in much worse shape than most of my female counterparts.

Heck, I'd almost venture that sailing an H16 is harder, and there are plenty of women on those boats...

So it ain't the boats keeping women away from the sport. And it isn't the venue. What's left? the dudes and their stupid-a$$ ego. You want ladies in the sport? Stop being a di&k

First and foremost stop blaming the men for keeping women out of the sport! I have yet to meet a male skipper or crew that has been anything but encouraging when it comes to female skippers, crews and teams! It's not always our fault Jay, someone really did a number on you.

My a$$ it's not about strength! Yes you have to be smart and move efficiently but you know raw power plays a major role in the heavy lifting that happens on the front of these spin enabled boats. When it gets down to brass tacks it will be boys on the front girls on the back in the mixed multi. So as Open Multi is code for "Mens" mixed multi will be code for "female skippers only".

I'll still disagree somewhat on this point. It is physical?, yes, but "too hard" for a women? Doubt it. I'm not in very good shape, and aside from everyone using lines the diameter of fishing leader which tore up my hands I'd say that these 18s and 16s are no harder than your average 420, sailed by plenty of women.

The only real "heavy lifting" I had to deal with was when I didn't time things right - like the spin douse into a snuffer bag a bit too small, or trying to pull a board with pressure on it.


I agree. I'd think you want the most movable ballast you can manage, which puts the boys up front since the driver's usually limited in their movement.


All this being said, what do you feel is holding women back from participating in this sport?

Someone posted earlier about having a "minimum one female" on board, which opens up the teams to female or male/female pairs. I think I like that concept slightly more than "mixed only" designation only because it allows slightly more flexibility in team selection.

"All this being said, what do you feel is holding women back from participating in this sport?"

The same thing holding men back. It's alternately hot/cold, hard work, expensive and requires a lot of travel.

Any one have any idea what sport women participate in most? I'll bet it's running and it's the same for men.

I would have guessed swimming or maybe triathlons, but running's a good one, too, as the equipment and venue requirements are almost non-existent

I have come to accept the fact that sailboat racing in any form, will never be a "mainstream" sport. We've all heard all the excuses, "It's too hard, It's too Cold, It's too expensive, It's too...everything." but that's fine with me, do we really want every nut job out there to jump off his Jet Ski and show up at a regatta?

I don't think I'd like to share the starting line with some of the idiots I've seen on the highway when driving to work! I don't want to be T-boned while some knuckle head is Texting his BFF!

In the 1980's one of our top Hobie 18 team's, was John and Darcy Holloran. Darcy drove, and John was the crew. Darcy was about 110# and John, at least 200#. Didn't hurt that Darcy was also a past National Snipe skipper.