To each his own, I guess

While the good old days probably had their share of problems, the escalation of effort in all sports has been a troubling trend, and sailing is no exception. Some problems may have solutions, but otherwise just fuels the conversation on yacht club barstools. Tracy Spinney, a marine professional but amateur race crew, shares a few topics about the sport:

Pro Sailors: Unlike a pro quarterback or golfer or boxer or tennis player or ball player whose success is purely defined by their ability, talent and physical prowess, pro sailors that I have met resemble normal people. They’ve put a lot of time and practice into their sport, but what winner doesn’t?

Equipment: It is troubling the amount of customization that can be put into “racer/cruisers” if you have the resources. Want a bigly advantage over others? Spend money. How a weekend sailor on a well-found production boat or 20-year-old classic can compete against that money power is beyond my pay grade.

Participation: While the famous races (Newport-Bermuda, Fastnet, Sydney-Hobart, Transpac, Mackinac, etc) still garner large fleets, others aren’t doing as well. Here’s a way to build race fleets: To everyone who bought a boat during the COVID price hike years and is now selling, please take a deep breath and reduce your asking price in hopes buyers join the fun. (Frankly, maybe there should be a rule that if your boat hasn’t raced in the past year, your handicap goes down. Or up. I don’t know.)

Education: When sailors need a two-day seminar to understand the racing rules, the rules are too damn complicated. Outside of mark room, windward/leeward, starboard/port and overtaking, I start to get lost at overlap. Was it always this way? I’ve only been racing for 15 years so maybe it used to be easier? You tell me.

Whatever: While it smacks of narcissistic sin to allow pros to helm for 12 hours and then step to the wheel for your finish photo, if that’s what a rich owner wants to do, so be it. We all know this person and smile when he and the trophy spouse number three walk by, but feel no sense of envy or respect. Sailors will be sailors after all. I have been aboard amateur race boats that start the day with a fat dooby and vodka Red Bull. To each his own, I guess.