So Why Carbon ?

[robwilder]

I have to agree with Abby, I think you can get obsessed with the boat / rig etc and forget the most important thing! Take the lifts and tack off on the headers!! ;D
A well sorted old boat with decent foils and a good rig can still win, as long as its down to weight, got decent fair foils ..
I'm still waiting for New Boy to sell me Painted Lady back so I can rejoin the class! !!
Then I can have a go at beating Mr Coopers records!Unless he gets back in first.. !

[enigma]

Thats the trouble with having such good value,ie cheap, second hand prices.Poeple dont have to sell to upgrade!!
Perhaps bribery is on the agenda!
Or challenge.

[polyfiller]

So I absolutley agree it's possible to be obsessed with equipment related concerns .... however when you get to the nth degree of competition and there are very few mistakes being made, the fine differences between setup & equipment come into play in such a big way.

As for my records - they count for nothing - 1) They are in the past 2) There is suspicion I only did most of them because I was in a claridge and 3) They meant nothing to me .... I simply wanted to sail as fast as I & my boat could go and enjoy the competition. TBH towards the end it became more of an embarassment.

Rob - good luck with getting that boat..... more good helms and the likelihood I would NOT win on return is actually more appealing to me and also good for the class.