Quote Originally Posted by lamin8r View Post
No probs,34-40..Say what you like,mate,,it doesn't worry me...I think everyone disliked ''Dirty Dennis'' at one point..So much ''modifying'' of rules,,courtroom antics,,blubbering,,name calling,etc..Can't be stuffed with it,,or the waste of so much money,over a boat race.. And no,,I don't come from a sailing background..Gimmee an engine,any day..
We agree on all that! It has become all so much drama and taken away from the competition. Being born and raised here on the coast, and with the Cup races 20 - 25 minutes away.. It was good times to grow up around it! And all the girls that arrived from around the world didn't hurt!

I have actually sailed on a couple 12 meter yachts! The old racers are usually bought by some mega-wealthy person and to help offset costs they hire them out to various companies to put the craft to work. Some of these are "friendly" races between these old boats with a hired on crew from various companies that use this as a team building exercise. I'll act as a "mate" and help the "captain" keep the boat organized and all the newbs acting as a "crew". It is a huge thrill to stand on a deck operating a hand driven winch, with the boat heeled over enough to put your outside leg in seawater up to your knee but your inside foot is still dry! And it's on a vessel built in the late 50's or early 60's!

It seems a shame to see what it's all become!