From the feedback - 27/3/01

Dee seems to be talking a lot of sense? Anybody who thinks the Admiral's Cup isn't already dead, look at the number of competitive, top notch Farr 40s there were at Key West and the USA trials (11 countries), while the so-called World Championship cannot scrounge up more than four countries. Owners put their money where they want to go, not where some organisation tells them. Come on folks.

From Andrew McLelland
Dee seems to be talking a lot of sense? I don't think that the RORC have set out to destroy IMS but they have been keen to maintain CHS/IRC and introduce IRM for grand prix boats and events. I have been very close to the whole affair over the last few years. I do, however, like the idea of the Admiral's Cup moving to the winning country.

From Peter Johnson
Dee seems to be talking a lot of sense? Dee Smith, in a useful analysis on the Admiral's Cup fiasco, is just a little hard on the Royal Ocean Racing Club. Let me try to defend it. If RORC goes for an IMS series the British won't come (remember there was nearly no UK team a few years back for this reason), nor will the French or Irish. If IRM is called then the US, Germany, Holland, Italy will simply be uninterested. Foreign boats will take an IRC rating for the Fastnet, but the Admiral's Cup would do no service to that excellent rule. So there are one-designs: but history shows that when ISAF, RYA, RORC or others try and pick a one-design for others to sail it seldom - if ever - works. There is no 'best' one-design. By the way, as the enthusiasm for one-designs causes them to proliferate, so the wheel turns and a rule or time allowance system is essential for them to be able to race together. The RORC will have a major season without the Cup. There will be many foreign boats in the Fastnet race, many of them over here for the America's Cup Jubilee a couple of weeks later. Surely the club will act with dignity and give the great trophy a few year's rest with its unrivalled history (I have edited at least two books on it - you could not do that any more). The major yachting trophies have all suffered such moratoria: the One Ton Cup sat in Paris and then emerged to greater fame; the British-American Cup lay quiet, even the Auld Mug was sometimes not sailed for many years while, yes, the type of boat was argued about! Meanwhile the RORC will no doubt take other steps in the next few days. These include dissolving the Admiral's Cup management committee and returning decisions to St James's Place and killing the Commodores' Cup which first diluted Admiral entries and then ended as a domestic sail. It will also now admit that the 'three different' classes idea, which started years ago to prevent the then dominance of IOR One Tonners, has been a persistent hindrance to making up teams and has no logic. Web site comment around the world complains that, as of now, all look in vain on the RORC web site for a statement. So maybe what is said here will be a suitable substitute.

From Andy Ashton
The toughest race in the world? Further to Mr Conk's entry. There is a risk to the crew members whichever way you sail round the world surely. The whole point of the 'wrong way' part of the race is to make it stand out from the other events on the go. It is hardly the 'worst idea in sailing'. There is no shortage of people volunteering to participate or of company sponsors. As an interested onlooker (my dad is on Isle of Man) the whole race has been superbly organised, with safety paramount. Everything about it has been excellent, the yachts, the Challenge business, the crews and skippers, the television programmes, the welcomes the crews get in foreign parts, everything. The website tops it all off nicely, a lesson in how to set up a website (along with madforsailing of course). Superb. There are many reasons why the various crewmembers are participating, but the common thread is adventure, a desire to go where not many people have gone before. The Challenge has produced many fine sailors and skippers, and with people like Chay and Mike Golding involved, it must be doing something right. Good luck to all involved.

From Phil Laycock
Is Bart as good as Percy? Bart has the potential to be as good if not better than Percy. He has achieved more in his few months in the Finn than anyone has ever done and is developing the physical attributes that are needed to compete in the class ie: he is getting fatter. He is without doubt the quickest sailor in the UK and his results at this year's major regattas should provide evidence of the progress that he has made.

From Moss
Is Bart as good as Percy? Not at the moment, as Charlie Cumbley and Chris Brittle are still giving him a run for his money. But as you know Bart wasn't Iain's only training partner both Charlie and Chris were out in Sydney with him. At this moment Bart is also the only full time Finn sailor in the WCPP so it is good to see that his practice is paying off. But he had better watch out when Charlie and Chris finish their degrees and start full time sailing themselves.