From the Feedback - 25/1/01

From Rene Sarrao,
Can Ellen take the lead? Open document: Answer simply! YES!! She is maintaining extremely high periods of intense concentration especially weather studying and has consistently made wise and fruitful decisions. Plus, who else is getting up at 1am to thoroughly check over their entire boat leaving time for other important duties? And don't forget there's another "parking lot" up front in the Doldrums which will call for more intense and long periods of concentration and weather studying. Those of us who have used training and practice to ensure that we can consistently perform difficult tasks in high performance vehicles see the similarity in Ellen. She also has, perhaps, the longest time this past year actively sailing and studying her boat's performance in all weather and sea conditions. (Akin to intensive military training) This goes a great way to ensure continuing top performance when the mind and body starts to get tired. Manoeuvres and decisions still flow reliably because of long practice and experience. This gal has what it takes!! Her sights are set and she's following through smoothly.

From Denis Charbonnier,
Can Ellen take the lead? No doubts about it! By being on a more westerly track, with more pressure coming from the coast of Brazil, and PRB in the centre of a weak rotating front, by 1800 hours today, Ellen will be on the run for the finish. PRB will still be fighting to get out, Active Wear and Sill are too far west to take advantage of a northeasterly shift.

From Donaghyt,
Will Ellen get ahead? I want Ellen to get ahead. But given the skills of Desjoyeaux, the condition of both boats, and the fact they are both in one very large weather system together, the only way she can get in front of him is with fluky airs or the usual light-airs sailing method, mental concentration all day long. Sailing in light airs is totally a mental game, the one in front is the one who wanted it most.

From Richard,
Did you show up for the Perisher? Well if you call travelling 160 miles from the Midlands to sail at the event then yes. My sister and I turned up ready for the 11 o'clock start..... the weather was nasty, but only because there was water falling from the sky! The wind and sea looked terrific, it's a shame the decision to cancel was made so early, as now at 1.30 in the afternoon the wind has dropped, and we could have gone out for a race after all....... I don't understand how the sea state was so bad, to not risk a race..... oh well, it's a good job I went out for a curry the night before!

From Martin,
Did you show up for the Perisher? I turned up for the Pompy Perisher. As I live on the Isle of Wight, I was on the ferry to Portsmouth. The sailing conditions looked great. The sea state was choppy by the entrance and Spit bank fort, but the sailing area looked fine. Yes it would have been testing but isn't that what our sport is about? When back on the Island I travelled to Bembridge and went for a two-hour sail, even sailing mid channel. It was a good sail, the wind dropped away by the end, and with the swell conditions were quite tricky. I've attended a few Pompy Perishers and the organisation is excellent but they are maybe too courteous about people's sailing ability. I believe in this country we need a sailing stand certificate as they do in Europe where the organisers understand people's ability to sail their craft.

From Rich Keevil,
Did you show up for the Perisher? Yup, I did...gamekeeper turned poacher, I've been on the finish line for the last three years and elsewhere in the team for how many years previously. So now that I have a boat worth sailing in the fleet, I was really looking forward to doing so. I'm gutted for the whole crew who work so hard and for so long to make this a great event, and more than a little disappointed not to get a race.

From David Lee,
Can Tom get the triple? On Merlin Rocket designs - the Canterbury Tales only dates back to 1989. There have been plenty of new designs since then, but few as successful in terms of all-round performance. However, the construction, rig and cockpit layout have seen much development since then; the class has definitely not stagnated. From my National 12 days, I recall that before the Feeling Foolish, the Baggy Trousers and Crusader designs dominated the champs fleets for many years - the 12's have also had some long periods with little change on the hull design front.

From George,
So do you think British Americas Cup can really happen? It might. BUT OH, what a waste of time and money. There is no way that the Brits can build a team to challenge the likes of Prada, the USA and the Kiwi's.... NO WAY AT ALL...Especially at this late stage with just a few months left for the Louis Vuitton....

From Ben Nicholls,
If you have an opinion then voice it here? Re Rsirfj's comments on British America's Cup participation: Does Rsirfj come from this planet ? He suggests that winning the America's Cup is a "useless end result" and then goes on to suggest that instead of backing the best sailors in Britain for a GB Challenge for the America's Cup, the money should be poured into the GB entries for The Race and he describes the boats as being "enormously more seaworthy". Well........