Your feedback 1

Are multihull sailors still second class citizens in this type of race? Yes, and not only offshore. People are uncomfortable with what is different and unknown. If people just knew how much fun these boats were to sail in addition to a number of other benefits such as not having to round up big crews, fewer sails and less gear, etc. they might just consider multis to be something other than alien craft.

From Mc Prattish
Are multihull sailors still second class citizens in this type of race? Possibly. I think that this is because most monohull sailors are scared of the multi discipline and believe all multi crews have had a lobotomy... Except in France of course where the lack of a brain has never been viewed as anything other than something to be championed.

From Jon Manley - Co-owner Roaring Meg
Which should it be IRC or IRM? Cannot understand RORC's reluctance to get behind the rule that they created to encourage fast boats. We have had some great sailing on our IRM boat (all be it brief at times!), and I am always looking forward to getting out again. RORC must get 100% behind the IRM rule if we are to see these fast, and exciting, boats provide the increased level of interest in our chosen sport that it deserves. Is it my imagination, or are there a lot of political games being played, by people who have considerable financial interest (and thereby power) vested in our sport.

From Rob Holmes
Where were you on that fateful day? In Western Australia, the home of Australia II, it must have been about 3:30 am when the race finished. We had hired a cottage, miles from anywhere on a lonely coast in the South West of our state, for a winter retreat of long walks and fireside evenings. We spent the dark hours listening on radio. The tension was unbearable as we had to rely on the commentary by Bruce Stannard who was, I think, doing a TV commentary, assuming his listeners could see what was going on. I'll never forget that moment, lying in bed in the pitch dark, realizing that Australia II had finally brought home the cup.

From Jack T
Would you take Australia II through the Needles short cut?It is important that a piece of sailing history is not stuck unused in a museum, it should be sailed and sailed well. Therefore if the winning tactic is to go for the shortcut and the navigator is certain of the depth then yes it should go through. The legend deserves the chance to win, after all that is the point of yacht racing.

From Aron Mclean (proud Aussie)
Would you take Australia II through the Needles short cut? With all decisions relating to sailing, the best decision should be made based on facts and the conditions at the time. If the skipper feels it is safe for boat and crew then of course! I don't care if she is a museum piece or not. She's the "little white pointer" and she deserves the best chance at winning, which we all know she does so well. Good luck to the guys, congratulations for getting her back where she belongs.

From Peter Brown
Would you take Australia II through the Needles short cut? Certainly! Assuming the water is favorable at the time. There isn't any difference between a museum piece, new out of the box boat, or our current boat. We greatly value them all, if the passage can be made with reasonable safety, there isn't any reason not to go. The intention is not to run aground in any vessel or cause any harm. A race can't be won by holding back and not doing one's best.

From Andy Hindley
Are the Ollier maxi cats too lightly built? Does the evidence not speak for itself ? All three of the recent Ollier maxi cats have broken Club Med several times. With the wealth of talent and experience on board these boats at the times of the various breakages you can hardly say they didn't know what they were doing. But go back a step. Is it that the stress engineers don't know quite what they are dealing with. Could be the answer to all the breakages so far. This is new ground and so a lot of learning has to be done. Did the Ollier team stress the boat themselves or did they draw the lines and leave the stress analysis to a third party ? Lots of questions here!

From Peter Halliwell
Mast or rigging failure? Typical big boat yachty! As any east coast sailor will tell you, barges are huge, have lots of brown sails on two masts, and are sailed by skilful sailors. Hardly invisible. As any Cowes week competitor will tell you, big racing boats are often badly sailed, and often show a lack any real knowledge of sailing, racing or the rules of the sea. However they are highly maneuverable, apart from the need to deal with running backstays, and can have no excuse for being in collision with a barge. And what relevance has whether they were racing or not got?

From Dick Sanders
Do you like the multiclass championship format? Multiclass events are essential now days if properly organized and funded regattas are to happen. RS Classes have them, Laser Classes have them, what about the Olympic classes? On the RS event, what happened to the idea of multiple races (3 or 4 a day ) with a duration of 50 minutes. They managed two one and a half hour races in nine hours, fun or WHAT? Can you really have a remotely fair 120 boat start in variable winds, Gate or not? What about trying a gold and silver fleet to avoid the one hour tail.

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