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From Alex Blinkhorn
What`s your view on this? You have gone a long way in the UK already. I'm a Brit living in Germany. I own a mini with a friend and we are aiming at MT2003. We'll be in the TdS and RomaX2 this year. Germany actually had an Ellen in last year's MT- Boris Herrmann. 19 years old, great guy and broke.

So far he is still exactly that-broke, but apart from some coverage by Matthias Beilken (did the MT 1997), and the local press in his home town, he has been almost ignored by the sailing establishment here. But please remember, Bestaven nearly couldn't take part for lack of funds last year. Magnen nearly missed taking part in 1999 because he couldn't get time off and no sponsor... so it is not that straight forward in France either.

On Mark's point about the Figaro- sure it is the single-handed world cup-but none outside France knows about it. I asked some German yachting journalists and most had never even heard of it. MT has more appeal as an introduction.

From Charles Allen
What`s your view on this? How disappointing that RYA SOLO's (ie Mark Turner's) view of the single-handed sailing route to success involves competing in only French races. A single-handed sailing school would be a great help in encouraging potential sailors but the arguments over should it use Mini T or Figaro are pointless.

Basic single-handed sailing skills can be taught in any boat. Go and see one of the many boat builders in Cowes, Mark. They'll be very pleased to support your project and build or adapt an existing design to your requirements. What we need to encourage single-handed sailing in the UK and to nurture talent is our own local series of racing.

Well done the RWYC for expanding their programme and hosting a shorthanded sailing event every year. Well done the RSYC for hosting their very successful two-handed series every year. What we need is more races like these, based in the UK, promoting single-handed sailing at the grass roots.

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