Feedback

It comes as no surprise to us that some of our readers do not like the idea of paying for madforsailing, but the reasons they give are sometime baffling. Take this one:

From Michael Romanek
Agree or disagree - let us know what you think? Disagree! You have a good site, but I believe your plan to go subscription based will lead to your demise. Too many well put together websites have gone out of business due to their errant business plans. I like your site, but many will not deem it worth £25 when nearly all the information may be had from other yachting sites.

So Michael, where else exactly could you have read detailed analysis of the Tornado class from one of the top crews, an insiders account of racing in the America's Cup non-regatta, a two-part interview with Shirley Robertson, Peter Bentley's comments on Paul Henderson's proposals for the Olympics, acerbic comment on the new ISAF sailor system, and looked at some truly great pictures from Little America's Cups of the past? We had all that and more on madforsailing this week and if you sign up now it works out at less than five pence per day. Alternatively you could spend your time trawling the web for just a small part of what we bring you on madforsailing. And as for your comments about our business plan, it's precisely because we don't want to go out of business that we have decided to charge a subscription fee.

The Volvo Ocean Race continues to fascinate our readers and some of you have some interesting comments to make. These three were amongst the best we have received this week.

From Jonny Hooper, Hamble, Hants.
So near yet so far?How could Illbruck's AC challenge be seriously considered as a viable commercial proposition when they have squandered $30 million on a Volvo campaign? They are extremely well prepared having had 3 years more development time than any other team and yet despite this they are certainly not infallible. Their sail wardrobe is reputedly exceptional and is credited by many as the reason for the all round excellence, but can this really account for the extra $15 million required? The cracks are beginning to appear from the boat as Kostecki bemoans 'bad luck' for their near sinking and the tornados, and Ballantyne complains of a 'vendetta against them'. Perhaps it is beginning to sink in that having spent twice as much money as any other campaign (despite only building 1 boat), there are really no excuses for them to loose any leg and if Mr. Illbruck were to expect anything like a similar performance in the Cup from this bunch of sailors he would need to put his entire company up for sale!

From JMcLeod
What action should be taken against SEB for the damage to illbruck? SEB should be disqualified from this leg. This is not the AC where there are support boats 10 seconds away. I doubt that SEB would have tried to dip an iceberg that close.

From Dean Hubbard Orlando, Florida USA
Are the girls coming good? Of course they are! Girls are more intuitive than men. That's going to show on Leg 5 where outguessing the clouds and currents will reign supreme. Having the distraction of the frigid legs behind them, their talents are warming to the challenge and are pushing them into the real race with the boys. (There's nothing worse than pesky sisters following you around.) If I had a chance to take a ride on a V.O. 60 I would jump on the girl boat in a heartbeat to learn from them.


Despite the emergence of so many manufacturer's one-designs, there is clearly still a need for development classes. We need more enthusiastic people like this.

From Dominic (age 18)
Have you sailed a Cherub? I have been sailing cherubs for just over a year now, and am loving it. I don't think you will find a faster boat for less money. I've already been bitten by the bug and am currently designing my first boat, hoping to build it over this winter. I can give it a silly name and paint it a silly colour, what more could i want!? We are a friendly bunch so feel free to talk to anybody at an event.


Page two.... The little America's Cup and performance enhancing drugs
Page three... Paul Henderson's proposals for the future of the Olympic Games