Tracey Covell – Equalisation

AT LAST! a dinghy I can be competitive in without being on a continual diet. I’m not sure which was more tedious – the putting on or taking off phase. Neither was much fun! If we were all sensible we might stick to boats suitable for our physique, but there again if we were sensible we probably wouldn’t go sailing at all!

With the influx of new asymmetric classes into the sailing world it is difficult to choose between them. From a personal point of view the concept of 60 identical boats with identical weight and horsepower lining up on the start line, attracted me to the Laser 5000.

Of course development classes are absolutely crucial to our sport. Let’s face it, if it wasn’t for the 14, I doubt if the new wave of dinghies would ever have evolved. However, personally I have always preferred one design racing, where results are a more direct reflection of sailing ability as opposed to bank balance and technical expertise. It’s tremendous what’s happened over the last few years, when the sport of sailing seems to have gone through an enormous amount of change. We now have more exciting boats, more challenging courses, and increasing media exposure. The final factor encourages corporate interest and sponsorship, which give the opportunity to enhance the sport still further.

We are extremely fortunate in the 5000 class to have substantial sponsorship from Audi, enabling the Euro Cup circuit to be televised and shown on Sky and terrestrial channels worldwide. This provides an enormous incentive to individual sponsors, and we are very grateful to Hyde Sails for their support of our Laser 5000 campaign.

Back in the 1950′s, when David Hunt donned his special platform shoes to crew his Olympic Flying Dutchman, I doubt he ever considered that four decades later we’d all be copying him! In the Laser 5000, by adjusting the racks, smaller teams have bigger platforms. I think many sailors still don’t realise our boats are equalised for weight and leverage, like having identical cars all with the same power. That this theory works is born out by the fact that after four seasons close racing, no optimal weight and height combination has evolved, as some of the sceptics thought it would. You are just as likely to see two short 67 kg people at the front in 25 knots, as you are to see two tall 85 kg people at the front in 5 knots! This fact also means that female sailors, who tend to be lighter, are not disadvantaged by their size, and it is good to see a growing number of girls gravitating into the fleet both as helms and crews. I think that they would agree it is a wonderful opportunity to compete in a fast powerful dinghy on equal terms against the men.

Many sailors, of course, enjoy racing with their partners and therefore can adjust the boat to suit them; rather than resorting to placing an ad in the lonely hearts column.

Wanted – wife/husband, must be 6 ft, 80 kg and own fast boat – Please send picture of boat.