Listening to all the comments while racing at Banora Point each Monday can be quite enlightening. On reflection I thought it might be interesting to attempt to define the various eclectic groups that participate in our sport.
So here goes;
The Prima Donna – conceited, egotistical, over bearing, think they’re a star. “Racing Rules – what the hell are those – they don’t apply to me”. Can be quite often seen walking away boat in hand mid race, throw gear in the car and driving away. They are never in the wrong – always someone else’s fault. You’re protesting me you must be dreaming” mentality. Continual comments about others for the whole race. Will argue the point until finally told to “sail your boat” though not necessarily that concise. Has no idea of the meaning of “a good sport”. “Congratulations” to someone who just beat them – don’t know the meaning of the word?
Grumpy Old Man – Everyone else is always wrong, never ever their fault, shout out comments with complete disregard to “The Racing Rules of Sailing”. Will continue the discussion/complaining for the at least the next 2 legs of the course. Also quite content to carry on the penalty/infringement conversation after the race is finished. Maybe conversant with the basic 10 Rules/Commandments of Racing and nothing much more. Can occasionally be seen to throw their transmitter to the ground while having a hissy fit. Not really aware of the meaning of a “good Sport”. Might congratulate someone who just beat them to the finish.
Partially Blind Grumpy Old Men – Just keep their heads down and sail Mar—Jun 2016 Page 31 their boats. Hit/miss marks/boats and keep going until somebody calls them to account. If nobody calls they keep going. Starts near enough to their allocated start time as nobody else knows what its supposed to be anyway. Conversant with port and starboard some of the time and not much else from the “Racing Rules of Sailing”. The 10 Rules/Commandments of Racing Rules – “never heard of them”. Also known to take their boat out of the water put it on the ground sit in their chair fuming for the rest of the afternoon. Sort of a “good sport”, might grudgingly compliment a fellow competitor who’s just beaten them if their eyes are not playing up. Marks are too far away – crook eyes.
Not so Old Grumpy Old Men – Suffer from all of the above syndromes. Can be known to very very occasionally almost become physical if called on a rule that they don’t agree with. Think they know every single rule in all 200 plus pages of “The Racing Rules of Sailing”. Which once again they don’t. Spend a good percentage of the day sailing everyone else’s boat as well as their own. Have the ability to call penalties on boats at the complete opposite end of the course from themselves. At the same time as their boat veers into someone alongside of them due to inattention and still be able to argue about who’s at fault.
Cruisey Dudes – Can sail all day and if they infringe they do a penalty turn in the blink of an eye totally clear of others without any comment other than an acknowledgment of the infringement and their sail number, can sail around the regular top mark group clusterf#*ks and still beat them to the next mar Rarely need to take their boats out of the water between races to tune for extra speed – they already have it. Have no need to involve themselves in everybody else arguments because they sail clean, fast and stay in clear air whenever possible. Fully understands the meaning of course management and uses it by continually looking up/down the course for the next shift, and planning the easiest/cleanest way to get to the next mark. Knows at Page 32 Mar—Jun 2016 least 80% of the 200 odd pages of “Rules of Sailing”. Reads a bit of the Rule Book at breakfast each race day. If they have a bad race they focus on the next one and always compliment those that have just beaten them. Have nothing but positive input to those around them. Don’t stand around complaining about the last race while the countdown is happening for the next one.
SCHIZOPHRENIA An actual Mental disease which can unfortunately effect some people. Usually kept under control by Prescription Drugs. Unfortunately some people try to emulate this condition when something doesn’t go their way and they go from Dr. Jekyll to Mr. Hyde to copy the worst attributes of the Above. Okay so that’s my take on our racing days, where do you think you fit in and most importantly where do you think that with a bit of concerted effort, you could make yourself become.
ANONYMOUS.
P.S. This little thesis is a product of “One of Us” current Skippers Sailing at Lake Kimberley. If you can see any resemblance to the above let’s try and improve our Lakeside Behavior and our image to the Public and fellow Skippers.