[Brian Duff]

g On the Floor Laughing !

I guess I am fortunate to be involved in a community of sailors who expect their boats to be ready at any time for any conditions that might be met. I get guys once in a while that say something like " if its gonna blow more than 15kts, sails are coming down" and all you can do is shake your head, give written reports of your findings for liability protection, then wish them luck.

I think the problem is that so many glassfiber glossboxes are super dangerous to sail on in any decent weather, so a lot of folks get scared, then don't think they need to spend money on their boats cause the don't really get used anyway. Look at the conditions most of these contraptions are being advertising in for a real good laugh.

The problem with that mentality (of neglect) is that eventually something will fail, perhaps a large motorboat wake ( they are all going really fast because its so calm) will pitch the boat and snap that 'slightly corroded' turnbuckle clean off.

Sailing in a decent sea state is the best cause there are no wakes to cause problems, or their energy is at least dull compared to the prevailing motion. Oh, and the boat is going great guns and there is salt everywhere too ! Umm.