For some time I've been looking for a way to publicly thank the members of
our class for all the work you've done to help make the Swift one of the
fastest growing skiff classes in the world.
A look at the email on the list server while I was gone is a great example
of the kind of strength and class loyalty that surfaces when the foundation of
a class is built on home builders. The synergy and brotherhood created by
the process of building our own high performance skiffs has been underestimated
by most in the sailing worldâincluding myself. All of us who have also
bought Swifts that were commercially built benefit from this strong base of
people who have first hand experience (I've built and bought two each).
I was pleased to see that everyone pretty much ignored the âwankermailâ
that was posted to the site while I was gone. Nearly everyone on the list
knows
of the work that Greg has done for the class and recognized this as an attack
by someone who is threatened by the fact that there will soon be a fleet of
Swifts sailing at Sandy Hook. I understand that this guy has been removed
from the list now. As our class grows, we will continue to occasionally see
this kind of attack and we should continue to handle it just as we did this
time.
On the other hand, this guy did cause me to reflect on the things that Greg
has done for our class and for skiff sailing and I have to admit that his
post managed to piss me off more than it did Greg:
Greg and I go back to before the Swift class was being formed. When I was
the US class president for the 49er class Greg was engaged in trying to help
build the 49er fleet in the East. A number of circumstances had doomed the
class and it was the single most frustrating memory in my sailing career.
At that time if you lived in North America you had to buy 49ers from the US
builder and it had become clear that their boats remained competitive for
only a couple of regattas before they would no longer hold rig tension and
became very slow. This company was also the only source for 49er parts and
they
were making life miserable for anyone who needed parts by overcharging and
failing to ship. They had designed a similar double trapeze boat that they
were
trying to market. To compound the problem, the class had voted to change
the equalization system, the outcome of which made it impossible for any team
that didn't weigh 148 kg to be competitive. These problems were added to the
fact that the boat was difficult to sail when the wind velocity changed
because there were no reasonable on-the-water rig adjustments. Greg was
helping me
fight to fix these problems because he realized that it would be impossible
to build a 49er fleet in the East under the prevailing circumstances. In the
end, we learned that the majority of full time Olympic contenders that
controlled the class had no stake in fixing the problems and refused to help
(they
were buying their own boats at regattas overseas and having them shipped back
to the USA and in a short time, teams who didn't weigh 148 kg left the
class, reducing the competition for that one Olympic spot). Five years after
these problems decimated the 49er fleets in the US, the ISAF joined Julian and
went around the class members by throwing out the equalization system entirely,
and adding poor but workable rig adjustment capabilities so that part time
sailors can now sail the boat in a variety of conditions. In addition, the
US manufacturer's competing design failed miserably. They had quit building
49ers about four years ago (shortly after their competing design hit the
market) and now import them from the NZ builder. Continuous pressure from
Greg,
myself, and Dave Fagen forced them to start providing reasonably parts
service.
I was developing the Swift as a trainer for 49er sailing and had learned a
lot from the battles that Greg and I were fighting. When the boat was
launched, it was clear that the design far exceeded my design capabilities--
thanks
in large part to the frustrating lessons learned at the helm of the US 49er
class. The brilliance of the Bethwaiteâs had become clear to me and I was
wise enough to realize that I should not try to reinvent the wheel that they
had developed so well. Rather, I would adapt and adjust their theories to
single handed sailing. Greg, having witnessed the problems and helped in the
battles, immediately realized that the Swift was a potentially giant step
forward and decided to join the class. More than anything else, his decision
would shape the class into what it is today. Below is the list of his
contributions to the class:
When we ran the US supplier out of 49er launcher throats, Greg came up with
the current core and construction method which is lighter, stronger, and in
the end, less expensive.
When we ran the US supplier out of 49er forestay fittings, Greg and I teamed
up, argued until we reached agreement on the design, and Greg manufactured
the current fittings that are superior to any skiff forestay fitting that
Iâve
seen on any skiff to date. The ideas that make it best are Greg's ideas.
When we ran the US supplier out of carbon 49er tillers, Greg developed the
current method and cores.
When we ran the US supplier out of blades, Greg and I teamed up, used his
cores, and together developed the lightest blades available anywhere. When
the early designs failed, we worked out the solution together.
Greg purchased and developed the inflatable that the class now counts on for
rescue and coaching with the intention of using it when the other Swifts in
NY are completed and in need of coaching. His purpose in starting the Skiff
League is to promote skiff sailing in NY and he is well on the way to building
a Swift class at Sandy Hook. He knows that it will take a couple of years
to get his own start but they should have at last three there by mid summer.
This is the short list and fails miserably to cover Greg's contribution to
the class.
Thanks for letting this guys email go by not responding to it. As we become
more successful, expect more attacks on the boat and on our members. The
world will always have a few wankers that lack the courage required to either
build or sail a skiff and find it necessary to try to bring down those who do.
Forgive me for responding, but if there is one new subscriber that doesn't
know Greg, perhaps this bit of history may help.
Have a great thanksgiving and thanks to all or you for your help while I was
gone.
Best regards,
Bram
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