We've reached my 'home' class - I currently sail 470s and have been sailing them since 2006. They are the current Olympic equipment for men and women double-handed dinghies, which is why the trip I'm currently on is what we call the Olympic circuit. It probably goes without saying that these boats are raced at a very high level internationally.
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More 470 facts. )
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When you do that trapeze thingy - how often do you fall/slip and slam into the boat or the water?
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Does Sara wear some special shoes that gives her a better grip?
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My partner before Sara once got knocked by a wave and fell with the boat smack between her legs. Really loudly. It sounded like she'd broken her girl parts. (She was okay, though, it was just a hard knock.)
We both wear sailing boots, which help. (Also, I think I'd better have a separate post on those as sailing essentials!)
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I always imagined there was a lot of finesse involved, but I can see how you might need to retrain for every class of sailboat in a way.
How did you get into sailing?
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There are definitely class-specific techniques and tricks, but I think the basics apply quite generally across the board, fortunately!
How did you get into sailing?
It's quite random, actually. My parents sent my brothers and me for a class when I was 10, on the recommendation from a family friend. And then I just continued. I won't say 'because I liked it', because I cannot remember if I loved it from day 1 - I think it took a while, really, my memory's just fuzzy on that point. But I know that definitely when I was 12, I was very keen to keep sailing, when I was 15, I was completely in love, and by the time I was 18, I knew what I wanted to do for the rest of my life.
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I think every sport has skills specific to it, just that in the less common sports, those skills aren't so obvious to the general public. I'm glad these posts are helping to make sailing more clear to you guys!
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