1 September

Andrew,

I have read with interest the debate relating to the post Optimist period in youth sailing.

Before discussing the 420 as a class suitable for youth sailing, I would like to discuss a matter that we are all overlooking. This is the value of the mirror as a junior boat in conjunction with the optimist.

Don't scoff at the value of the Mirror as a trainer. Here are a few names that have passed through the ranks of Mirrors. Try Nigel Trevarthen, current FD champion, Georgie Amoils, and Sieraj Jacobs as South African examples. If you prefer to see it on an international scale, look up the sailing background of Mark Rushall, British Firefly, Lark and Laser 5000 National champion. Also Ian Walker (Olympic 470 medallist), Mark Upton Brown (505 and International 14 world champion) and Dave Derby (Fireball World champ). All those names are from Britain alone. The list is huge on an international scale.

Mirrors can also be sailed by juniors internationally, at a very high level of competition. Based on what we saw during our recent trips to the UK and Australia, it seems that there is a direct step from the Mirror to the 420 in Australia and especially in the UK. A whole number of the juniors we met sailing Mirrors at the Worlds in Tasmania, had, by the time we got to the UK, graduated to 420's.

Many of the principles that we encountered with regard to boat speed and boat handling and boat set up in Mirrors, were similar in 420's. Had we come from a background of Oppies, we would not have had experience of a lot of necessary technique and knowledge.

The fact is, the Mirror is double handed, has a jib and especially a spinnaker, and handles completely differently from an Oppie. Mirrors are abundant and affordable, and could be the best way for a timid junior to be introduced to sailing. There is also a lot to be said for the social aspect of sailing two up. The aspect of building the Mirror at home, adds another dimension to the equation, although, for the less traditional, competitive GRP mirrors are sailing regularly in Australia but still haven't proved to be any faster than the wooden boats.

Maybe, we should be looking at two options. The Optimist being the step into Lasers, and the Mirror, being the step into 420's.

As a seven year old, you could start at the 09er level, move into a competitive Oppie, and from there into the reduced rig laser.

Or just as easily, our seven year old could start crewing on a Mirror, move up to driving the Mirror, and from there into 420's.

Both of these options achieve the desired goal of producing sailors of high quality, that have an international future. As for the 420, we are the South African team that has most recently sailed 420's, and despite our age, we feel that we should be taken seriously when we support the 420 as a boat that should be introduced in South Africa.

The Laser 2 is not an option. It is just not in the same league. Having sailed both boats recently, we are prepared to state emphatically that as a stepping stone to the Olympics (in 470's that is) to sail a Laser 2 would be a lot less beneficial.

The 29er seems to have been rejected in the UK, as the next step in youth sailing, and in fact, ISAF has changed from the 29er back to the 420, based, it would seem on international pressure. There were a whole lot more 420 teams at the latest youth worlds than at the previous youth worlds in Canada, where the 29er was the boat of choice.

In the mean time, we plan to sail our Dabbies, Sprognosis, the family Fireball, our Mirror and anything else we can lay our hands on, as often as we can, because we think that the specific class you sail is not as important as the amount of time you spend on the water, and how much you enjoy sailing.

Regards,

Brennan Robinson.