Having been happily sailing at the slow end of the fleet for almost 30 years, I was pleased to take note of your comments.

It is vital for the success of our sport, that both the competitive aspects and the recreational aspects are treated with equal importance.

Mirror dinghies should be treated as equal to 49ers, and Concrete Cruisers should be seen as having as important a place as the newest Fast 42.

The fact that we race our Holiday 23 in some of the prestigeous regattas of this country, is some times sniggered at, but our participation is always warmly welcomed, and this indicates that the powers that be recognise that the future of our sport is linked to its ability to accomodate all manner of interests and abilities.

It is my belief that we should be inculcating a love of sailing in our youth long before we teach them anything about winning.

And it is my belief that influencial people like you need to spread the word that the slow end of the fleet is a welcome part of the fleet, and that our "slow end comrades" need not fear ridicule in their early stages of participation. Rather they should feel that they are being nutured into a sort of brotherhood that will result in them acquiring a life long association with a multi facetted and fascinating past time.

At Boskop Yacht club, we call it "sailing for the Lekker kry"!

Regards,

Michael.