Who’s better?

Who’s better? You, me or the salt from the sea…?

Football has four principle codes; soccer, AFL, league and rugby. I bet if you ask any player across any code they would say their choosen ball is by far the superlative.

Sailing has thousands of classes, but again each and every sailor would choose his or her preferred class as the favourable option.

But why are we so narrow minded? Why is it that I constantly hear the bickering sounds of distant arguments over which class is superior and why? As sailors, are we trying to express our desire and passion for the type of boat we sail, or are we simply endeavouring to justify our chosen class to the masses? Who is to say the class we chose is the better selection? When will we just learn to appreciate the differing opinions and bang the favoured side of the course and get on with the race?

The question is often asked amongst the junior sailors of Australia. Why sail an Optimist when you can sail a Sabot, yet why sail a Sabot when you can race a Manly Junior? All three classes are for the juniors of the sport and all offer their own unique developmental stage of racing.

Most would say the Optimist is the way to go as it is the only junior class supported by ISAF, however then the Sabots ark up and pronounce that Australia is a Sabot nation and provides one of the largest fleets for the youngsters, then come the Manly Junior supporters who acknowledge the Optimist and Sabot sailors however the youngsters whom sail an MJ learns spinnaker techniques at a early age and therefore develops their skills of three sail tactics at an enhanced rate.

Who is to say one is far superior than the other?

Who decides which class offers the better options for the sailors?

When it comes to football the players all run around the same field, even though the shape may be different and the lines segregated at various intervals, they are basically playing on a strip of grass with their ultimate goal the same; to win.

Sailors all race on water and again, even though the courses may be different across the array of classes, the end result is what we strive to achieve; to win.

It’s time all this interclass arguing was put on hold and we respect each other and the decisions we make as sailors. At the end of the day we have a desire to race and are fortunate to reside in one of the worlds leading racing nations.

So if you ever find yourself in the depths of a conversation regarding which is better, always choose sailing, because let’s face it, regardless of what boat you race, it’s always going to be far superior than running back and forth with a football and massive blokes charging towards you at full pace.

I would much prefer the salt of the sea any day of the week.