| In nearly every sailing club, website or forum you | | | | enjoy it, but I do not consider it a sport. All I am |
| will hear references to this long argument | | | | doing is following my instincts in a particular |
| between the racers and the cruisers. Both are | | | | direction. |
| completely different lines of thought (much like | | | | Racing is the only thing that will improve your |
| Keynesian and Monetarist Economics), but share | | | | sailing further and this is something cruising can |
| only one common love: sailing. | | | | never do. When you see someone ahead of you |
| In my personal opinion, I think cruising is a waste | | | | in a race, you must look at the reason behind this |
| of time. To me it is like hitting a football against a | | | | since all the boats are the same (exceptions in |
| fence or playing tennis against a wall. There is no | | | | handicapped races). The thing that is improving his |
| reason to do it! | | | | sailing is that he has knowledge you don't. You |
| Racing is what makes sailing a sport. In racing, one | | | | then have a reason to understand this knowledge |
| must learn to improve their skills in order to rout | | | | (in order to beat this competitor) and hopefully |
| their opponent out of the race. In cruising, the | | | | win. |
| only thing you are doing is going in a direction. | | | | This is just like how the Computer Age came out |
| There is no structure, no progress, no learning | | | | of a conflict between the USA and the USSR |
| and especially no skill involved. In other words it is | | | | known as the Cold War. Why would the USA |
| not a sport. | | | | have wanted to divert important funds needed |
| Sport is defined as: Physical activity that is | | | | for economic growth in order to beat the |
| governed by a set of rules or customs and often | | | | Russians in the space race? |
| engaged in competitively. Now that I have | | | | So in conclusion, if you sail because you want to |
| dismissed the idea of cruising as a sport, there is | | | | become good at it, engage in racing. If you want |
| no reason do it as a sport. This article is not here | | | | to use sailing as an exercise or to get a suntan, |
| to stop people cruising. I cruise all the time and | | | | engage in cruising. |