Then try explaining how a crew of 19 year old aussies at Melbourne Grammar set the record for an 8+ last year. Currents? Tailwind?philrow wrote:Wrong - FISA monitors and verifies 'best times' on the water. Just because environmental factors exist does not mean that rows cannot be compared. There are similar variables on erg performances, as well. For a given ergo, the winner may be sandbagging a bit; for a given row, there may be a bad headwind. That doesn't mean both instances can't end up dealing with record times. Interestingly enough, Drysdale holds the best time for a 1x row set at Worlds in Poznán this year.bloomp wrote: Wrong - two men (I leave out old because mid-late 50s isn't really that old) on the machines is far more accurate and comparable than a singles race. In fact, the whole reason there is no serious 'world record' talk for OTW races is the fact that races will never be comparable. Ever. Even a slight difference in current between lanes, or wind, etc can never be fully duplicated.
Although two people - and two old guys are indeed people, however physically and psychologically declining they may be in their decrepitude - doing an ergo head to head is a pretty good way to settle any dispute, I'd imagine.
And way to at least (not) pretend to try to help out with the 'let's play nice!' mindset, Rich.
I am not stupid, I know WR for OTW are kept, but people don't run around at race venues talking about a boat possibly breaking a WR. They talk about winning the race. And the time is second to that.
Paul