Best Way To Carry Drinking Water

All,
I'll preface this question with a warning story of what can happen if you don't do the right thing by your body!

I recently ended up in Emergency with disorientation and memory loss. I had done a lot that day, a bike ride plus 5 short couse races. I did not have much to eat and very little to drink. The general opinion of the medicos that it was an episode brought on by obviously doing too much and not eating/drinking enough. It was a worring time for my wife as she didn't know whether I had had a stroke or not.

Now I am trying to carry a bottle of water on the boat but not having much luck finding a good solution to where to put it. I have it tied up with a short piece of rope at the back of the cockpit but aftyer a capsize yeaterday it got wound around the tiller and a nice loop around the traveller blocks (Arggghh...)

I was thinking that I could use a bicycle bottle holder screwed or velcroed to the back of the cockpit.

I had a search throug the forum and some people use an elasticised bag attached at the front.

Is there a preferred solution? What do the top sailors do?

Thanks Ian
 
I have seen quite a few with a (bicycle style) bottle holder that clamps to the mast.

:) PS: The top sailors have a coach on a Mommy boat with an ample supply of water and ...
 
This Rooster presentation is mostly about the toestrap adjustment, but fast-foward to around 6:00 and he briefly talks about adding a piece of shock cord at the rear of the cockpit to hold a water bottle. And he's not a fan of attaching to the mast (which I have done for years.

 
I use the system explained by rooster above and also some elastic attached around the mast with another bottle through there. :)
 
Super easy solution. Get a small dry bag with a plastic clip—from the local outdoor or boating store—big enough to fit a water bottle, sunscreen, and some snacks. Clip it to the base of your mast. It stays out of your way but is easy to reach when you need to rehydrate.
 
And still currently illegal, from my understanding.
You're kidding! It's been a couple of years since the thing was introduced.... With all due respect to the powers-that-be, this is the reason why I avoid so-called "sanctioned" events and race with like minded individuals who just want to go out and compete and have fun.
 
And still currently illegal, from my understanding.

The bottleport is just a differently shaped inspection port cover. You have to have a cover for your inspection port of course and the class rules don't say anything about what shape the inspection port cover has to be, only that they are allowed, you can't mount a compass to it and that the covers have to be threaded & watertight (not bayonet mounts). If the bottleport is threaded & watertight then why would it be illegal?
 
Earlier thread on the same topic.

http://sailingforums.com/threads/bottleport-reviewed-by-tillerman.8814/

It runs into issue on several levels and no change in the wording has occurred since this came up the last time. The manufacturer was going to take this to the World Measurer several years ago and changes in the class rules had to be made to accommodate it, which meant running throught the voting procedure. The latter parts hasn't occurred. Hence why it's still likely to be illegal.
 
You're kidding! It's been a couple of years since the thing was introduced.... With all due respect to the powers-that-be, this is the reason why I avoid so-called "sanctioned" events and race with like minded individuals who just want to go out and compete and have fun.
+1 to this ...
 
In defence of the powers that be, just because something is available in your region, doesn't mean it's available in all regions, so they remain fairly unaware of the product. It's just as likely that Bottleport didn't get off their behind and approach the powers that be, to get the ball rolling.
 
Is there a preferred solution? What do the top sailors do?

The top sailors in Australia are generally just attaching a plastic hook to a bike bottle, using shockcord or cord. They then just hook the bottle onto the shockcord / rope at the back of the cockpit for the hiking strap.

Alternatively, they have a long length of shockcord attached to the bike bottle that is tied off to the traveller fairleads, with the bottle sitting in the cockpit.

The Bottleport mentioned above is not available in Australia.

It's also illegal to use camel backs / geigerrigs hydration systems which are worn on the back. These were effectively banned when weight jackets were banned in the 90's.
 
Thanks AlanD. Not that I usually attend laser events but would it be legal to attach a bike bottle holder to the back of the cockpit?
 
It's been a long time since I seen one on a laser, but I'm pretty sure they are legal. Pop down to MHASC one weekend and see how the others are doing it.
 
its important to stay hydrated, when I go out to practice in the summer I usually bring a camelback with ice cold water, I also use it for biking and sometimes on big boats when its really hot,

I usually just tie it on somewhere where it won't bother me or fall out during a roll tack/gybe or wipeout

the minimum I bring for a short afternoon sail is a water bottle, you can tie it to the back of the cockpit pretty easily

I had a bottleport and its great but I had to replace my inspection port and it doesn't fit the new port

at smaller regattas they might and should provide some water, if you're going to big events you should either have a coach boat or set up something with someone who does have one to carry plenty of water, in our frostbiting series I drink 1-2 bottles of water, when it gets warmer you need alot more water
 
Try this maybe. Look at the picture on page 3 re. b. "2. Flaschenhalterungen":

http://www.laserklasse.de/media/dokumente/Laser Umbau-Manual Norbert Peter Berlin 2005.pdf

Drill two holes 6 mm in diameter vertically through the plastic (or wood if you have a really old boat) grab rail near the rear and (out of the way of your main hunching/hiking position further forward) and pass one end od of a piece of 50 cm shock cord through each hole and tie simple knot. Slip a cycling bottle or any other bottle with a "waist" through both loops by stretching the shock cord over it. Violá.
 
AlanD
I am trying not to be a total pest, but is that system actually 'legal'?

Laser Class Rules : http://www.laserinternational.org/sites/default/files/Class_Rules_2010.pdf

It's been interpreted as legal for a long time, I believe using Rule 21 Clips & Storage Bags. Somehow bike cages make it under that category as well, I disagree with that interpretation wrt to bike cages, but that's how it currently stands. As I said in the earlier thread, whilst Jean-Luc didn't give his reasoning, I suspect the dual purpose of the Bottleport and the phase the storage receptacle has to be under the inspection port is where it runs fowl of the class rules.

Just remember, I don't interpret the rules (except while waiting for a ruling), I just apply the rules as written, with a few accepted interpretations, some I agree with, others I don't. I'd rather the rules be more black and white, with no areas of grey. I also think that the ILCA doesn't do enough in clarifying rules and making those clarifications public knowledge.
 
Well that makes that one clear. Thanks Rodolfo. That overturns a ruling from memory going back to the Paul Milson days.

Jean-Luc been busy, last time I looked there, there were only 2 pages.
 
So a simple and effective way to carry drinking water, which apparently was ruled to be legal by the powers-that-be many years ago, and has been interpreted as being legal ever since, is now ruled illegal because of an interpretation by one guy? I'm actually a strong supporter of adherence to the class rules (to the annoyance of some of my friends with a more relaxed attitude on such matters) but this does seem to be becoming ridiculous.

Carrying enough water to prevent dehydration is a safety issue, and we should be leaning towards allowing ways of carrying as many bottles of water that people think they may need for a day's sailing. Is drilling a couple of holes in the grab rail so clearly against the rules that we must outlaw it? Rule 21 could surely be interpreted either way on this one.
 
The problem is that we've never had any rules with respect to carrying water bottles. With the way the class rules are written, where everything is automatically illegal, unless there is a rule that permits it, it's been an oversight not to specifically permit them to be carried (ditto with food) other than in a storage bag or a bag under the inspection port. There is one thing which is specifically banned under the clothing weight rules is hydration packs (Camel Backs, Geigerrigs etc) as they are effectively a weight jacket

I've probably said this before, but I do believe that the class is too reliant upon word of mouth when it comes to rule interpretations and too lax in applying the rules that do exist. Getting interpretations out into the public was an issue well before Jean-Luc took over as World Measurer. At least Jean-Luc is trying to improve things on this aspect, but every measurement interpretation, every question/ answer should at the absolute minimum be circulated to every measurer involved with the class and not just J-L & the person that asked it. I will defend J-L on changing interpretation, firstly the wording in the rules has changed, even a slight variation can alter the meaning significantly, add to this that English is not his first language so he may not fully understand that a comma here or there may have a huge impact.

People complain about Australian spars being different for the UK spars, or some other variation between boats in different regions, but are willing to let others race with illegally rigged boat or copy sails or ignore the racing rules. The only reason why Intensity et al have a market is because we as Laser sailors have let others use this illegal equipment at club level. If nobody bought it, they wouldn't try to fill the void. Why do a 360 turn for touching a mark or 720 turn for infringing another boat when no one protests?
 
I have a few of these
water bottle 3.jpg
waterbottle 1.jpg
 
The only reason why Intensity et al have a market is because we as Laser sailors have let others use this illegal equipment at club level.

With the greatest respect:
I disagree with your statement about "the only reason Intensity has a market," and object because of its implications.

I have sailed a Laser for 20 years exclusively for recreational reasons - never raced it, even with the local club --- which I understand has a pretty good fleet. Having access to reasonably-priced non-racing parts from Intensity is VERY important to keeping me sailing. I think I understand your perspective as a racer/measurer. I raced one-designs for ~10 years, from Tech Dingy's to Shields. I enjoyed it VERY much at that stage of my life. I made it to my class national's a couple times and smile when I see the cups + etc on the shelf still. I think I appreciate + understand, and I know that I support, the principle of a one-design racing class, and the "fundamental principle" as a cornerstone in a class's rules.

I would ask that you understand, and respect, and not undermine, my perspective and how I sail...
- I don't have the time or interest or free cashflow to race. Not by conscious choice- family and career pretty much are what they are. Yes, I understand there are plenty of people with families and careers who DO manage to race. I say bravo to and for them.
- I have 3 kids, going thru college, and my local taxes have tripled in 15 years.
- my cash income, as an entrepreneur, is highly unstable ... right now I'm looking for either work or funding, and of course buying individual health insurance for my family on the open market.
- my wife is a free lance artist. She loves her work, but the pay is lousy.
I'm not looking for sympathy. I feel very blessed in so many ways. I'm not crying in my beer. I'm working hard, saving money where I can, and sailing whenever the wind blows and family or work don't come first.

Sailing is a tremendous joy and relaxation in my life. It's like riding a bike or skiing- it's relaxation. I don't have the interest in competing any more. I just like the wind and the water, and the sun if there is any that day. Or actually, I just love them. And I love the solitude out on the water.

I would ask that you please recognize the very important role that the availability of cheaper, non-racing parts plays in my oh-so-loved recreational sport of sailing. And please let's not, by implication, condemn Intensity or Jim, or others. I value the role that they play in the market very highly. Please let me and people like me sail how we want, and please don't attack our key sources.

Have fun racing, while I have fun sailing,
Respectfully,
 
I finally decided to fit a bike drink bottle holder. Found a good one that holds the bottle in place quite firmly. Also bought a squeese type bottle with a valve. Put it on the Port side of the read toe strap fitting. I feel this is better than a shock cord arrangement as you don't have to fiddle with getting it back into the shock cord it just slides in easily to the bike fitting.
 
I finally decided to fit a bike drink bottle holder. Found a good one that holds the bottle in place quite firmly. Also bought a squeese type bottle with a valve. Put it on the Port side of the read toe strap fitting. I feel this is better than a shock cord arrangement as you don't have to fiddle with getting it back into the shock cord it just slides in easily to the bike fitting.
I did exactly the same thing this year(port side as well). The new Camelback bottles are great, you can turtle the boat a hundred times and it still tastes like a Dark & Stormy.
 
I fill a drybag with water and snacks and attach it to the mast or the back of the hiking strap. Worked well for me at Midwinter's East.
 

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