Class Politics Thoughts on Pricing of class approved Sails.

Hi friends,
regarding racing on club level and not for the district list rankings, we welcome every Laserite, that want to share the lots of fun on the water with us. At that level of racing, not the origin of the sail, but the ability to sail successful of the sailor her-/himself (and her/his weight probably also is important) to sail in front of the racing fleet.

Only the top-level racers or people that don't know where to get used ones, buy new sails from the official "Laser direct" stores or their authorized partners. Top Laserites also offer their used sails for good conditions to Laserites that sail at club races etc. etc. - this circle is closed well. Everyone (Hyde/North, the out-of-the-box-boat-builders, ILCA, postal-services, Laser-store-owners, top-sailors, used sail buyers sailing-clubs etc. etc.) of this circle have a bit profit and it works fine since the Laser came over the big pool from North America, 1972.

It is not correct to compare the prices of the sails between the continents. Why? – Well, simply just try to compare the price of a standard bottle of cow-milk bought at WallMart USA related to one that is offered at WallMart Europe (I want to express, that the system of pricing goods can be totally different between continents). I am 100% sure, none of the store owners, that offer parts for the Laser at NA or other continents, throw out a tourist and guest at their city, that just want to make a small bargain and buy f.e. a new folded Radial from North to carry it home in their tourist-suitcase (Those customers have the full risk at the border of paying extra duty!! and that really can be an expensive experience in our days...). In Europe, a folded Hyde for the standard rig (North is not available here, I guess) is nearly everywhere at the same level between 545 to 580 Euros (1 Euro is about 1,25 US$) and often the official-stores for the Laser gives you some % less if you are a regular customer there. Also they give you warranty. Used Sails in good conditions are availble for about 200-300 Euros and new practice sails aber also at that level. So, I allways would buy a good used class-legal Sail.


Relating to the rules, I am the opinion, that they protect us all about a boring and expensive battles of material and make racing at official racing events easy to join (have a legal boat, 37 years old or new, and pay the fee for the entry and you are one of those numerous who have the fun, on the water). I already get nightmares enough, by thinking of a Mylar-Carbon-sail or those Carbon-spars for the Laser...

Over 30 years ago, at the time I started to enjoy the sailing of the Laser, we kept our eyes most to optimize our ability of sailing the Laser and exact that has been the reason, we not had those battles of material compared to our days where we already think f.e. of changing the Harken 312 at the boom to take those smaller new ones from Harken, you know.

If someone comes to us and says:
"Hey Lu, am I allowed to race with you, but I only have a 7,06-square-meter-Lasersail from xyz-Sailmakers?!"
I would say: "You are welcome, sail with us and join the barbecue aft the sailing. But, keep of the hidden small electric-engine propeller at the transom of your Laser and strict follow rule-42 at our low-wind-pools, okay... ;o) "

Cheers (and see you all at Kiel-Week next Saturday okay, the good-German-beer barrels are already stored at the fridge's there ... ;) )
LooserLu
 
Hi friends,

Cheers (and see you all at Kiel-Week next Saturday okay, the good-German-beer barrels are already stored at the fridge's there ... ;) )
LooserLu

I am sooooo jealous!!!

I will be working in my hot humid boatshop and wishing I were playing over there with you!!
 

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