Recent content by leftfield

I'm having similar problems with my clew sleeve - at least its performance doesn't quite seem to match a lot of the glowing reports on here. It tends to drag on the leading edge of the sleeve (especially with a loaded leech) rather than maintaining contact with the boom over its whole length...

Re: US Pan-Am Trials (Olympic Pre-Trial) According to Anna's website : "I was sailing a little higher than Paige on the reach and beginning to roll over her when she luffed to protect her lead. I responded immediately, but my boom touched her boat seconds later, setting up a windward leeward...

Tracy, did Jeff mention what the back up options are if Cascais falls through?

Masters Worlds are in Cascais, Portugal. Open Worlds finish on the 13th of July, so assume the Masters will run from around the 15th to the 22nd of July. Lots of info here: http://www.cascais2007.com but unfortunately no mention of Laser Masters as yet. Should be huge. As usual, it's very...

I did not say that the new fitting is inferior. I said that it is a compromise, which is not even close to the same thing. If you read the entire paragraph you are quoting you would understand that. But quoting out of context is so much more fun isn't it? And yes, I suppose that it is partly...

The vast majority of ILCA members did think the answers were adequate and voted for the fitting. You don't think the answers were adequate - that's fine, everyone has a right to their opinion. Unfortunately for you, you are in the minority, and the fitting has been approved. At the end of the...

The photos together with the proposed wording of the new rule were available for some time before and also during the voting process. There was considerable discussion on the web and particularly via the laser email list about the fitting, and I am sure there were plenty of offline discussions...

Mate, the Laser is a one design class. The purest one design class. Always has been, and hopefully always will be - our success is built on it. Development classes are about everyone being able to design their own mousetrap, and the game becomes about fiddling with gadgets as much as going...

Yes, the only purpose for the change is to make the clew slide better - that's the whole point! Now that we have the new rigging, the clew tie down is one of the main problem areas - this fitting will make a huge difference in the same way that the other new fittings did a few years ago. The...

I probably shouldn't ask, but why would you think the design is poorly thought out? The design is the end of a years long development process, and the feedback from sailors who have actually tested the sleeve is unanimously extremely positive. I can't wait to get my hands on one!

Qingdao? A training regatta at best. ;) Let's wait and see how different everything is when it matters, in two years time.

I think May 1970 is correct, so he is 36. Who knows their history? Is he the oldest winner ever?

The ILCA are on a hiding to nothing with these types of issues. If they try to enforce a requirement for builder supplied fittings, they get criticised (see the thread about the proposed new clew sleeve). If they try to give sailors a choice in how they set up the control lines on the boat, they...

Rob, I love the idea because it would certainly be cheaper and therefore good for the class, but I can't see it happening. The manufacturer, distributor, retailer food chain is a standard for most types of mass produced goods - cars, food, clothes, sails, whatever. I'm not sure why - I've...

Yes Rob, Laser sails are indeed insanely expensive. Those who live in the US are lucky - you can buy a new, legal sail for $500. At today's exchange rate, a new sail would cost you $US800 in Australia. But legalising sails from unlicensed builders is not the solution - it would cause many more...