Recent content by Sean

I think an average budget for someone from Australia to participate would be around the $7,000 AUD mark. That would include the airfare, charter, precharter, regatta transport and accommodation and meals. A 10 race series would cost approximately $700 per race. An extremely good reason in my...

Because they can. Because people will pay. Because for many people it isn't a whole lot of money to race at a World Championship. Global Racing Event Equals Demand

First time putting an 8.1 rig up. Nice looking rig and quite large. That extra meter in height makes a lot of difference. Sailed against some Finns the other day but could not match them upwind in a 5 knot breeze. Struggled to find height compared to when sailing a full rig Laser but it...

G'day Jeffers, These were first worn around end of January this year, 2011. Maybe I got a pair with some neoprene that was slightly faulty. They have disintegrated on the front and the back just has normal wear. I haven't used them a huge amount as I would usually use a really old pair and...

With an on shore breeze and waves the way to launch if you had someone to retrieve your dolly, would be to walk into the surf bow first until you are afloat. Hold the boat on the side near the centerboard and in gaps between waves get the board in and the rudder down as much as you can. Grab the...

I doubt that the sideways pressure you can exert on the centreboard case when righting the boat would do that. It is under far higher loads just being sailed. That sort of cracking is usually caused by the hull deforming inwards around the case. The case is very rigid in a vertical plane so...

No. Not normal. If it is a boat you are considering buying I would pass. It is to new for that sort of cracking. It looks to be on only one side and appears to radiate out for a greater distance than you normally see with cracking in that area. It may be the consequence of some kind of...

You're very welcome to your opinion Stink. That is the great thing about being an individual, you can hold any opinion you like. As for calling out the manufacturer, if they choose to use that particular image as a marketing tool they leave themselves open to being questioned on the accuracy...

Just ordered 2 pairs of hikers. Gill Pro Hikers and some Neil Pryde Race 5000 Hikers. Only $40 more for 2 hikers ex. delivery than I would have had to pay for a single pair of Rooster Pros and matching pads in Australia. Bought a new sail as well to help offset the cost of delivery...

Call me a cynic Tony but I would bet most of the motel will be taken up by officials as the dorms at Yachting Queensland will certainly not be good enough for our esteemed juries etc. I would think lesser ranked officials will be staying in Yachting Queensland dormitories and the rest in the...

Yeah, best not to. I also have a couple of Black Diamonds laying around. Good tillers. Have had one for more than 10 years also although it is pretty knocked around now. The old ones seem better than the new ones in fact. The wear plate has never come off my old acme one but it is loose on a...

Carbon does weaken over time through UV degradation and constant flexing although it may not appear to do so visibly. I was referring more specifically to the part that fits into the rudder stock. That does definitely and visibly wear over time and needs to be built up again to a tight fit. That...

I think you bought your hikers at the end of April 2010 Martyn. Lets say they arrived in a week or so that makes them nearly exactly 12 months old. http://www.laserforum.org/showthread.php?t=32702 You have used them a total of 26 times approximately so I would certainly hope they are as...

Hi Eric If you have one put it between 2 chairs and stand on it for me. Let us all know how you go if you do attempt it. A hint for anyone trying it: It may be smarter to try it on a few bricks so if it snaps you only fall 6 inches or so. If it snaps whilst resting on a chair it...

I own 2 pairs of hikers and have thrown out 2 so have used them for a while so have had some experience with this gear. I own a number of rooster tops and pfds and will soon own a Rooster 8.1 rig so it is not like I am down on all Rooster gear is it. Possibly I do wear them out a lot...