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Re: Top section So, Chainsaw, given the "cost hurdle" what about a socket attached to the top of the bottom section idea?

Re: Top section I too broke the top section of my mast last weekend. Yes - it let go at the collar rivet. Some sign of corrosion and what looks like stress-hardening in the break itself. The jagged edges tore the luff pocket beyond repair, so ... $1600(NZ) later ... this thread is at the...

Thanks for that Merrily. You are a font of knowledge ... SG last updated that "control systems" article in March 07, so I guess he's not out of the laser loop entirely.

The best article on control system design I've found is by Shevy Gunter titled Designing Custom Control Systems Test your custom system against the builders'! by Shevy Gunter If you Google that heading you'll find it. It explores all manner of design combinations and permutations (legal...

I've not broken a mast but have bent a top section. That was wiping out downwind at speed. My coach, last Sunday, fessed up to breaking one mast, but that apparently was quite corroded. Age of the spars obviously increases the likelihood of breakage. Upwind, maxing the vang certainly puts boom...

It's a question of balance - finding the setup that will balance the complex forces that are involved. And they are complex. You directly exert forces on the boat through your weight, hiking action, helm movements etc), the sail generates heeling moment, lift, turning moment around the...

Hey, we'll see how well we rock after the Terrigal Masters in Feb! Had a Sunday last training on Lake Te anau (in the deep south). Wind blowing 18-20kts gusting 26. Excess weather helm cured by max outhaul, cunningham (I'm thinking of increasing the # of purchases in my outhaul system to...

Do you mean the youth Radial worlds in Auckland, March 2008? If so... this from the ICLA website... World Laser Radial Youth Championship 2008 Mon 24th March 2008 - Sat 29th March 2008 NEW ZEALAND, Auckland The World Youth Radial Championship is an open event for sailors who will be at...

Good analysis Gouv. I think you're right about the bow direction changing each roll. I'd be interesting to hear the perspective of an "international judge" as to rule 42 infringements. I was more interested in his upwind technique though. I saw a Roostersailing video which emphasised using...

Probably the best instructional video that pulls the theory and practice together for dealing with heavy winds while manouvering through big waves to windward is Steve Cockerill's "Boat Whisperer - upwind". Corny title by the messages are crystal clear.

Not a practice follow in NZ from my experience anyway - signing on and off the water though is becoming widespread. Hey Merrily, nice avatar pic - where's the location?

What's the position with respect to entry to the "Laser Masters World Championship 2008 " at terrigal NSW. Are position balloted? Or is entry open to all?

I'd suggest that velocity made good (VMG) should be your main focus. Fixating on pointing, especially in light airs is a hopeless proposition. Mostly I agree with the advice above, but would emphasise body position. In light stuff "sitting on the board" is simply not forward enough. Suggest you...

We have std and radials in our club and welcomed the first 4.7 this weekend. Yesterday was 3-8kts - perfect for the 45kg skipper to get a feel for the boat. What I'd like is some guidence I can pass on for sailing the 4.7 in a range of different windspeeds. Can anyone help. (Today winds at...

I thought the animation was pretty neat too. The saw-tooth foreshore is actually a series of wharves all on reclaimed land. The intersting thing to note though is that the eddie actually starts north of the wharves when the in-coming tide hits prominent rock bank (which dries at low tide)...

Some really good points made - it doesn't cost anything to ask around for a bit of local knowledge. We sail in a very tidal basin where the flood tide generates a huge conter-clockwise eddie, that you can't see but the effect of stemming it unawares doesn't do much for boat speed. To...

If you can get hold of it "Ben Ainslie - the Laser campaign manual" is really good and come with a support CD - seeing it done really helps the mesage get across

That's a really interesting graph. Does the ILCA have one for world-wide membership?

I go with "Merrily"'s view - ASYLUM sounds like a perfect choice.:D

"The faster I was":D