The past 36 hours I couldn’t get off of the sensation/"bad Feeling" Bruce Kirby launched an all-out attack into my life as a common sailor and boat owner of a nearly brand new Laser™ Radial built by LP Ltd at Long Buckby UK.
But, I remembered to words that an old friend (of TX) many years ago told here to us at TLF: You acquired lawfully a boat at your country. Whether the old fart that designed, built and sold her to you likes it or not: It’s is your boat! He can’t “boat”-jack her away of you, if you don’t agree to let him do so. That’s a soothing opinion to me.
What am I able to do, as one of the over 200000? I gave a “like” to the announcement of the ILCA at their Facebook website. The more “likes” there are done, the better it is for Tracy to argue against the heavy waves Kirby actually hits into the waterfront.
I would like to see also an over 10.000 “like”s at a related TLF poll, but till now there is no related poll here in the moment (I am to stupid to initiate such a poll upon in the first line at TLF-Politics discussions section here, sorry). Jon D., a serious long-time member of TLF (of the US East Coast) at this ILCA Facebook website, I mentioned above, linked a related petition form sheet to the ILCA to the “change.org” Internet website. I consider signing it. Would this be helpful to sign there? Opinions here at TLF on that?
Here you find Jon's petitition:
http://www.change.org/petitions/int...n-consider-adopting-itself-as-the-torch-class
P.S. Kirby doesn’t say anything to Laser™ Radial. Actually, in his hubris/megalomania related to common sailors of Laser™ Standard wanton let by side, that Laser™ Radial and Laser(TM) 4.7 are independent “ISAF recommended” sailboats with own/independend world championships, too (not to forget to mention: the Laser™ Radial is “the” single-handed boat for the ladies at the Olympic Games)! The Kirby Torch(TM) in the moment not even is “ISAF recommended”…. Actually a Kirby Torch(TM) “Radial” or “4.7” not even is mentioned at Kirby’s new homepage! This is an insult to any serious/ambitious recreational sailing or racing male/female youth/senior/master Laser™ Radial and Laser™) 4.7 sailor!
BTW:
Not to forget to mention: some serious workers at the Laser™-builders shipyards f.e. at UK/USA, probably soon lose their jobs and income. You all know, I am not really a big friend of several of the ILCA Office (exception: Tracy) nor I am a big friend of LP/UK, but in this case I am with Tracy and also I am with the innocent workers of LP at Long Buckby (UK)/Rhode Island (USA)/Japanese workers at PS-Japan!
To give some of those nameless workers real faces one only has to visit LP’s Facebook website and there view the actual video about how a Laser™ hull is produced! My thoughts are with those workers in the same way, f.e like with the many workers of the Opel car factory at Bochum/GER. To explain: GM/USA in the moment starts to destroy the Opel at the GER (and Vauxhall at UK) and begins this battle with the closing of the Opel-factory at Bochum, less than 20 km away of my home, another tragedy in the atmosphere close around to me…
Ciao
LooserLu
{Member of the Argentinean “99%-Laser™”-Class, Region Europe, District GER}
But, I remembered to words that an old friend (of TX) many years ago told here to us at TLF: You acquired lawfully a boat at your country. Whether the old fart that designed, built and sold her to you likes it or not: It’s is your boat! He can’t “boat”-jack her away of you, if you don’t agree to let him do so. That’s a soothing opinion to me.
....
Many of us think Bruce Kirby's direction is the right one for the class and in the members' best interest. ....
Ian, believe me, this was nearly exact my question to GER Customs Authority in a serious phone call to their officers!!! Later, yesterday I also discussed that aspects to my lawyer! There has been a light chance for BK to get over me: If I would have bought the boat f.e. at AUS or Rhode Island /USA. But, I purchased my boat from the GER dealer (this is "inside of the EU-borders"), GER Customs wouldn't come to boat-jack my "in the EU made"-Radial. And additionally: the GER/EU trademark laws are a bit different to the US laws. BK can't do a "written warning" combined by a "claim for damages" (in GER: "Kostenpflichtige Abmahnung und Schadenersatzklage wegen Verstoß gegen das Marken Gesetz") against me, like Rolex could do, if I would buy a only 50,-€ prized Rolex at f.e. St.Anton/Austria. First he has to win the court proceeding at the USA.... The issue is whether LP built the boat legally or whether it is counterfeit. If I buy a Rolex from a man at Euston station for £20 it is my watch - might be worthless because it was not actually made by Rolex, not to Rolex quality and standards, etc. ...
Ian
Ian, believe me, this was nearly exact my question to GER Customs Authority in a serious phone call to their officers!!! Later, yesterday I also discussed that aspects to my lawyer! There has been a light chance for BK to get over me: If I would have bought the boat f.e. at AUS or Rhode Island /USA. But, I purchased my boat from the GER dealer (this is "inside of the EU-borders"), GER Customs wouldn't come to boat-jack my "in the EU made"-Radial. And additionally: the GER/EU trademark laws are a bit different to the US laws. BK can't do a "written warning" combined by a "claim for damages" (in GER: "Kostenpflichtige Abmahnung und Schadenersatzklage wegen Verstoß gegen das Marken Gesetz") against me, like Rolex could do, if I would buy a only 50,-€ prized Rolex at f.e. St.Anton/Austria. First he has to win the court proceeding at the USA.
P.S.: Thanks for the spam-warning about change.org Thats the last I want to have.. a gazillion additional spam emails of such a website
Ciao
Lu
…However, what you purchased may not have been a Laser. …
…Like if I buy a Rolex for £25 from some dodgy guy outside Euston station. When it turns-out it is not a Rolex, Rolex do not come and take my watch from me. I is just that what I have is not worth anything because it isn't a Rolex. I might go back to the guy who sold it to me and the Police and courts might have something to say. …
…But who is trying to take you Laser …
… but it is my karma to have been student of drLaser™ at former TLF-discussions, many years ago and to recommend on this or that aspect, related to Laser™-affairs …
You know, that's the one voice we haven't heard through this whole fiasco. I'm sure drLaser™ would have quite interesting opinions to express. ....
Any suggestions on buying a new laser...
It would be interesting if they standardized all of the fittings and went all Harken for everything if by simple economics they could get the prices down on the fittings. I'm thinking vang, ratchet block, mainsheet/traveler blocks, down haul, outhaul. Make it all Harken. Get rid of those old school plastic Holt blocks forever. I hope they start with a radial cut full sail. This is the perfect opportunity to make the changes they've already decided to eventually implement.
Lower the price, sell more, make up for lower margins through higher volume?
Maybe, just maybe, ILCA will wake up to reality...It appears we do have our third class association:
http://www.kirbytorch.com/members
Just like LPU, I'll play along for now. However, they need to demonstrate some sort of benefit to me if they start asking for money.
No one has mentioned the sails and the buttons needed to be a class legal sail. Are the buttons restricted in the same way as plaques? In other words will sails become scarce whilst this is all going on or are ISAF still happily issuing sail buttons to LPE/Hydes/North etc for laser sails?
There is no shortage of sails in the UK, though there is only 1 dealer and the price has crept up to £450.
And in breaking news... ISAF just approved the change to the ILCA Fundamental Rule which was was passed by Laser Class members in 2012. The amended rule allows ISAF and ILCA to approve Laser builders who have the right to use the Laser trademark, even if they are not approved by Bruce Kirby or Bruce Kirby Inc.
http://www.sailing.org/news/34222.php