News IC214 - 2007 Rule Change Vote

Merrily

Administrator
IC214 - 2007 Rule Change Vote

17th May 2007

The next edition of LaserWorld is being dispatched on 21 May and
contains the latest list of proposed rule changes for the Laser. Please
ask all of your members to review these rule changes and send back their
votes.

Votes can be submitted by returning the voting form in LaserWorld by
post or fax or from the ILCA web site at:

http://www.laserinternational.org/rules2007/

Below is an explanation of the Rule Changes:


The following two proposed changes are considered minor and have no
affect on performance. The rule changes have been passed by the World
Council. They are now referred to all members of the ILCA for acceptance.

Only full paid class member votes will be counted.

Please take advantage of your right to be part of this democratic
process. Your vote is important.


1.Rule 4 - Sail Registration Numbers and Identification

Add new rule:

4.(g)(i) Sails used in the following womens events shall carry a red
rhombus above the top batten pocket on both sides;

a. world or regional (continental) championships
b. events described as international events by the Notice of
Race or Sailing Instructions
c. other events that prescribe in the Notice of Race or Sailing
Instructions that women competitors should be identified.

(g)(ii) The minimum size and approximate position shall comply with
diagram Rhombus

(g)(iii) The rhombus may be retained for racing in other events.

EXPLANATION: The requirement of a red rhombus on the sail has been ILCA
policy at world and continental championships for a number of years.
Since the Laser Radial was selected as Olympic equipment Womens Laser
Radial sailing has dramatically increased. At large multi Olympic class
regattas and at our own class regattas it is helpful for sailors and
race committee to identify different fleets. The Red Rhombus makes it
easy to identify between mens and womens Laser Radial fleets and also
between womens Laser Radial fleets and mens Laser Standard rig fleets.


2. Rule 19 - Mast

Add new rule 19 (d):

(d) Flexible adhesive tape may be applied to the outside of the joint of
the upper and lower mast sections to a limit of 40mm above and below the
joint to prevent rotation of the mast sections at the joint.

EXPLANATION: The addition of flexible adhesive tape to the outside of
the mast join provides an easier way of keeping the mast collar rivet in
the neutral axis. Without this rule change we have to rely on packing
the inside of the collar. If the inside packing is too tight the collar
can stick inside the lower mast making it difficult to separate the
upper and lower sections and with the additional risk of weakening or
breaking the mast collar rivet. If this happens the upper mast can
collapse into the lower mast.


If you require any further information please contact the International
office in reply to this email.



International Laser Class Association

Office Tel: +44 (0)1326 315064
Office Fax: +44 (0)1326 318968
Website: http://www.laserinternational.org
 
These (proposed) changes are good IMHO. The first one is relevant to high-level women's (radial) events, but the second one will be useful to weekend warriors.
 
Both good changes. I am particularly enthuisiastic about the mast joint tape as it is something I have been doing in any event. I sail radial and as the bottom plug no longer has a drain hole I regard it as a safety measure to seal up that joint. As stated it is also important to ensure that rivet is kept on the neutral axis to reduce stress at that point. I place the rivet alternately on the starboard and port sides of the mast from sailing session to session to maximise fatigue life.
 
As a Laser sailor, I object to the proposed rule changes as preceded by <RMR> in the comments weaved into the rule text pasted below...


4.(g)(i) Sails used in the following womens events shall carry a red
rhombus above the top batten pocket on both sides;

<RMR> If it is a Women's event, why do we need to identify women with a rhombus?

a. world or regional (continental) championships

b. events described as international events by the Notice of
race or Sailing Instructions

<RMR> hmmm...international as opposed to continental as noted in (a)? What is regional?

c. other events that prescribe in the Notice of Race or Sailing
Instructions that women competitors should be identified.]

<RMR> I do not believe that we should leave it up to anyone writing SI's to require gender based identification. I am the regatta chair for Laser Masters North Americans and also the only female registered...do I need a target on my sail?

<RMR> General comment. It may be reasonable at certain events to find ways to idendify different fleets. This can be written into the SI's. It is not necessary to write this into the class rules, and the proposed rule as written is not entirely sensible.
 

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