Incorrect, the class rules apply equally whether it's an old boat or the latest boat off the production line.Few people race with 35 year old boats so the class rules likely do not apply. Do you plan to race it?
So?Few people race 35 year old plus Lasers compared to the large amount who race much newer ones.
Is that supposed to justify breaking the rules intentionally?And, at many club level regattas, smaller infractions are unlikely to be policed.
It is very easy to update an old laser that will be 100% class legal with the latest gear and very competitive, without "fixing up" the hull. Sure many of the old hulls are soft which is fine on flattish water, but the scratches and dullness of the gel coat is superficial which has no impact on boat speed. Blackburn for all his Olympic campaigns raced and trained (including regattas) in Australia in a boat build in 1985, that was an old university boat that was extremely tired by the time he saw it, he would still convincingly win.It means that that it is far less likely for AlanD's point to happen.
Essentially, yes. Many of the rules do not regulate advantages over other boats. In fact, the boat in question would be at the disadvantage. Not really one design. On a side note, I would imagine that some of us break a rule every now and then, especially the class legal sails one. Back to the main point of this, wh
And Olympic hopefuls are the new standard for equipment equality or lack thereof? I don't think the average 35 year old hull is as fast as the average 7 year old one. The older one is simply heavier, and, as you rightly say, more of a challenge to sail well, which means that the odds are that the newer one is more likely faster. And then, why do you see the majority of the Worlds events sailed on newer Lasers? Let's get back on topic.It is very easy to update an old laser that will be 100% class legal with the latest gear and very competitive, without "fixing up" the hull. Sure many of the old hulls are soft which is fine on flattish water, but the scratches and dullness of the gel coat is superficial which has no impact on boat speed. Blackburn for all his Olympic campaigns raced and trained (including regattas) in Australia in a boat build in 1985, that was an old university boat that was extremely tired by the time he saw it, he would still convincingly win.
I actually enjoy racing my partners 38 year old boat more than my 7 year old boat. They are more of a challenge to sailing well, whilst they are equally fast but less forgiving if you make small mistakes, which is probably why quite a few of the top sailors in Australia actually train and race in old boats, despite having new boats in the shed, you need to bring your A game.
When most of the equipment is provided at the top championships, the competitors focus will be even more about their abilities to handle a Laser and general sailing, and less about the perfect Laser.Because ILCA wants to eliminate the advantage between other boats.
Incorrect, the class rules apply equally whether it's an old boat or the latest boat off the production line.
Further, turn up with an old boat which has been done up, to a regatta and you're more likely to draw the measurer's attention. As a former measurer's the question I always thought to myself about an old boat at a major regatta is how have they cheated that the would want to use an old boat.
If all you are doing is sanding the gel coat to polish it, you probably do not need to go coarser than 1200 grit. If repainting the boat, it can't end up being lighter than when you started sanding the boat. If you try to fair in the venturi, around the mast base, centreboard case, transom lip or any where else, you are breaking the class rules. You can't apply any of the new coatings that improve water flow. The question you always need to ask is "why do I want to do something to a laser or any of it's equipment" if the answer is ever "to go faster" then the class rules say that is illegal, if it is "to improve it" it is likely to be illegal.