if the standard class sail is worked well for so many years
Especially this new class sail proposal ...
I keep my Laser as simple as I can, it takes me less than three minutes to rig it and put it in the water.
The laser class says its one design but is it really?/quote]
I think of the Laser as a "strict one design". My interpretation of the expression "One Design" is that all boats are conforming to the same set of rules. Those rules may be more of less open, allowing or limiting variation to different degrees in different areas. In practice even if you look back in time at the Laser variations were allowed, maybe just fewer than now. Compare the current allowed variations to many other boats and I think it can still be considered a "strict One Design". It is definitely a "One Design" - but that is arguing terminology and not what I think you really meant.
Ian
I am not 100% your opinion. I had a hull of 1978. Now I have a hull of 2001. Both are built by PSE. The hull of 2001 is so much "low level"- quality, that I'm not able decide to where I may beginn first to yell about. But, the old hull has been more stiff in 2006, compared to the new one, but nevertheless: the old was slower, than that dam fast 2001 hull.None of the improvements made to the boat have had a any correlation with speed. They have either made it more durable or easier to adjust....
And the answer is: sail your boat!
You're happy with the way your boat is rigged, great! sail the thing.
You're happy with the performance of your sail, great! sail it! The difference between a 20 year old sail and a new one of exactly the same cut and shape, will be FAR greater than the difference between a new sail with whatever durability improvements are contemplated, vs. a new sail of the current design.
So if you don't need a new sail now, you won't need a new sail after any contemplated improvements are introduces a year or two down the line.
Sailing ability is *so* underrated. Top sailors can hop into a YC junior program old soft beat-up boat with a 30 year old sail and school the fleet. You don't need that stuff.
I can afford the new gear, so I bought it. I use it to keep my head in the game. I've been sailing a keelboat for years and expect to be able to get a certain "shape." My brain expects that shape. If I can't get it, I'm distracted and not focused on sailing the course, I'm staring at the sail my brain says is ugly, and therefore slow.
My buddy, not conditioned by years of working the main controls and staring at the thing, sets his old fashioned vang, cunningham, and outhaul at the dock for the conditions of the day. Then he goes out on the course and schools my sorry **s in half the races we do.
Go out on the course. Sail. Race. Get faster. Win. Don't get distracted by that other stuff.
Thats true with any class, true one design or not. Newer equipment tends to be better then most old equipment. That doesn't change the fact that most Olympic level sailors on a old boat will most likely still beat most novices on a new pretty shinny boat.See that is my point if a 2001 hull is faster than an older hull there is still a difference making it not a true one design class!!
Gouv, perhaps there are Laserites, like you, that are so quick like you. But also, I know a lot of people, that like to sail Laser, that are not as quick like you and have really problems to set up the Laser quick, that has the new XD lines etc. Those Laserites need much more time and lose the fun, to use this new sailing gear. It is fact, that many common Laserites sail or race better, in reason they use the XD stuff. We better look to that Laserites, and not the few 1000, around the world, that semi-professional or professional race the Laser. Several of those experienced Laserites perhaps not even look at TLF, I'm afraid. But all the others, if not so quick like you, need help to get back the fun. Thats why we are here, f.e. at TLF....The only thing I have to ad?? I have the new rigging and my current time record from standing next to teh boat with its cover on to sitting in the launched boat is 4 minutes and a few seconds. That includes fastening a wind indicator and water bottle in place. I know I will soon be able to rig in under four minutes...
See that is my point if a 2001 hull is faster than an older hull there is still a difference making it not a true one design class!!
The laser class says its one design but is it really? I mean with all the upgrades and expensive parts I dont think it can trully be classifide as a one design class anymore. I have a 1982 Laser and a limited budget, I dont want to have to buy new expensive parts to keep up with everyone else. Especially this new class sail proposal, if the standard class sail is worked well for so many years why isn't it working now? I keep my Laser as simple as I can, it takes me less than three minutes to rig it and put it in the water. With these new systems it may take upwards of 30 minutes to fully rig the boat. All the new improvments are great and all but it wont really make the laser a one design boat anymore. I think the class should keep the laser bare bones and make it the sailors sailing the boat not the technology. I personly think the class should be stricter than it is now!
Thank you, as you probably no i am a student I do club racing but then you don't have to be a registered icla member. But i plan to join. I am concerned about the strictness of the class because i am young and probably haven't been around sailing as long as most of you but, when i seriously start to race in the class i want there to be some aspect of one design left. I know there will be but the class is not as strict as it used to be. That is why i am concerned.
OK. Educate me of a singlehanded class that, (in your opinion) has a more strict/better/pure one design rule.
OK. Educate me of a singlehanded class that, (in your opinion) has a more strict/better/pure one design rule.
Having all the upgrades is nice, but they won't make a noticeable difference to your speed.
by the way I think the rules are too tight and much more fluxuation in the rules should be allowed but all the people saying just sail your boat it makes yo go faster and better equipment has nothing to do with it are weeners
I am all for the new control systems, I'll probably buy them one of these days but I do not want the sail to change. The materials fine, but the sail shape I do not want it to change.