IMO, No.
Once you allow digital compasses, you'll get a request (or worse suddenly appearing) for GPS units, wind speed indicators, speedos etc, some of which are built in features of some digital compasses. From a measurers point of view, it's simpler to ban everything than to ban specific items, I really don't want to learn the ability of every piece of electronic equipment, so I know which pieces of equipment do more than the class rules permit.
The class is meant to be simple, get back to basics sailing, where skill is important. Electronic devices in general, take away the basic skills and gives the person who can afford the best electronic equipment an edge over the competition.
kids in particular are used to digital displays not analogue any more.
The only electronic device except handheld radios the Lightning class allows is the digital compass. They do have some limits though:
2) An electronic digital compass with chronograph (timer and/or clock).
The compass must be entirely self-contained with either an internal battery and/or solar power. The compass shall have no external connection and shall neither provide wind or boat speed nor compute correlations between time and distance.
The rule seemed to work well. If someone was willing to spend $500 on a Tack Tick that does the compass, tactical compass and countdown, they can when an old fashioned $300 compass does the job just as well.
Of course a compass in a watch is totally useless but disallowing such watches is just daft (and shows how incapable the class is at moving with any times).
The laser is a one design class, it means old boats and new boats are relatively equal. Changing the class everytime someone thinks of something new is not what the class is on about. If you want to sail a class that modifies the rules regularly, I suggest sailing an open/unrestricted design class.
I searched the forum but could not find a good explanation why digital compass' are not class legal. The one thread I found mentioned that the digital compass is class legal in the Fin fleet.
Seems to me that our fleet could move forward with this change.
The cost of a Nexus plus fittings is in the same ballpark as a Tacktick micro, kids in particular are used to digital displays not analogue any more. Finally when you sail on other racing boats/dinghys digital tactical compass' are the norm - so it helps transitions between fleets.
I was planning to buy a Nexus plus fittings but was interested to know what the future holds!
I hate the idea of a digital compass and the flood of expensive electronic devices that would follow. This class is designed to make only changes to reduce the time needed to rig, increase sailor comfort, or decrease the dollars required to stay competitive.
Would you really perform better knowing you are 46.51 degrees off the wind? Or that you are running at 95.45 down the start?
I am, however, very empathetic of the high cost of a Nexus with deck mount. I found a used one on craigslist for more than half off.
First, a compass IS a digital display - it shows you the bearing in numerical format - it happens that the compasses permitted in the Laser class don't electronically display the number, but it IS digital. If kids can only read numbers displayed electronically and cannot read numbers printed on a compass card, the entire world is in serious trouble.
Secondly, Alan is very likley right. We would probably get "compass creep." Sailing is expensive enough without having to fork over big bucks for a compass.
T.U.M.
First, a compass IS a digital display - it shows you the bearing in numerical format - it happens that the compasses permitted in the Laser class don't electronically display the number, but it IS digital.
It'll be time to re-ask the question when digital compasses are *much* cheaper than magnetic compass card compasses, and the latter become not commonly available and difficult to find.
Not yet. Guessing between 5 and 10 years out.
People have a huge misconception; it's not about the price. I don't think the ILCA could care less whether a digital compass cost more or less than a magnetic compass.
A magnetic compass is just that, a compass that has no other navigational or data collection, no speedo, no VMG, etc it solely gives you a heading. A digital compass will usually have a whole heap of other data available to be displayed and as a result you'll get compass creep as mentioned above. The measurers aren't going to make themselves aware of every digital compass and their capability on the market in order to control their use.
It would be much better IMO to make the use of all compasses illegal than to go into the situation where you have a sudden flood of technology into the class which was never intended. Even though I use a compass the trick to using it, is not to look at it, just the occasional glance to confirm what you're picking up from what's happening around you.
The laser is about sailing skill, not who has the latest bit of technology.
I beg to differ. Cost does factor in to this. When you see a Tacktick around $500, compared to some magnetic compasses that are maybe half the cost and dealing with any importing to other countries, there is an issue of cost.
Also digital compasses exist that are nothing more than a compass and a countdown timer. They are widly used in many other classes when the rule is in place where you can only use a digital compass that is self powered and can include a countdown timer. That's a Tacktick. I see no reason why that cannot be used. Besides if the class decided that they only allowed a digital compass with a certain set of functions, someone will make one to those specifications and they will get a great market share because they (the measurers) know that the compass is legal. That's also why I say the Tacktick micro is exactly what the class should set their rules to (a countdown timer, tactical compass and normal 360 degree setting). It saves space, cheaper to move around on flights, and you can use it on other boats rather than use the just the laser.
I also disagree that a compass should be illegal.
Youch! Feeling a little burned after the measurement at last week's world's, Alan?
Thanks Alan and Tracy!
Absolutely corect, Alan.And Clive
Bringing up cost seems silly. We are talking about racing sailboats which by itself already excludes a large portion of the population who can't afford to play the game and where this cost is but a small portion of the whole cost of campaigning - the argument has also already been made that a Tacktick is allowed and used in other classes so for some Laser sailors, it would actually save them money if they race in these other classes. It's also a one time expense, holds it's value reasonably well etc, unlike, for example, having to buy sails.
In a perverse way, it might be to the builders benefit to allow it. Imagine if they licensed a specific model, acquired the distribution rights and made that the only electronic compass class approved. You might think a Nexus was a bargain then