I was recently given an old Laser for free by my neighbor whose son abandoned it. I cleaned it up and it's actually very very nice! Clearly was a serious race machine in its heyday, what with a carbon fiber filler and fancy blocks and such.
I was going to try a couple of regattas later this summer if the Covid thing passes -- I gather they call my age group "Grand Master" -- I am an empty-nester and getting steady crew would be a huge pain so a single-handed boat is clearly the way to go. As a teen I used to campaign a Laser. Then later on, I was a good J24 racer and got up to an occasional podium finish. But I haven't raced at all for two decades so I'm not sure if I even remember the fine points. Anyhow, couple of questions:
1. To sail in actual Laser regattas, I assume I need to rejoin US Sailing. (I remember not liking USSA years ago, and I can't recall why.) Anyway, is there also some Class association that I also need to join?
2. The boat came with a couple of sails, and they are in great shape. They do have numbers. But they aren't stamped so they appear to be just training sails. Am I disallowed from competing in actual Laser regattas without the approved sail? I have no particular wish to spend $600 just to get back out there and see if I still have any decent moves up my sleeve. That being said, I don't want to be perceived as a cheater in any way; perhaps the training sails are a different cut or something?
3. Does the boat itself need to be certified? I remember that in J24s I had to get the boat weighed and measured and it was a pretty big ordeal; then the measurement certificate was kept onboard at all times. Do you have to get a Laser examined by a class official?
I was going to try a couple of regattas later this summer if the Covid thing passes -- I gather they call my age group "Grand Master" -- I am an empty-nester and getting steady crew would be a huge pain so a single-handed boat is clearly the way to go. As a teen I used to campaign a Laser. Then later on, I was a good J24 racer and got up to an occasional podium finish. But I haven't raced at all for two decades so I'm not sure if I even remember the fine points. Anyhow, couple of questions:
1. To sail in actual Laser regattas, I assume I need to rejoin US Sailing. (I remember not liking USSA years ago, and I can't recall why.) Anyway, is there also some Class association that I also need to join?
2. The boat came with a couple of sails, and they are in great shape. They do have numbers. But they aren't stamped so they appear to be just training sails. Am I disallowed from competing in actual Laser regattas without the approved sail? I have no particular wish to spend $600 just to get back out there and see if I still have any decent moves up my sleeve. That being said, I don't want to be perceived as a cheater in any way; perhaps the training sails are a different cut or something?
3. Does the boat itself need to be certified? I remember that in J24s I had to get the boat weighed and measured and it was a pretty big ordeal; then the measurement certificate was kept onboard at all times. Do you have to get a Laser examined by a class official?