WindGuru said:you are definitely looking at a major power loss, except perhaps on downwind.
Interesting you say that, I find I can get good speeds downwind at times, catching the guys in front of me sometimes.
I cornered one of the top guys at our club and he also recommended a replacement, but suggested I gett practicing with this sail till the end of the current season, then break in a new sail for the start of next season, which is what I think I will do. Gives me time to save up as well given that sails are very expensive here!!
Well said, new sails aren't the be all and end all, I have a wise chap at my sailing club that gave me permission to buy a new sail when I stopped capsizing every five minutes. So indeed use your beat up one for getting better BUT when I got my new sail it was ace, the big gains came when sailing in a blow when it all became controllable and managable.
So, if you enjoy sailing your laser, are good enough not to wreck a new sail by dragging it around on the bottom of the lake and can afford it, I'd get one.
Don't throw way the colored sail. There is a company (google it) that can recondition the old sail which will make it illegal for official racing but will clean the cloth and fix the shape. Keep it - such a nice toy
If you're a clubsailor and you're getting beaten by more experienced sailors with older sails then buying a new sail in the hope you will out think them isn't going to work.