New Posts New Posts RSS Feed: Laser Whinging Thread
  FAQ FAQ  Forum Search   Register Register  Login Login

Laser Whinging Thread
 Post Reply Post Reply Page  <1 56789 11>
Author
  Share Topic Share Topic  Topic Search Topic Search  Topic Options Topic Options
tedm View Drop Down
Posting king
Posting king


Joined: 20 Sep 06
Location: Chester
Online Status: Offline
Posts: 174 		Post Options Post Options   Quote tedm Quote  Post ReplyReply Direct Link To This Post Topic: Laser Whinging Thread
    Posted: 02 Apr 11 at 10:21am
Nice rant by rogue

Jim I disagree...... there's no mis-spelling, random capitalisation, swearing or mention of Thatcher - so as a rant it only gets 4/10.  if you want to see some classic rants I can point you at a particular mountain biking  forum that makes you lot look like a knitting class Wink
BUT Jimbo obviously has put some thought into this  for which he is to be commended. I can't be arsed reading the entire thread as my life is already too short , but I hope he does come back as I like his enthusiasm even if his current choice of boat is 'interesting'.
Back to Top
Late starter View Drop Down
Far too distracted from work
Far too distracted from work


Joined: 24 Feb 07
Online Status: Offline
Posts: 481 		Post Options Post Options   Quote Late starter Quote  Post ReplyReply Direct Link To This Post Posted: 02 Apr 11 at 11:34am
Originally posted by Xpletive

I can't believe all this .... all about that lovely little boat that made my jaw drop when I first saw one at Yarmouth 40 yrs ago Smile

Totally agree. We forget what a game changer the Laser was when it hit the market, many of us were sailing things like Minisails and Bonitos back in those days, which were slow, leaky, tended to split, break, or otherwise ruin your day.  We soon realised that Lasers were so much more fun to sail but were above all else cheap, tough,  reliable and watertight little boats too.  Sure, time has moved on and there are a wider range of classes out there now, but for my mind it's the number 1 sailing dinghy of the 20th century by an absolute mile and much of the criticism it gets is ill informed.
Back to Top
The Moo View Drop Down
Really should get out more
Really should get out more
Avatar

Joined: 01 Jun 06
Online Status: Offline
Posts: 809 		Post Options Post Options   Quote The Moo Quote  Post ReplyReply Direct Link To This Post Posted: 02 Apr 11 at 4:39pm
I remember seeing one sailing for the first time on Norfolk Broads in the 1970s shortly after they hit the market and it was honking. Compared to the other stuff out it was just mind boggling.

Roll on ten years or so and I had my own. I have sailed faster but the sail I always remember the most was midweek on Bala with a group of mates in their Lasers. It was silly conditions with big (OK inland) waves and nobody else was out. On reflection perhaps a bit foolhardy. I remember rigging the boat on its side Cherub style as it was the only way to get the sail up. On the water spray flying everywhere and couldn't see where you were going. Just an amazing sail and the topmast survived..

Wouldn't want one now but defintely great times........
Back to Top
Chris 249 View Drop Down
Really should get out more
Really should get out more
Avatar

Joined: 10 May 04
Online Status: Offline
Posts: 2041 		Post Options Post Options   Quote Chris 249 Quote  Post ReplyReply Direct Link To This Post Posted: 03 Apr 11 at 1:18am
James;

I don't know if anyone complained to the mods, but if so it was not me.  Your passion is welcome. I can only agree with your attack on the narrow focus of squads and the joys of handicap racing.

However, I still can't agree with many of your other claims (if Laser are such profiteers why do have several vendors collapsed????) and certainly not with your insults such as "anyone (who) expects a boat designed in the 70's to compete with facebook, MSN, booze, sex, coursework, Glee club and tuition fees shows a total lack of empathy with the future generation".  That sort of claim is an insult to many people who understand their own kids (and other kids) very well and still see the Laser as an excellent choice for them - not to mention an insult to the kids themselves.  You're saying that very fine people like my club's commodore, who works very hard running a very successful club and has a very good relationship with his (non squad) Radial-sailing daughters who love the boats, lack basic empathy and knowledge about their own kids and their sport.  That's one hell of a big call. 

It's easy to see that for kids today, who are often less active and often have less time to devote to becoming experts in any one activity, a simpler and easier-to-sail boat can often (NOT always!) be better than a fast one.  There are many clubs in my home town that encourage kids down the skiff route, sometimes with huge  subsidies (not just a free Skiff, but money for sailing it) and yet they suffer from the same drop-out problem as conventional dinghies do.  Just about every sport has the same issue.

By the way, I'm not taking your comments about Laser parents personally.  My own kids (16 to 21) mainly had their first sails on a Tornado and then a Formula 16 type cat before mainly moving into a spot of windsurfing.  Their cousins sail (or sailed) at the world's biggest Skiff club.  I sometimes wonder if Lasers would not have kept more of them in the sport and whether we failed them by not getting them into Radials.

Menace, about "I got shot down in flames for even suggesting the Musto Skiff as a boat which I would say could have the potential to replace the Laser."

At least a couple of us who addressed your post were careful to say that the MPS is a great boat. Where I took issue was your claim that the Laser is a class in trouble - it certainly isn't in many places.

I don't think anyone was attacking your or the MPS, merely defending another class.  Surely that is quite a different matter.



Edited by Chris 249 - 03 Apr 11 at 1:29am
Back to Top
getafix View Drop Down
Really should get out more
Really should get out more
Avatar

Joined: 28 Mar 06
Location: United Kingdom
Online Status: Offline
Posts: 2143 		Post Options Post Options   Quote getafix Quote  Post ReplyReply Direct Link To This Post Posted: 03 Apr 11 at 8:08am
ref Jimbo leaving.... IMO he's not going to stay off this forum for long

.... as for comparing MPS & Laser, I just couldn't see where that was going anyway it's like comparing Dart 18's and Formula 18; yeah they're both two-person cats but after that.....

Edited by getafix - 05 Apr 11 at 12:06pm
Back to Top
Stuart O View Drop Down
Really should get out more
Really should get out more
Avatar

Joined: 22 Jul 07
Online Status: Offline
Posts: 514 		Post Options Post Options   Quote Stuart O Quote  Post ReplyReply Direct Link To This Post Posted: 03 Apr 11 at 8:45pm
Chris
 
I actually think James has a valid point about "anyone (who) expects a boat designed in the 70's to compete with facebook, MSN, booze, sex, coursework, Glee club and tuition fees shows a total lack of empathy with the future generation".  apart from I would expand that to sailing not just a 70s designed boat. IMHO most national authorities have focused their resources on the few at the top..hoping that parents/clubs would find a way of getting the youth involved, that has lead to a reduction in those coming into the sport...this is fact, I believe that the RYA have got the figures 15-25% less sailors in the last 5 years.
The RYA have set up schemes which Im sure after 2012 will all colapse due to lack of funding...but that is for a different thread and not for this one
Back to Top
Menace View Drop Down
Far too distracted from work
Far too distracted from work


Joined: 16 Oct 10
Online Status: Offline
Posts: 296 		Post Options Post Options   Quote Menace Quote  Post ReplyReply Direct Link To This Post Posted: 04 Apr 11 at 12:59am
Some really good points coming forward. Chris, I am sorry, my rant was not completely aimed at you and your comments have made me think quite a bit about my opinion in the first place. I've really liked sailing the 470 but if you take a step outside those campaigning in the UK, the class is dead in the UK. I can see this becoming a fate of the 49er if not careful. In the bigger picture though, if you asked me about the 470, it's the perfect boat for the Olympics, shame there isn't that much activity outside the UK Olympics circus.
 
At the present moment, I still think on the whole the Laser is an awesomely popular boat. At my club and surrounding clubs, there is no question, the Musto Skiff is a much more active and popular fleet, but that is just on a local level. If I look at local tendancies, christ, the MPS could become pretty tremendous and that's where I get the idea of how this boat could provide a means for replacement of the Laser in the future. Why be bound by someting that was good once upon a time?
 
The analogy of the Dart 18 against the F18 is a cracking one, if we are looking to select a cat for 2016, are we honestly going to look at a Dart 18 over some sort of derivative of an F18? Saying that though, the Tornado boys are going hard at it and in all honesty, the Tornado is in my one of top 3 favourite boats.
 
My initial point was, if the sh1t hit the fan with the Laser, there are alternatives. If I owned a certain business up in Eastliegh, I'd be keeping a watchful eye and all my fingers and toes crossed because I've got two direct replacements in the wings for the radial and the Laser.


Edited by Menace - 04 Apr 11 at 1:01am
Back to Top
G.R.F. View Drop Down
Really should get out more
Really should get out more


Joined: 10 Aug 08
Location: United Kingdom
Online Status: Offline
Posts: 4028 		Post Options Post Options   Quote G.R.F. Quote  Post ReplyReply Direct Link To This Post Posted: 06 Apr 11 at 12:58pm
Originally posted by Foiling_Toff

Which will he do first then, rejoin the forum, or sell the Rogue Skiff?

He's a bit sharper than that..
https://www.ease-distribution.com/
Back to Top
ex laser View Drop Down
Really should get out more
Really should get out more


Joined: 25 Mar 09
Online Status: Offline
Posts: 725 		Post Options Post Options   Quote ex laser Quote  Post ReplyReply Direct Link To This Post Posted: 06 Apr 11 at 2:21pm
it always interesting to see how people react when other people do not agree with them.
Back to Top
rich96 View Drop Down
Really should get out more
Really should get out more


Joined: 20 Jan 05
Online Status: Offline
Posts: 596 		Post Options Post Options   Quote rich96 Quote  Post ReplyReply Direct Link To This Post Posted: 06 Apr 11 at 5:07pm
Originally posted by G.R.F.

Originally posted by Foiling_Toff

Which will he do first then, rejoin the forum, or sell the Rogue Skiff?

He's a bit sharper than that..


 
Looks very professional although disappointed to see he's alreday enrolled a 'pro jockey' for the boat reviews ! Wink.
 
Actually - having ordinary mortals do boat reviews is probably a good idea - at least we can relate to their thoughts.
 
Is this a 'its my ball and I'm taking with me if you wont play nice/agree with me' reaction or just a desire to do things slightly differently ?. Regardless it looks well thought out.
Back to Top
 Post Reply Post Reply Page  <1 56789 11>

Forum Jump Forum Permissions View Drop Down

Bulletin Board Software by Web Wiz Forums® version 9.665y
Copyright ©2001-2010 Web Wiz
Change your personal settings, or read our privacy policy