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Carbon Topmast for the Radial
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    Posted: 15 Dec 05 at 8:04pm

There were rumblings about introducing a carbon top mast to lower the competitive weight of the radial following its selection for the Olympic.

I thought this would be great as most "average" women are at the bottom of the recognised weight.

But in Andy Rices article it reports that there was not enough time to do this for 2008 ... would it really take that long to design, test and get enough manufactured?

Rick
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Post Options Post Options   Quote Guests Quote  Post ReplyReply Direct Link To This Post Posted: 15 Dec 05 at 8:13pm

They made a carbon top section a few yrs back for the fulrig boys to test.  I remember dave brooks using his older bro's (andy brooks) one at the radial transitional squad trials.  It snapped the wknd he used it, it didnt appear to have the right bend characteristics for use on the smaller radial lower section.  That was back in 2002 and i havnt seen another one since.  Although its been a while since ive been in lasers.
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Post Options Post Options   Quote Guests Quote  Post ReplyReply Direct Link To This Post Posted: 15 Dec 05 at 8:16pm
....made *some* carbon top sections....
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The carbon Radial topmast has been in test for some time; they've had a few around and most people think the results are good.

I don't know exactly how big last year's Women's Radial World champ is, but having sailed against her I certainly don't remember her being unusually large; I would have put her at 5'6"-ish and normal build.
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Posts: 0 		Post Options Post Options   Quote Guest Quote  Post ReplyReply Direct Link To This Post Posted: 15 Dec 05 at 10:30pm

Originally posted by Chris 249


I don't know exactly how big last year's Women's Radial World champ is, but having sailed against her I certainly don't remember her being unusually large; I would have put her at 5'6"-ish and normal build.

This is from the Laser website;

Why are there 3 different rigs?

This is for people who are of different body weights and abilities. For example, the ideal weight s for  racing are: The Laser 4.7 from about 50kg – 65kg(ish), the Laser Radial 60kg-75, and the Standard rig 70g +.

My wife sails a radial and we were hoping that the Olympic selection would lead to a carbon mast to make it easier to manage - the 4.7 is very small (4.7sqm infact...)

I'd say that the average woman is less than 60kgs on a global scale ...

Rick
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Posts: 2041 		Post Options Post Options   Quote Chris 249 Quote  Post ReplyReply Direct Link To This Post Posted: 16 Dec 05 at 12:23am
A quick google seems to show 64kg average for women worldwide, considerably more in the US. The obvious weight for FIT women is probably lower I'd assume.

AIUI the carbon topmast IS coming, I'm not sure exactly when.
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Posts: 0 		Post Options Post Options   Quote Guest Quote  Post ReplyReply Direct Link To This Post Posted: 16 Dec 05 at 9:31am

Originally posted by Chris 249

A quick google seems to show 64kg average for women worldwide, considerably more in the US. The obvious weight for FIT women is probably lower I'd assume.

AIUI the carbon topmast IS coming, I'm not sure exactly when.

That figure of 64kgs seems a bit hight to me.

I found this;

  • The average American woman is 5'4" tall and weighs 140 pounds.

    • That is 64kgs; so the global average is going to be considerably less that that - just think about Asian, Chinese and Indian women adding to the mix and you'll get a much lower figure.

    A fit 5'4" woman is not going to weigh 64kgs ...

    Rick
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    Posts: 8956     		Post Options Post Options   Quote Rupert Quote  Post ReplyReply Direct Link To This Post Posted: 16 Dec 05 at 9:36am
    Apart from the weightlifters...
    Firefly 2324, Puffin 229, Minisail 3446 Mirror 70686
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    Posts: 0     		Post Options Post Options   Quote Guest Quote  Post ReplyReply Direct Link To This Post Posted: 16 Dec 05 at 10:33am

    Originally posted by turnturtle

    why on earth does it take so long to develop?

    That was my original question ... if they think it is a good idea then why use a lame excuse like that?

    Rick
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    Posts: 790     		Post Options Post Options   Quote Chew my RS Quote  Post ReplyReply Direct Link To This Post Posted: 16 Dec 05 at 12:17pm

    Undoubtedly a carbon topmast would be better than the existing alloy mast, but I would be against the introduction of this on the Laser Radial for the following reasons:

    1. More than any other class, the Laser promotes itself as a strict one-design. It is therefore never going to be at the forefront of technology. Anyone who buys a Laser must surely accept this fact. Tens of thousands of people would need to splash out to update their kit and remain competitive, which wouldn't be popular.

    2. Carbon masts are easy to sand down and/or build up to change the bend charecteristics. There would be a great temptation on the Olympic hopefuls to do this, to optimise the mast for their own body weight/prevailiong wind conditions etc. Obviously this goes completely against the OD ethos, but would be difficult to police as the masts are hidden under the luff sleave.

    3. Just because the IOC have selected the wrong boat for the Olympics, this is not the fault of the average club sailor. Why change the boat to suit the Olympians, who make up a tiny fraction of Radial users.

    4. If you want a Laser type boat with a carbon mast, get a Byte!

    Having said that, I have been toying with the idea of sticking a windsurfer rig on my Laser!
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