New Boat from Laser?

Some poeple are getting into dangerous territory here. I have spectated at quite a few national events (and sailed in the odd one as well). In most classes perhaps 10% are capable of winning. That figure seems to remain fairly constant regardless of the size of fleet or type of boat. So, a National Champ is a National Champ whatever he sails. After all look at the Endeavour?

Dear CT249, Would you rather be a National Champion in a smaller class or not be a champion at all? Would you rather be National Champion in a smaller class or 23rd in a Laser Radial National? I know what looks best in the local paper. Mind you, perhaps you are either one of these, or both.

Originally posted by tickel Dear CT249, Would you rather be a National Champion in a smaller class or not be a champion at all? Would you rather be National Champion in a smaller class or 23rd in a Laser Radial National? I know what looks best in the local paper. Mind you, perhaps you are either one of these, or both.

I wasn't talking about what I would like to be, but whether the champ of an 8 boat championship deserves the same plaudits as the champ of a 50+ boat championship.

All I said was that there's a difference between being "national" champ in a small class as in a big one. It feels sort of embarrassing to be "national" champ when you know there's only about a dozen people racing that type at the moment.

It's not entirely the same as the competitiveness of the class. It's just that the connotation of a "national" titles is that the class is active in some numbers all across the country. There is a rather hollow feeling in winning or placing in a "nationals" in a class where that doesn't apply.

There are some "world" titles that are similar; they get entries from just 3 countries yet claim the same label as those where 30 nations hold qualifications just to see who can enter. That seems wrong to me.

"Would you rather be National Champion in a smaller class or 23rd in a Laser Radial National?..........perhaps you are either one of these, or both".

You're half right; I'm currently national champ in a smaller class but I was a lot better than 23rd nationally in Radials. There was more personal satisfaction to be found by doing well in the big Radial fleet than winning in the smaller classes, and the guy who won the Radials deserves more plaudits than someone like me who wins in a smaller class.

Comparing state titles (I'm in Australia and for various reasons this may give a better measure), the champ in the class where I am currently spending most of my time (which has about 30 active racers) clearly does not deserve the same plaudits as the champ in the Radials (maybe 150+ active racers) because winning in the smaller class does not require you to sail to the same standard (although both fleets have World Youth placegetters etc). Hell, winning the Radial states is much more of an achievement than winning the national title I hold.

Like Isis said, what gets into the local paper isn't an issue.




Edited by CT249

the new boat from laser was meant to be released on 15th.so anyone no what it is?

Whilst I hate to echo feva-sailor....and the debate on 'who's a real champ' is fascinating...does anyone actually know anything about what Laser are about to release?