'Fake/Training' Laser Sails

"Because Laser own the brand, set the rules, supply the sails and get the ££s. It's not up to the class association"

Why on earth not ?  It's the punters who ultimately pay for everything and decide what they do with their craft - if a group, be that the association or a local club fleet, who organise racing decide enough is enough who is going to or is even capable of stopping them ?  It's called consumer choice or power if you like and why should this market be any different - anything threatening that 'right' is surely bordering on a restrictive practice.  Keep the 'official' sail for jumping through the hoops at 'official' events perhaps but why not 'training' sails the rest of the time.  

So how independant is your class association ?  ... and how independant should it be from the manufacturer ?  Discuss ..... 

Blaze 720

 

i have found the training sails harder to sail in the windy stuff. they have stiffer leeches and dont spill the wind as well, and they are slightly faster in light winds up wind. and are better at going against the tide for some reason.

I have a rooster training sail and an official sail. I find they are very different but I cant really explain how. also, the offical sails point higher

"We have voted already".

Yes, and the results are just coming in from the returning officer now......

Votes cast at last nationals - Laser 360 votes, Blazer 54 votes (Oh OK, call it 104 big rigs v 54 Blazes).

Votes cast by joining UK class association - Laser 1855 votes, Blaze.....?


So if as you say, there's "many, MANY more" who have voted to get out of the Lasers, there's obviously "many, MANY, MANY, MANY, MANY" more who are quite happy to stay in.


Yes, the Laser sails are expensive (although I'm convinced it's proven that they last much better than many people say) but that gives the dealers a chance to make profits and keep promoting the class. I run a SMOD class with sails that are better, cheaper and longer-lasting and because there's no profit in the class, we can't get dealers to stock it and therefore we don't get as much promotion.

Yes, expensive sails are a problem in some ways. But they're not a problem unless people need new sails. 95%+ of Laser sailors really only need a new sail every couple of seasons if that.....their problem is lack of training not lack of sail speed. So most Laser sailors don't need to spend much to remain competitive at their level, and many of them can just get a second hand sail from the small percentage (but large number) of top sailors.












Edited by Chris 249

....We are all very happy for you as well but it's not Blaze sailors grinding on about the cost and durability of their sails is it !!  

Your 95+% of Lasers sailors who only need a new sail every couple of seasons are not generally the ones who go to the Nationals, major opens, or are active within the association are they ....  That much is obvious - they mostly stay nearer home and grumble.  The point is why should they be deprived of a good quality alternative training sail because the 5% want to keep them all in the fold ?  If they had easy access to good alternatives, accepted at local level for racing, they might then be able to get one every season if needed, see their results improve against the travelling other 5%, and then get out on the circuit themselves - even buying an 'official' sail when they do ....  

And there is no reason to shout either .... I'm pretty certain when I say that virtually every Blaze and most other singlehanders have raced Lasers at one time or another - I've had five in my time.  We resented the 'value for money' of Laser sails at the time and I only echo what is still a topic within the current Laser community.  This is not a class knocking comment, nobody is trying to rubbish your chosen class.  I'm all for one strict 'one-design' when the sail is proven durable over time and of reasonable cost.  But when the manufacturer and/or the association cannot deliver that for all owners then questions will naturally be asked of both.  Manufacture in the far-east these days means there is very considerable room for price 'adjustment' - hence the rise of training sails. This is why at my club and many others laser fleets are giving serious consideration to allowing local alternatives such as the Rooster one.  

Blaze 720

 

    

 

 

 

 

 

when i was racing nationally in my radial i found that i had to buy a new sail every season and that was stretching it a bit. basically at start of every season i bought a new sail for championships only, the rest of the time i used my last seasons sail. in total i had about a total of about 28 days racing each year with my championship sail and it was completely worn out by the end of the season