Kirby Sueing LPE, ILCA, ISAF, Rastegar

Im pressed rounded off corner patches that said if they built the standard sail out of decent cloth then they would last fine too

Originally posted by Mark Jardine If I found myself at a club that was pedantic about my using genuine kit for my club racing then I'd move on to a club with bit more of a relaxed attitude. That's what I've got at my current club - and I've got to say when I do get the chance to get out on the water, it's damn good fun and relaxing. Isn't that what it's supposed to be?

Originally posted by Peaky All amateur sport is supposed to be fun, it's just a hobby after all. So should amateurs be allowed to use replica sails at the Nationals, whilst those in the RYA squad have to use real sails? There seems to be a thought that the action of using a replica sail is harmless and without consequence. I don't think that is right. The logical extension of supportingreplica sails is to support a rule opening up the choice of sailmaker in a legal way. But if that rule came in Laser sail prices would only go one way, and it isn't down.

They will charge what the market will bear.
If their market is reduced to a few with olympic or international hopes, they might be able to charge what North etc charge for a Finn sail. To those customers, the costs of their campaigns is way bigger than sails. They are but a small corner of the Laser market.
One keelboat class I know has a single-sailmaker rule. The CA does a deal for three years to sole-source the sails. As a result the sails are made in batches and work out much cheaper than say an RS400 set, for a much bigger rig. But their CA is only answerable to the owners, so represents their interests.

All amateur sport is supposed to be fun, it's just a hobby after all. So should amateurs be allowed to use replica sails at the Nationals, whilst those in the RYA squad have to use real sails?

There seems to be a thought that the action of using a replica sail is harmless and without consequence. I don't think that is right.

The logical extension of supportingreplica sails is to support a rule opening up the choice of sailmaker in a legal way. But if that rule came in Laser sail prices would only go one way, and it isn't down.

Originally posted by RS400atC Originally posted by Peaky If the standard Rooster replica isn't as good as the proper Laser sail (which many claim is alreay naff), why would you buy it? Buying a low grade replica of what is already a cheap sail (compared to other classes) smacks of false economy to me. Is that before or after either of them has seen a few weekends' use? For many the replica is a replacement for a very tired sail. The differences between some of the old rags people use and a new sail are many times greater than the differences between a Rooster and a Laser sail. Also the differences among samples of so-called identical official sails can be significant.

I've got to agree with that - my sail was 2nd hand when I bought the boat in 2008. After 5 more seasons use, and most recently a repair when my top section broke, the only way I can now describe it is 'tired'.

I think that's the point about club racing - many people are just looking for a cheap boat they can go out and have a blast in against people who are in the same sort of boat. The Laser covers perfectly as it's so easy to store in a rack / tow down and then rig quickly. The problem with 'real' kit is that a replacement part, be it sail, spar, foil or tiller, is damn expensive for what it is. Replica parts fill the need for cheap parts to keep club Lasers out on the water.

I'm not going to go do the circuit in my Laser. I bought it as a boat to go have cheap fun in as having 2 young kids take up my time and money.

If I found myself at a club that was pedantic about my using genuine kit for my club racing then I'd move on to a club with bit more of a relaxed attitude. That's what I've got at my current club - and I've got to say when I do get the chance to get out on the water, it's damn good fun and relaxing.

Isn't that what it's supposed to be?