FOM 2013

Burghfield are really 'not ready' for FOM... think of the cultural shock ...  still with nearly 2 years to go at least they could be gently eased towards what to expect !

I see it all now ... Oh God !

Mike L.

This is it Ari Barshi and his wife MJ, great couple, I guess the deal has to be finding some all inclusive spot nearby on some sort of last minute dot come deal and hope they're not full.

The Guy that runs this place is the husband of the Dakine distributor for Dom Rep, turns out many many years ago I did him a favour, loaning him a centreboard when he broke one at the Hayling Nationals in 79 I think it was, our paths didn't really cross again until Dakine had this meeting there back in 2006 I think it was and one of the leisure activities was this Laser race which I was too late for and at the time not really interested in but one of my reps took part in.
We got talking and he explained that his centre is used for coaching by a lot of the hotshot Laser guys out of the states and I've had it at the back of my mind ever since, that if ever I felt the need to learn how to sail a Laser properly then doing a week or two here would do the trick, you'll notice my dementia ridden brain is not allowing me to post names and forcing waffle instead. I'm also out here in Munich right now so don't have my desk and contact books to hand, but it also occurred to me a couple of days back I could organise something if there were enough interest from a bunch of us, I could probably chuck in Kitesurf as well given my contacts, give me a couple more days and I'll see if I can't find out more.

Originally posted by iGRF I'm even thinking of going on a Laser course at a mates place in Cabarete (Dom Rep) if I get chance this winter to see what can be done about it..

That sounds interesting. Details please - who / what company?  PM if you prefer.
SNOW forecast for up here on Friday so might need a bit of winter sun the way things are looking at the moment. Usual catch when I've enquired about this type of thing before is that to go as a single costs a mint compared to a couple / mates sharing a room.

Graeme, I would strongly reccomend that you should get out to Cabarete if you can and you have the contacts.
If you do, consume every book and DVD about laser sailing you can, and get hold of a laser radial beforehand and sail it on pond and channel as much as poss so you hit the ground running.

Its pretty windy and wavy out there on the whole, so you'll probably wake up every morning feeling like you've got leukemia, but its warm, a lot of classy laser sailors train there, and I understand the coaching is good. Plus you can always have a relaxing windsurf / kitesurf to cool down afterwards.

Provided you go to a place like that in a reasonable state of competance, you'll bring your sailing on more in a week than you would in years at home working it out yourself.

There is a bit of laser sailing that is esoteric, but most of the skills you'll learn will be pretty transferrable, esp to something like the EPS.

Dan