Largest Club Fleets

Originally posted by turnturtle and that proper racing - fleet racing - is somehow inferior to that b**locks handicap system new boats seem to rely on to justify themselves...

If people really thought fleet racing was superior it wouldn't be so difficult for clubs to maintain fleets, and you wouldn't get people changing class at a drop of a hat.

If you look at the real world then its hard to build fleets, and even harder to keep them going for more than a few seasons once they've built. Successful fleets seem to rely on one or two charismatic people to grow, and if they move on for whatever reason the fleets often die.

Edited by JimC - 21 Apr 16 at 5:54pm

Originally posted by SimonW99 If laser had improved their manfacturing processes, shed some weight and added a carbon rig plus a better set of sails

Why ever would the class want to do that?  The Laser is an excellent and classic bit of durable 20th C design, good for mass production and accessible for the masses.  Its been said before and it still holds true; a Laser can be dragged out of the nettles and be on the start line in no time.   It is the VW Beetle of dinghy sailing; turn the key and it runs.  The cost of entry is peanuts, as is the cost of ownership.   It is remarkable how many boxes the Laser ticks.  

The Laser was a very significant and successful hardware update of the Sunfish.  Personally and from what I've seen, I believe the Zero is the spiritual successor to the Laser but whether its hardware improvements result in the same success as the Laser, time will tell.

Originally posted by boatshed Originally posted by SimonW99 If laser had improved their manfacturing processes, shed some weight and added a carbon rig plus a better set of sails  Why ever would the class want to do that?  The Laser is an excellent and classic bit of durable 20th C design, good for mass production and accessible for the masses.  Its been said before and it still holds true; a Laser can be dragged out of the nettles and be on the start line in no time.   It is the VW Beetle of dinghy sailing; turn the key and it runs.  The cost of entry is peanuts, as is the cost of ownership.   It is remarkable how many boxes the Laser ticks.   The Laser was a very significant and successful hardware update of the Sunfish.  Personally and from what I've seen, I believe the Zero is the spiritual successor to the Laser but whether its hardware improvements result in the same success as the Laser, time will tell.

On the contrary James, I, and I think most of the other 300 sailors enjoy seeing how we've done against the 29 lasers! Means we can see how we fair against them without having to endure actually sailing one of the ghastly things. And times are being taken every week for everyone on Wednesdays. Happy days. Lasers can purely concentrate on their fleet racing on the water and then see how they did against everyone else on the water too (I know a few of the lasers have said they are enjoying the personal handicapping aspect too). You need to get another 300 and join in! Think we're back up to 7 now.

ughh well you are getting on a bit I guess now....