Lasers

Originally posted by Demelza Correction; I should have said 'I only question where the ILCA is taking the class' Although unfortunately UKLA is following in the same direction.

Originally posted by fab100 Originally posted by Demelza   I have absolutely no axe to grind for LP. I only question where the UKLA are taking the class and the the cost of ILCA boats as opposed to an LP Laser which would entirely suit the average club sailor.   If Rastagar had actually played by the rules, paid the royalties and let someone check he was building the boats properly and consistently (it is an Olympic class after all) the whole sorry mess would not have occurred. And wasn't it LP who started proposing a totally new, different carbon/mylar rig?  The carbon top section is working out cheaper than the ally ones that the top sailors were bending permanently in no time at all. Who wants to buy 5 top sections a year? No performance gain so club sailors not impacted. If you're working from a base of fully amortised, sunk production set-up costs, don't (wrongly) pay royalties or ISAF fees, don't invest in the class or provide support, can totally ignore QA and build standards, you probably can, in the short term, bang ‘em out cheap and still make a cash profit.  You can’t  have it both ways - the class got where it is as a strict SMOD, same for everyone. But if you want to blame something for cost differentials (if there are any, look at new Aero prices) you’re barking up the wrong tree. The issue there is the pact-with-the-devil that is Olympic class status.

I think you are missing out some of the history behind the debacle. The Australian builder was producing a boat that was judged to be 'faster'. Foul play was suspected and on investigation the boats were found to be stiffer because they were constructed with addition fibreglass mat and did not thus comply with the builders manual. LP complained to the ILCA that these boats should be ruled out of class. This would effected a few thousand boats so the ILCA did nothing apart from demand to inspect LP premise to check on their boats. Not surprisingly Rastagar got the hump and refused. ILCA 's response was to refuse to license LP boats. 

Originally posted by NicolaJayne Originally posted by Demelza Correction; I should have said 'I only question where the ILCA is taking the class' Although unfortunately UKLA is following in the same direction.   you really  are not  doing anything to dismiss   the  assertion that you are a Shill for LP, attempting to astroturf about their  counterfeit product.

Final word;