Solo changes survey

Originally posted by JimC If every competitive boat in the fleet is carrying lead, then the lead is pointless and ditching it just saves hassle and takes a few quid of the cost of new boats.

Agreed, but there are lots of Solos racing with either no lead or a smaller than 3 kg correctors. So you are suggesting that boats not attending championships or major events should be ignored as far as rule changes are concerned?

Originally posted by tink Originally posted by JimC If every competitive boat in the fleet is carrying lead, then the lead is pointless and ditching it just saves hassle and takes a few quid of the cost of new boats. The carrying of lead is the most sensible aspect of one designs. It enables someone to dip into the class and buy an older boat and compete roughly on equal term with newer hotshots. I really really really gets me angry that classes are run for the guys in the top 20% with up to date kit. Sailors battling it out in the bottom 20% are equally valid and their experience and enjoyment of the race equally, if not more important, that of the guys at the top.  Any class that’s prime objective is that any boat less than ten years on is still competitive within top 20% and twenty year old boats within  top 50% deserves to wither and die.

Originally posted by sargesail Or to put it another way: if you don’t want your class changed then join the CA and vote!

Ah, it's just as I suspected, it will actually make new boats more expensive and more fragile as they won't be removing the 'max corrector' rule just reducing the min weight. The only people who will benefit are the owners of current boats who will have a tiny bit less weight to pull up the slip (it will make no difference on the water) and the measurers who will be paid to reweigh the boats (maybe the sailors can partially offset this cost by weighing in the lead (£2.75/kg)) 

Originally posted by Sam.Spoons Ah, it's just as I suspected, it will actually make new boats more expensive and more fragile as they won't be removing the 'max corrector' rule just reducing the min weight. The only people who will benefit are the owners of current boats who will have a tiny bit less weight to pull up the slip (it will make no difference on the water) and the measurers who will be paid to reweigh the boats (maybe the sailors can partially offset this cost by weighing in the lead (£2.75/kg))

I would imagine that new boats have a significant amount of resin slopped on to get the hull within 3kg. So new boats will be as strong, just less unwanted resin. What would be wrong in following the Merlins and putting extra lead in?

Perhaps as the owner of a competitive club boat with no correctors ( and loyal assoc member) my only option is to accept my boat will be overweight, and worth less if I ever sell it.

My understanding is that this questionnaire was sent to members that had agreed to accept emails from the assoc. A very significant proportion of the members therefore were not involved or asked their views. I dont think it would be unfair to assume that a member without email access or not happy to receive emails is perhaps more likely to be an owner of an older or classic boat.