dealing with an old laser sail

   I race regularly, every sunday and wednesday, with a laser sail with the number 9108 on it. Last week someone commented on its 'blown' shape. I have noticed I cant point quite as high as everyone else and I suspect this is due to the sail. Is there anything I can do to minimise the impact the sail is having on pointing, and performance in general, or is the only real solution a new sail?

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Reuben T Send Private Message Find Member's Posts Groupie Joined: 22 Mar 13 Location: Lyme Regis Online Status: Offline Posts: 74	Post Options Post Reply Quote Reuben T Report Post Quote Reply Topic: dealing with an old laser sail Posted: 10 Apr 13 at 9:04pm
	I race regularly, every sunday and wednesday, with a laser sail with the number 9108 on it. Last week someone commented on its 'blown' shape. I have noticed I cant point quite as high as everyone else and I suspect this is due to the sail. Is there anything I can do to minimise the impact the sail is having on pointing, and performance in general, or is the only real solution a new sail?

fab100 Send Private Message Find Member's Posts Visit Member's Homepage Really should get out more Joined: 15 Mar 11 Online Status: Offline Posts: 1005	Post Options Post Reply Quote fab100 Report Post Quote Reply Posted: 10 Apr 13 at 10:03pm
	Can you post us a pic? without seeing it, the answer is quite probably time for a new rag - or get a retired one from the club hotshot
	Great book for Club Sailors here

Caveman Send Private Message Find Member's Posts Groupie Joined: 17 Sep 11 Location: Kent Online Status: Offline Posts: 64	Post Options Post Reply Quote Caveman Report Post Quote Reply Posted: 11 Apr 13 at 1:25am
	Reubin, If I owned an old Laser and used it only for fun sailing and a bit of club racing on Wed nights, I would buy a "training sail" from a reputable company like Rooster. It should be good quality and affordable compared to the official Laser product (and who knows what is official right now?!) You would not be able to use it for open meetings. That will probably not bother you for a while. However, do check first that other fleet members are happy for you to use a training sail for club racing.
	Enthusiasm>Skill

jeffers Send Private Message Find Member's Posts Visit Member's Homepage Really should get out more Joined: 29 Mar 04 Location: United Kingdom Online Status: Offline Posts: 3048	Post Options Post Reply Quote jeffers Report Post Quote Reply Posted: 11 Apr 13 at 9:09am
	There is not a lot you can do with an old Laser sail to make it work effectively. I would do either of the above (depending on what you club permits) and keep the old sail for windy days.
	Paul ---------------------- D-Zero GBR 74

kingdacks Send Private Message Find Member's Posts Posting king Joined: 04 Oct 11 Location: Poole Online Status: Offline Posts: 148	Post Options Post Reply Quote kingdacks Report Post Quote Reply Posted: 11 Apr 13 at 7:37pm
	Get an ex worlds, ex charter sail, or talk to some of the ex olympic guys/girls or there coachs they always seem to have sails that you can buy that are no use to them but would be perfect for your club racing.

Reuben T Send Private Message Find Member's Posts Groupie Joined: 22 Mar 13 Location: Lyme Regis Online Status: Offline Posts: 74	Post Options Post Reply Quote Reuben T Report Post Quote Reply Posted: 11 Apr 13 at 7:39pm
	there are already two toppers sailing with replica sails at my club so they seem ok with it, but i will be moving to the south coast soon so i don't know what the clubs there will think. I do the laser open that my club hosts every year and would ideally like to do more if I could get to them, so i probably couldn't get a replica without compromising next years sailing. I was hoping there was a technique that allowed old sails to keep up.

kingdacks Send Private Message Find Member's Posts Posting king Joined: 04 Oct 11 Location: Poole Online Status: Offline Posts: 148	Post Options Post Reply Quote kingdacks Report Post Quote Reply Posted: 11 Apr 13 at 7:47pm
	If you have a look in "championship laser racing by Glenn bourke" I am sure there is something on old sails in there.

Fraggle Send Private Message Find Member's Posts Far too distracted from work Joined: 28 Feb 07 Location: United Kingdom Online Status: Offline Posts: 220	Post Options Post Reply Quote Fraggle Report Post Quote Reply Posted: 12 Apr 13 at 8:54am
	UKLA ad page http://www.laser.org.uk/SmallAds.php?Action=Default&SessionCRC=-1061618925 usually has lots of bits and pieces for sale. I think at the moment Charlotte Dobson is selling of all her radial gear as she has moved to the FX for her next campaign, I would imagine she'll have several sails at various quality/prices to sell. Ebay usually has lots of sails. Just do check pictures carefully so you don't end up with something as bad as you already have. Ask the front end of your laser fleet at your club if any of them have any old, but better, sails they would be prepared to sell you. http://www.facebook.com/#!/groups/dinghies/ for various items. Radial sails have come up on here recently.

bluesam3 Send Private Message Find Member's Posts Newbie Joined: 11 Mar 12 Online Status: Offline Posts: 7	Post Options Post Reply Quote bluesam3 Report Post Quote Reply Posted: 08 Jul 14 at 12:28am
	Apart from all of the above about getting a new sail, I tend to find myself using a bit more cunningham upwind when sailing with older sails, to flatten out the profile and improve pointing a little (at least to the point where I'm reasonably comparable to everybody else).

gordon1277 Send Private Message Find Member's Posts Really should get out more Joined: 24 Mar 10 Location: United Kingdom Online Status: Offline Posts: 665	Post Options Post Reply Quote gordon1277 Report Post Quote Reply Posted: 08 Jul 14 at 8:54am
	Dont worry about us on the South coast worrying about your sail for club racing, half the fleet here have replica sails. Open meetings especially official world qualifiers would be different. We at Lee on Solent are having a bit of a resurgence in our laser fleet but not at a level anyone would find intimidating. Always happy to have active new members. Gordon
	Gordon Lossc