Dinghy development: Laser Spring Qualifiers sound fun

Print Page | Close Window

Laser Spring Qualifiers sound fun

Printed From: Yachts and Yachting Online
Category: Dinghy classes
Forum Name: Dinghy development
Forum Discription: The latest moves in the dinghy market
URL: http://www.yachtsandyachting.com/forum/forum_posts.asp?TID=11933
Printed Date: 09 Jul 25 at 1:47am
Software Version: Web Wiz Forums 9.665y - http://www.webwizforums.com

Topic: Laser Spring Qualifiers sound fun

Posted By: Nipper
Subject: Laser Spring Qualifiers sound fun
Date Posted: 25 Mar 15 at 2:55pm

Reading the report of last weekend's report of the Laser Spring Qualifier at Weymouth, I sense that there is a bit more behind the author's throwaway comment " Unfortunately with the wind not playing ball, no more racing was completed, meaning sailors had spent four times as long sailing to and from the race area as they had spent racing!" (they did have one race)

Sounds a great way to spend a Sunday in March.

With 36 entries in the standards, I would appear that most adults have the sense to avoid such fun, but with 75 radials the niaveity of youth still prevails, but you do wonder how many of those will still be sailing anything in 5 years time.

-------------
39 years of dinghy racing and still waiting to peak.

Replies:

Posted By: Presuming Ed
Date Posted: 25 Mar 15 at 3:32pm

With Oppies and match racing in the harbour, they had to go outside. So when the wind carps out, what else are the RC supposed to do except send everybody home?

Posted By: Rupert
Date Posted: 25 Mar 15 at 5:01pm

Can happen to any class with a sea venue and a long sail out. Thinking about it, its happened to me at Rutland, too.

Not in March, mind. Brrrrr

-------------
Firefly 2324, Puffin 229, Minisail 3446 Mirror 70686

Posted By: JimC
Date Posted: 25 Mar 15 at 5:41pm

I've sailed out and in again and not had a race at all on occasion. It happens. And when it happens its almost invariably because the conditions are so dreadful that you wouldn't want a race anyway.

Posted By: transient
Date Posted: 25 Mar 15 at 6:12pm

Outside the harbour racing at Weymouth means a four mile sail to the start line if memory serves......no joke on a light wind day.

Posted By: fab100
Date Posted: 25 Mar 15 at 6:42pm

No joke beating back in a F5 after 4 races and a downwind finish either.

But our best one was in the days of Weymouth Olympic week in the 470. Lovely sunny day, F3, just cruising back in at the end of the day, chatting away. The cross channel ferry passes by, to windward, and whap, we're in the water. Gotta entertain the crowds...

-------------
http://clubsailor.co.uk/wp/club-sailor-from-back-to-front/" rel="nofollow - Great book for Club Sailors here

Posted By: scullyman
Date Posted: 25 Mar 15 at 9:27pm

I enjoyed myself despite the pretty brutal chop (for me) on Saturday. I enjoy the opportunity to be on the same race course as the top guys.

That said, I'd personally have seen more benefit in racing in the harbour on Sunday, but with the wind as it was it was a gamble either way. I think you're always up against it with early / late season events.

Pretty strong fleet of more "mature" sailors at Chelmarsh the same weekend, though.

Posted By: LASERNUT
Date Posted: 25 Mar 15 at 9:49pm

That's pretty standard numbers these days for the Q's. Long gone are the days where you use to get over 100 standards and 150 radials.

Over time you got the impression from the organisers that you were "put up with" as a non squad member.

-------------
Sailmakers https://morgan-sails.com/

Posted By: Jamesd
Date Posted: 26 Mar 15 at 9:20am

I did a fair number of laser qualifiers as a youngster and then one day it clicked that I really wasn't enjoying it so sold my laser the next day and never did another