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CT249
Far too distracted from work Joined: 08 Jul 06 Online Status: Offline Posts: 399 |
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Topic: Laser vs RS Aero for 2024 Posted: 17 May 19 at 12:15am |
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I'm not missing the point - the issue is that your claims are incorrect. The arguments used to defend the FD and bring in the Laser etc were NOT the same arguments that are being used to defend the Laser. This is easy to prove - look for example at a Washington Post article that says the Laser was brought in "to open a door to young racers who lack the finances to mount expensive campaigns in more costly boats...the little Laser is supposed to be the working-class sailor's route to the world's top competition." As Rupert noted, other arguments in favour of bringing in the Laser reflected the class' popularity. The FD's defence was NOT like the defence the Laser class is putting up - see for example the summary from the class in the Spring 1992 Trapeze magazine. I'm about to leave for a training weekend but I can find more evidence later. But basically, since the facts in the situations are actually completely different, there is no irony whatsoever! It's not necessarily "conservative" to say that a class should stay in the Games. Just as the boats you fostered can be called "conservative" but are actually fine boats that could be chosen by someone for perfectly logical reasons that have nothing to do with conservatism, a belief that sailing would be better off with the Laser in the Olympics is something that can be the result of perfectly logical reasons that have nothing to do with conservatism. Arguably, labelling a choice as "conservative" is merely arguing the man in some ways. Finally, as noted earlier if favouring the Laser is called "conservative" then the same label can be thrown at those who favour the Aero instead of a kitefoiler, Waszp, etc. In fact it does seem odd to campaign for such a minor change to "move sailing forward" when the outer reaches of sailing have gone so far beyond the Aero and Laser in many ways. Just look at speed as one measure. The Aero is 2.5% quicker than the Laser, but the Waszp has a provisional yardstick of 60% quicker than the Laser and the kite is much quicker still. If a newer and faster class is the aim, why take on all the pain for so little gain? If we want to "take sailing forward", why only go forward by inches instead of by miles? PS - since you appear to think my position is based on personal preference, it's relevant to say that after being in various classes that have been adopted or dropped, I would personally prefer if my classes were NOT in the Games so I am NOT speaking from self interest.
Edited by CT249 - 17 May 19 at 12:17am |
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CT249
Far too distracted from work Joined: 08 Jul 06 Online Status: Offline Posts: 399 |
Post Options Quote Reply Posted: 17 May 19 at 12:34am | ||
Regarding an earlier post; there was a small Finn class in existence before it was selected for Scandinavian competition, which then led to Games selection. In fact if it wasn't for the fact that the plans were published in a magazine and 25 sailors had built them, Sarby would not have entered the trials because the Finn had failed to win the design competition.
The FD was selected as an International class before it was selected for the Games and I think it was reasonably popular before it was selected. Obviously the Dragon, Yngling, Star and Europe had existing fleets. One interesting point is how often the advocates for new classes have been wrong with their predictions. When Paul Henderson was promoting the adoption of a skiff, he said he thought (or hoped) it would lead to a host of similar classes, just as the "FD trials" had spurred the development of the 420, 470, Korsar, 490, 505 and a host of other trapeze boats. History has shown us that the 49er hasn't had anything like that sort of impact. Similarly, the RSX was supposed to link Olympic sailors with mainstream windsurfers, which it hasn't. Arguably the gap between the mainstream and the Olympic and feeder class has widened since the RSX came along. Olympic match racing didn't spur more widespread match racing, as they claimed it would. The Nacra 17 doesn't seem to have kicked off widespread interest in foiling cats. Perhaps the Olympics have much less ability to influence the mainstream of the sport than we think. That makes one wonder how much Olympic sailing can influence non-sailors, too.
Edited by CT249 - 17 May 19 at 1:07am |
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CT249
Far too distracted from work Joined: 08 Jul 06 Online Status: Offline Posts: 399 |
Post Options Quote Reply Posted: 17 May 19 at 1:06am | ||
It would be interesting to do the sums on the renewability side. I recently checked out the ecological cost of carbon fibre big boats, and it was horrifying in terms of greenhouse gases alone. Is 'glass any better? Carbon spars consume lots of electricity but so would the Laser's tin rig. Perhaps the whole area has been explored with so little detail that we really don't know which option is the best?
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JimC
Really should get out more Joined: 17 May 04 Location: United Kingdom Online Status: Offline Posts: 6649 |
Post Options Quote Reply Posted: 17 May 19 at 6:06am | ||
High tech boat building can be horribly wasteful. Peel ply, bleeder film, vac bags...
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H2
Really should get out more Joined: 26 Jul 17 Online Status: Offline Posts: 749 |
Post Options Quote Reply Posted: 17 May 19 at 7:37am | ||
100% with you on this!
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H2 #115 (sold)
H2 145 OK 2082 |
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JimC
Really should get out more Joined: 17 May 04 Location: United Kingdom Online Status: Offline Posts: 6649 |
Post Options Quote Reply Posted: 17 May 19 at 7:40am | ||
As the subject has created about three times as much activity here and on SA as anything else in the last month or so its quite clear that lots of people care. |
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Cirrus
Really should get out more Joined: 29 Oct 15 Location: UK Online Status: Offline Posts: 590 |
Post Options Quote Reply Posted: 17 May 19 at 8:37am | ||
......its quite clear that lots of people care. But usually not the ones who do know what will really happen now ! My 'vote' would be on a standard fudge that keeps the 'Laser' (if we can still call it that !!) in the Olympic circus for now in part or in whole. The assessment trials, some cynics will say, were really all about sorting out the politics of the process so selection decisons could not easily be challenged in the future ('They' were already subject to having the bars rattled, after all, by one wantabe supplier with a related gripe so I hear). This might even have had some bearing on things as they were assessed some could speculate ... The bonus of this however was that the Laser 'family' if you can call it that (that VERY dysfunctional family mind you) got a couple of shots across the bows to 'encourage' them to sort themselves out post haste. If they don't, and there are few public signs of it most can see, then this hardly supports their position in the future. But in the end .... yes its right not many in the greater world do really care that much except as ball to kick around these forums.
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Post Options Quote Reply Posted: 18 May 19 at 7:23am | ||
And we present to you the Aero 6...
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By The Lee
Posting king Joined: 06 Aug 17 Online Status: Offline Posts: 114 |
Post Options Quote Reply Posted: 18 May 19 at 7:27am | ||
I think this is the right move on the part of rs as the 7 was obviously unsuitable for women
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davidyacht
Really should get out more Joined: 29 Mar 05 Online Status: Offline Posts: 1345 |
Post Options Quote Reply Posted: 18 May 19 at 7:59am | ||
I am waiting for the Aero 8 ... I do like symmetry
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Happily living in the past
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