Re: How do YOU race.

[EricLaser (at) AOL.COM]

In a message dated 01/02/2001 9:58:55 PM Eastern Standard Time, 
dkopp@adam.com.au writes:

> Had a new sailor turn up last week we did the
>  Ainslie/Scheidt thing with him being Ainslie for half the race, when I
>  finally broke free we were last by half a lap, I managed to catch up but he
>  couldn't.  After the race I questioned him as to the point of match racing
>  someone to the back of the fleet and his reply, which I am still pondering
>  was " thats the way Lasers are sailed and if you want to do well in them 
you
>  better get used to it ".  Is this the way everyone out there sails?  

Sounds like a little peer-pressure is in order.  In our Fleet (27 qualifiers 
this fall), match-racing is reserved for the last leg, and then only when 
daily or season standings are at stake.  When someone inadvertently 
slam-dunks, he hears "Hey - was that necessary?" and responds with an apology.

I guess you could take it as a mark of respect.  The newbie must think YOU 
are the boat to beat!

To answer your question:  We are competitive, but our Fleet is made up of all 
ages and abilities.  With short-course racing, we have reduced the foul 
penalty from a 720 to a 360.  We are trying to instill the practice of taking 
a 360 even when you are in the right, to gain immunity from DSQ.  
Bumper-boats is greatly discouraged, but aggressiveness is not.  Protests are 
heard in an open forum, so everybody can learn.  Most incidents are resolved 
in the drystall area with discussion and a handshake.  We treat cussing-out a 
competitor as a violation of Fair Sailing, and have reduced it to near zero.

Eric Robbins
Cedar Point Laser Fleet
Westport, CT USA
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