RE: Radial mast Changes

[John D-E <john@xxxxxxxxx>]

Mike, the class is owned by the licensed builders.  The boats are built
according to a builders manual that is confidential (and "interestingly"
registered with the ISAF).  There is no rule in the rule book that says what
material the mast shall be made from.  The first part of the fundamental
rule is:

"The laser shall be raced in accordance with these rules, with only the
hull, equipment, type of equipment, placing or equipment, fittings, type of
fittings, spars, sail and battens as supplied by the builder except when
such an alteration or change is specifically authorised by Part 3 of these
rules.

The introduction, however, to by-law 1 states:

The principle of the Laser Class Rules is that no changes to the boat are
allowed unless they are specifically permitted by Class Rules.

The Object of Part One states:

The Laser is a strict one design dinghy where the true test, when raced, is
between helmspersons and not between boats and equipment.

One could argue changing to the composite topmast is a change to the boat
(it certainly is in the common use of those words) but then again "as
supplied by the builder" can cover a multitude of sins.  It would be very
interesting to see what the manual states about mast construction.  

John D-E
D5 Sec 
Who will be 59 for a long time.

-----Original Message-----
From: Mike Schmidt [mailto:halibut@mindspring.com] 
Sent: Thursday, November 03, 2005 8:05 PM
To: 'Tracy Usher'; john@jdecm.com
Cc: laser@laser.org; 'Laser Masters E-Mail List'
Subject: RE: Radial mast Changes

Tracey,

What I'm still trying to understand is - if we defeated the original
proposal by membership vote, how is it that we are now being overruled and
the composite section introduced?

I'm not saying whether the section is good or bad - but what happened to the
process of approving significant changes in the strict one design rules?
What's next - a carbon fiber hull?  Kevlar sails?  Do we get to decide?  Who
does?

Who really controls the Laser class today?  Not the membership, or so it
would appear.

Your insights appreciated...Mike Schmidt

-----Original Message-----
From: owner-laser@cerebus.winsite.com
[mailto:owner-laser@cerebus.winsite.com] On Behalf Of Tracy Usher
Sent: Thursday, November 03, 2005 6:45 PM
To: john@jdecm.com
Cc: laser@laser.org; 'Laser Masters E-Mail List'
Subject: Re: Radial mast Changes

John D-E wrote:

>My recollection is that the class voted down the composite mast section a
>few years ago.   The claim that heavier sailors do not suffer a performance
>loss is "interesting".   Its also interesting the Laser Class (i.e. you and
>me) having voted down the change now appears to be funding it.  Also 
>interesting that ISAF has to be advised and even vote on it yet the 
>average laser sailor does not.  The "Regulation/Racing Rule/Affected" 
>is stated to be "Women's One Person Dinghy Mast".
>
>John D-E
>District 5 Sec
>Grand Master who wants to stay with full rig at Masters Worlds when he
turns
>65 in 2101.
>  
>
>

You are correct... in the 1999 vote which brought us the "new" rigging the
then proposal for a carbon spar was, I'm told, narrowly defeated. At that
time no prototypes existed, no cost estimates or targets were in place,
etc., etc.

The claim that heavier sailors do not suffer is a characteristic of the
composite, versus aluminum, spar. The explanation given to me is that the
composite spar has a higher spring constant so "snaps back" faster than the
aluminum and so "feels" like a stiffer spar. The heavier person has the same
"fee" as aluminum, the lighter person gets the benefit of a more flexible
spar. I'll comment further if I ever get my 200lbs on a boat with one
though...

I think a lot of people want to believe that the Laser Class doesn't listen
to their complaints about problems with the boat. Here is an example of the
class listening and trying to find a real solution to several problems: the
competitive weight range of the Radial is perceived to be to narrow and too
high, the upper mast section is prone to failure and develops permanent
bends (both due primarily to riveting the mast collar into place), etc.

Both the Laser and Radial are Olympic classes. It is standard in the Olympic
Contract between the Olympic Classes and ISAF that they have to be informed
of any changes to the equipment and does give them the right to veto any
changes they think are not in the best interest of the class and the
Olympics. For the RS-X boards I bet they are very pro-active in this area.
But do you think they are going to exercise that right with the Laser Class?
Especially when seen by everyone as making the Radial even more accessible
to more competitors worldwide?

Once again, I would like to encourage everyone who wants more background
information to go over to The Laser Forum (www.laserforum.org) and search
for the threads on the carbon spar. You can find a lot of comments in those
threads, from Vanguard representatives (who have spearheaded the R&D effort)
to feedback from people who have sailed with the spars. And check out the
Ned Jones Q&A in the Summer Laser Sailor. 
There IS a lot of info out there about these spars!

Tracy
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