Current rule: Breaking the Mold?


The Laser class’ strength comes from its rigid OD rules… but what if these were to change?


By David Schmidt If you’ve ever sailed Lasers, you


know how much fun they are in a big breeze with a following sea. If you’ve ever raced Lasers, you also know that a big part of the class’ strength comes from its numbers—more than 200,000 Lasers have been built since 1971— and its rigid One Design rules, which ensure equality amongst all boats, at least at the time of manufacture. For sailors, this is the class’ foundation; the guarantee of fair, even racing in uniform boats that tests pure skill, rather than factoring purchasing power into the winning formula. Because of its strong One Design standing, its immense popularity and its status as an International Class, the Laser was selected as a Men’s Olympic Class in 1996 (Atlanta Games), and in the 2008 Summer Olympics the Laser Radial debuted as a woman’s class (Qingdao, China). But now, on its 40th anniversary, all that could change, and likely not for the better. Some history: several years ago,


Bruce Kirby (now 82), the genius designer who famously sketched the rough lines of a one-person dinghy on a cocktail napkin when the inspiration for


the T.G.I.F (the Laser’s original name) struck, sold his commercial rights to the Laser to the Spencer family, owners of Global Sailing, a New Zealand-based boatbuilder. Global Sailing has been building Lasers to the full satisfaction of Kirby for many years, and was Kirby’s handpicked choice as the guardian of the Laser class’ “purity”. It should be noted that the Spencers also own Performance Sailcraft Australia, which is one of two manufacturers who are also Laser Trademark holders, along with UK-based LaserPerformance. In late March 2011, the International


Laser Class Association (ILCA) sent out a somewhat mysterious email urging its members to quickly vote “Yes” to what it has termed a “fundamental rules change” to the Laser class’ rules. The most important of these changes would be that “strict adherence to the Construction manual” would trump the necessity of a recognized manufacturer having “a building agreement from Bruce Kirby or Bruce Kirby Inc.” The ILCA proposes to change these important rules (note: the source for these rules and proposed changes was the ILCA’s email to its members):


“The Laser shall be raced in accordance with these rules, with only the hull, equipment, fittings, spars, sail and battens manufactured by a licensed builder in accordance with the Laser design specification (known as the Construction Manual) which is registered with ISAF.”


Proposed modifications: The Laser shall be raced in accordance with these Rules, with only the hull, equipment, fittings, spars, sail and battens manufactured by an International Sailing Federation (ISAF) and International Laser Class Association (ILCA) approved builder in strict adherence to the Laser design specification (known as the Construction Manual) which is registered with ISAF.


Also of critical importance is this proposed rules change:


Current rule: A Builder is a manufacturer that has a building agreement from Bruce Kirby or Bruce Kirby Inc. to build the Laser and has the rights to use a Laser trademark and has been approved as a Laser Builder by each of the International Sailing Federation and the International Laser Class Association.


Proposed modifications: A Builder is a manufacturer that has the rights to use a Laser trademark, is manufacturing the hull, equipment, fittings, spars, sails and battens in strict adherence to the Construction Manual, and has been approved as a Laser Builder by each of the International Sailing Federation and the International Laser Class Association.


Ballard Sails & Yacht Services Sail Repairs


New Custom Sails, 48° NORTH, JULY 2011 PAGE 46


CONGRATULATIONS! “Kotuku” - Farr 1220 Overall Van Isle 360


1st


Racing and Cruising Convenient Shilshole Location 6303 Seaview Ave. NW • (206) 706-5500 www.ballardsails.com • info@ballardsails.com


“Neptune's Car” - Santa Cruz 70 1st


Class Blake Island


Page 1  |  Page 2  |  Page 3  |  Page 4  |  Page 5  |  Page 6  |  Page 7  |  Page 8  |  Page 9  |  Page 10  |  Page 11  |  Page 12  |  Page 13  |  Page 14  |  Page 15  |  Page 16  |  Page 17  |  Page 18  |  Page 19  |  Page 20  |  Page 21  |  Page 22  |  Page 23  |  Page 24  |  Page 25  |  Page 26  |  Page 27  |  Page 28  |  Page 29  |  Page 30  |  Page 31  |  Page 32  |  Page 33  |  Page 34  |  Page 35  |  Page 36  |  Page 37  |  Page 38  |  Page 39  |  Page 40  |  Page 41  |  Page 42  |  Page 43  |  Page 44  |  Page 45  |  Page 46  |  Page 47  |  Page 48  |  Page 49  |  Page 50  |  Page 51  |  Page 52  |  Page 53  |  Page 54  |  Page 55  |  Page 56  |  Page 57  |  Page 58  |  Page 59  |  Page 60  |  Page 61  |  Page 62  |  Page 63  |  Page 64  |  Page 65  |  Page 66  |  Page 67  |  Page 68  |  Page 69  |  Page 70  |  Page 71  |  Page 72  |  Page 73  |  Page 74  |  Page 75  |  Page 76  |  Page 77  |  Page 78  |  Page 79  |  Page 80  |  Page 81  |  Page 82  |  Page 83  |  Page 84  |  Page 85  |  Page 86  |  Page 87  |  Page 88