Your feedback..

Are you making the change? Although I don't disagree with the allowing of more user friendly rig controls on the Laser, I think that the allowance of a differently cut radial sail is a bit silly, as it is meant to be a one-design. The whole point of a one-design of this kind is that you shouldn't need to make radical changes of this kind, because they are all meant to be the same. Now it is slightly less than one-design. The changes to the rig controls are to make the boat easier to sail, but shouldn't affect its performance. My main worry is that invariably any changes of these kinds are for the benefit of lightweight sailors, which annoys me as a heavy weight sailor myself.

From Hein Cuppen
Are you making the change? I'm a 16 year old sailor and I don't have a lot of money to spend in sailing. The new changes are excellent, specially for me and for people that are still growing but they are too expensive for our pockets! Many of us doesn't work and have many expenses concerning education, and again after this change we are in 'technology delay'. I think that the best way to solve this problem is to prohibit the optional stuff for the youth, so then there will be a more equality between us. Another option is to make at least the vang cheaper because is the most important changed part for the youth

From Mike Moody
Are you making the change?The jury is still out on the new "go fast" rigging. I believe we may find there is a significant one design "purist" majority. The court room of the free market place will make a decision in due time. There will be few if any changes in the way I rig until the market of laser public opinion "field tests" the new systems for a significant length of time.

From Mikael Ahrenberg
How much of this will be decided on luck? We do have a very interesting situation on our hands. I think luck might play a role in this, but craftsmanship should count for something. Grant Dalton is such an old fox that given the right opportunities he will win this leg. He has a god boat and a skilful crew so it would not come as a surprise if he would take the whole race. This is pure speculation as we live in the early days of the race and the boats have not yet been taken to the limits. But my feelings are the Dalt's will be on podium place.

From Andrew Banks
Careless or unlucky? At the risk of sounding facetious I'm rather surprised that the estimated cost of an IACC mast is given as only being around $250,000. Given that these rigs are supposedly at the cutting edge of technology, it comes as rather a surprise that they don't appear to cost great deal more than a Carbon Rig for a Swan 60. Either way it can hardly help the budget situation at OneWorld.

From Jenny Campbell-James
Good performance from Mark C-J?To answer this you need to consider the following points Mark was completely self funded, unlike most others sailing. He only has one of his normal crew sailing (John Clifton) - the other two were locals from Bermuda. This is the first Grade 1 match racing event Mark has sailed. At 21 he is 6 years younger than the next youngest skipper Andy Green - and far less experienced. He got through the qualifying rounds beating Andy Horton, Thomas Kozyn, Dave Juleff and Markuss Weisser, losing only to Peter Bromby and Gavin Brady both far more experienced match racers. He just lost 3-1 to Morten Hendrickson. having won the first race. To quote Mark "We ballsed up last race a bit cos we were ahead for two laps out of three and on the last beat he got us cos we tacked a bit too much." All good experience for a young match racer. I think that it was a good performance.

From Bermuda
Good performance from Mark C-J? Being out in Bermuda at the Gold Cup and also seeing other reactions to his performance, I can definitely say yes a great performance by young Campbell-James. At age 21 (at least five years younger than the next competitor) to beat Weiser, Horton, kozyn, Julleff, and to be ahead in every race against Henrickson who is ranked 14th in the world and part of illbruk Challenge, well what do you think! He made some vital mistakes which cost him 4 out of 5 races.

But the general opinion was that Marks team lost the races rather than Henrickson winning. Never having sailed in the boats, having only one regular crew and lack of confidence would not have helped however. There was great praise all round for the boy that had come out and not by any means disgraced himself but rather gave the professionals a run for their money. Henrickson at the press conference said" I'm sure we'll be seeing a lot of you in the future."

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