From the Feedback - 3/02/01

From Jim Champ,
A good business move for Laser? Excellent move I would have said. Firstly it's where the numbers are, and secondly they've never been very good at high-end boats anyway - the 5 tonner and the EPS being examples. And it will be good for the sport to have high volume manufacturers encouraging new people into the market.

From Waferdanos,
A good business move for Laser? Definitely. For so long now people have been talking about the flood of new classes with many believing that they are doing nothing for our sport. Laser should stick with promoting classes like the Laser and Laser 2 as these classes offer more than modern day fleets but are accessible to all, not just the ones with money. Well done Laser.

From Mike,
A good business move for Laser? Mr Jones of the Laser Centre asserts, "If you fall in during an RS600 race your chances of winning are over." Well, we know which side his bread is buttered so he's bound to make biased statements. But what is the point he's making? If he's saying that you're more likely to fall over in an RS600 than in a Laser, then that depends on your level of experience in the boat. Inexperienced Laser sailors suffer plenty of capsizes. Those at the front of either fleet who are likely to be doing the winning to which he refers are unlikely to fall over. Even if the RS600 leaders were more prone to falling over then such an event would be less of a penalty because there is a better chance of the others falling over too. Or is he saying that a capsize in an RS600 is more penalising than a capsize in a Laser? That doesn't stack up either. Class wars eh?

From Simon Reynolds,
A good business move for Laser? The change in the advertising regulations in sailing will make the sport more appealing to sponsors particularly in high profile exciting classes like the RS800, which may well boost the appeal of those boats to sailors and thereon benefit the manufacturers. Laser getting out of the road in my mind represents a decision symptomatic of a narrow minded business view which may suit them, but in essence serves to limit the potential the sport has to offer overall in future years.

From Mark Sempers (RS600 sailor),
A good business move for Laser? Sounds like a good bit of spin to me. Most Ford owners would much prefer to drive a Ferrari I'm quite sure. Entry level sailors don't stay entry level. And fast boats are less tactical because turning corners is time you're not at full tilt - it's got very little to do with stability, good '600 sailors can turn corners just fine. The rest of us can, and do fall in, without it being the end of the race. Lastly, who'd want to sail something that looks like a cross between a Dell Quay dory and a Contender (not that I'm biased of course!)?
Editor's Note: Oh boy, is he going to get it in the neck from all the Dell Quay dory owners out there ...