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2. It says that Olympic class status may be lost. I don't know if that's such a bad thing.
i guess if you prefer weaker competition, then yes, losing olympic status is a good thing
When that competition turns up with an unfair advantage from their coaching staff and other auxilarly support staff, are full time sailors etc then yes. Numbers in our region at non masters events are at an all time low, seemingly because none of us can be bothered turning up when it's no longer an even fight. I'd rather 100 competitors "club sailors" where no one has an unfair advantage than 20 elite full time sailors despite the competition being "weaker".
i guess if you prefer weaker competition, then yes, losing olympic status is a good thing
When that competition turns up with an unfair advantage from their coaching staff and other auxilarly support staff, are full time sailors etc then yes. Numbers in our region at non masters events are at an all time low, seemingly because none of us can be bothered turning up when it's no longer an even fight. I'd rather 100 competitors "club sailors" where no one has an unfair advantage than 20 elite full time sailors despite the competition being "weaker".
"One other possible result of this conflict is that due to uncertainty over ISAF and ILCA approval, there may not be a sufficient quantity of new Laser boats compliant with the ILCA Class Rules available in Europe and other countries in 2011 and beyond to satisfy the demand of its current and future ILCA members. "
That sounds like a veiled threat from LPE, saying if you don't change the rule, we may decide to mothball the molds
Some time in 2009 Bruce Kirby elected to sell Bruce Kirby Inc. so that he could enjoy a well deserved retirement. A company called Global Sailing bought Bruce Kirby Inc. They are based in New Zealand and owned by the same family that own Performance Sailcraft Australia.
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We certainly need a better explanation than that summary on the ILCA website. I must admit that I took the comment about the potential lack of supply of legal boats in Europe and elsewhere to mean that, if it under current Laser class rules LPE really don't have the right to build legal Lasers, then any boats they make and sell wouldn't be real Lasers as recognized by ILCA.
But I could be wrong.
Is this rule change basically meant to legitimize LPE as a Laser builder, even given the doubts raised by Global Sailing? It certainly looks like this to me.
But I could be wrong.
And is it in the best interests of Laser sailors to help LPE out in this way? Or could Global Sailing do a better job for us?
Of course any Laser class rule change has to be first approved by the Advisory Council (as this one has been.) And nothing gets through the Advisory Council unless the current builders approve it. So is this rule change really about maintaining the status quo of LPE as a legal Laser builder?
Before deciding to vote on this change I would really like to hear what Bruce Kirby and Global Sailing have to say about it. Is that too much to ask?
Of course any Laser class rule change has to be first approved by the Advisory Council (as this one has been.) And nothing gets through the Advisory Council unless the current builders approve it.
Some time in 2009 Bruce Kirby elected to sell Bruce Kirby Inc. so that he could enjoy a well deserved retirement. A company called Global Sailing bought Bruce Kirby Inc. They are based in New Zealand and owned by the same family that own Performance Sailcraft Australia.
So, are Global Sailing/ PSA hoping to expand their role to become Laser suppliers for more parts of the world? Is this what this is all about? And is the rule change all about protecting LPE's role as the official builder in all their current territories?
Trivial, but as PSA are part of Global Sailing, they have (indirectly) approved a rule change to the detriment of Global Sailing's (their owner's) interest ?
Ian
Sorry, PSA and Global Sailing are owned by the same family but are separate companies. Obviously, they must have the same interests but my understanding is that they are separate entities. I should have been more clear about that.
As I'm not a member of the Advisory Council I cannot speak to how the voting went there.
Laser sailors deserve the respect of a detailed and complete explanation.
If there is a genuine basis to put a change of this magnitude to the class membership we deserve a far more detailed case for Yes and No vote.
There is much more coming on this story, either vote NO or wait for more information.
Chris Caldecoat
GM
PSA
"It also means the current Laser hegemony over singlehanded sailing is broken and the door opens for something completely different to sweep over the land. Of course, this isn't good for current Laser sailors either since the resale value of their boat will plummet."
Chris Caldecoat, GM of Performance Sailcraft Australia says there is "much more coming on this story" and "right now there is no need for a stampede."
Based on what I have heard so far, I tend to agree. It looks like the vote on the proposed rule change will remain open for 6 months. So why are Heini Wellmann and Jeff Martin urging us to "Vote Now!" and "PLEASE DO NOT DELAY YOUR VOTE"?
What's the rush if the polls are open for 6 months? Don't we ILCA members "deserve the respect of a detailed and complete explanation" from both sides before we cast our votes?