rule changes

[International Laser Class Association <ilca (at) EASYNET.CO.UK>]

On 4 May Bill Fox raised some questions.  I have commented on these below
as @@@

Jeff Martin
Executive Secretary 
International Laser Class

>From: "William W. Fox Jr." <foxduffles@WORLDNET.ATT.NET>
>Subject: Photos
>Date: Tue, 04 May 99 02:18:17 PDT
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id CAA20489
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>
>Laserites:
>Just looked at the photos of a possible rigging solution. These can be
viewed at http://www.jdecm.com/laser/futurestuff.htm#Scans. I see several
problems w/ this setup.
>1) Sleeve on outboard end of boom will not allow wide range of adjustment
to outhual.
@@@ The sleeve is optional and it may not be in the form illustrated.  The
final size of the sleeve has not been fixed.   The example illustrated
might not allow the outhaul to be pulled out to it's maximum (we are still
working on this) however most sailors do not pull the outhaul out to the
maximum but if this is their style of sailing a rope system can still be
used. The class members are being asked to vote on the principle of
allowing an easier sliding arrangment@@@

>2) Additional line for outhaul holding turning block has potential for
failure and loss of gear.
@@@ All lines have potential for failure if they are not looked after.  The
amount of wear and load on the turning block at the mast is less than on
other lines currently used elsewhere on the boat.@@@

>3) Above block must be placed differently. "new" setup wil torque causing
different outhaul settings on     different tacks. ie outhaul will get
tighter on tack with block on opposite side of boom than the wind.
@@@ The differences between tacks is very small.  It is expected that
sailors who choose to use the sytem will make the appropriate adjustments
if necessary which can be done easily on any point of sailing with the less
friction controls.@@@

>4) With control lines being led down to the deck and then to blocks will
assuredly keep rig in boat in event of             turlte but is fraught
with several technical issues:
>     a) Mast rotation wil be limited by amount of tension on the three
lines being led to deck cleats. 

@@@ Most people sail with the controls eased for offwind work when mast
rotation is important.  With eased controls mast rotation is not
restricted. @@@

This rotation
>         or limit therof will load up the deck with exponentially
increasing forces as wind builds. Deck
>          will have to be  unbelivably strong in this area to prevent
turnig blocks from being ripped out  Uneven
>           tension on lines will  exacerbate issue. If the vang is on hard
to bend mast to open up leech in heavy            breeze and outhaul is not
 on as hard(read unbalanced load) I(f thre were one line going to a midline
located block and cleat that is one thing. But to have three lines coming
off a rotating rig all with different loads on them that is another. Will
be impossible to vere balance loads on all three lines at all times. This
is why our Freind
> Bruce Kirby decided to put vang (highly loaded) and outhaul cleats (not
as highly loaded) on the rig and have
> only one centrally located and loaded line on the deck, the downhaul.
With the downhaul being led to the
> deck and being centrally located the mast wil still rotate and wiil keep
mthe rig from falling out in event of
> capsize. This down haul line is also pulling in line with the rig while
the rig lies in any plane. The higher any centrally loaded line is: the
potential is there to have the fitting fail and this potential increases as
the wind
> builds. The LAST thing you need to happen is for the deck fittings fail
and pull out of the boat creating a
>hole for the water to get in and swamp the rig.

@@@ All other single handed boats with rotating rigs (Finn, Europe, OK etc)
have been using similar systems for years and have not had problems with
rig rotation or fittings pulling out of the deck.   The deck at the mast is
very strong and is reinforced.@@@

>LEAVE THE BOAT ALONE AND GO SAIL THE THING. Go to the gym and lift
weights, watch your diet not to get fat so you can move fast.

@@@ The key point about all the changes are that they OPTIONAL.  If the
changes are passed you can still still with the current control line system
even if you have to go to the gym and lift weights.   The changes are to
help those who even with daily lifting weights can still not gain the
strength of a 24 year old 6 foot tall Olympic athelete like ainslie or
Scheidt.@@@

>Bill Fox Laser 156706
>
International Laser Class Association
Email: ilca@easynet.co.uk
Web site: http://www.laserinternational.org