RE: Rule changes

[David Lapes <david.lapes (at) abgsec.com>]

I am saddened that the most fervent supporters of the new proposals seem to
be the world council members and the builders. They apperar determined to
deride any discussion that is aimed at modifying their thinking.  We are the
members, it is our class.  Please listen to us, heed our words; We are only
offering our views as your customers.  We welcome your proposals, but may
disagree with their detail - I think it is clear that there is support for
some of the proposals, but quite strong reservations regarding others.

Tim states that he wants to close the gap between the front and the back of
the fleet. Don't you think that it is fantastic that Ben, Robert and Michael
can be so much better than you or me with excatly the same equipment.  Isn't
it humbling when at 54 (and a bit) Keith Wilkins is still wiping the floor
with 20 year-old 'athletes' - Truly deserving of the title Master.  These
guys are Laser specialists, Just like Carl Lewis was a sprinter, and Ed
Moses a hurdler.  Doesn't it make want to work harder to come close to their
performance - Get out the Eric Twiname books and work on it.
I am not a great sailor, but I have known many who are.  I accept my
mortality when it comes to skill and boat speed and endeavour to make fewer
mistakes.  I certainly don't link the performance gap to the "complexity" of
the controls.  The controls on the Laser are not complex the are actually
crude - If someone cannot master the controls on the Laser then they
certainly won't be competitve in a boat, with fifty or a hundred times the
rig permutations of the Laser.

The Laser is far from perfect, but that's its beauty.

The defensiveness of the ICLA and Manufacturers has got to the extent that
they are even arguing against supportive suggestions, and claiming that its
OK big beefy 75kg (165lb) men with full rigs - Isn't that quite light for a
full rig?  You certainly wouldn't get much change out of 90kgs and a set of
bottles for a Finn.  Nick has chosen to stick with a full rig and quite
rightly is stating his support for the status-quo.

I think Tim Coventry's personal attack, effectively labelling Nick a
dinosaur, is unworthy of the builder's MD.  It is guys like Nick who pay his
salary and give him a name to plaster all over other products.  The whole
tone of the letter is one of points scoring, quite unnecessary in what
should be a frank exchange of views.

When alternative suggestions are proposed, such as limiting the purchase on
control lines, modifying the Top/Bottom section connector, they get met with
a "not invented here" style stonewall or simply no comment.

David Lapes
GBR 165548 - Council for the Prosceution
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