The Laser Sailor

My copy of the summer 2005 edition of The Laser Sailor arrived today. This is the newsletter of the North American Laser Class. Frankly the quality of the rag has been let's say variable over recent years. But the current editors Sherri Campbell and Jerelyn Biehl are doing a fine job.

You just have to smile from the moment you see the cover picture. A Canadian sailor taking a break during the US Nationals. He is lying flat on his back on the deck of his Laser, arms stretched out, toes pointing to the heavens and with one hand only gently touching the tiller. On his transom scrawled in red are the words, "Queens Sailing Team. Please don't move. I'll be back to pay." There's a story there one suspects.

The issue is packed with useful and interesting information. At least it's useful to the community of Laser racers at which it's aimed.

An update from the builder covering the testing and development of a composite upper mast section intended to be more durable than the current aluminum section and to widen the competitive weight range of the Laser Radial.

A comprehensive review of the different models available of "the most important piece of equipment" for Laser sailors -- hiking pants. The author reviews fit, durability, ventilation, cost and the all-important amount of padding on the seat. If you spent a day on a Laser you would understand why the latter is so important.

An article about "nutrition on the road" by a certified personal trainer. Hmmm, must read that one carefully -- I'm off on a Laser road trip this weekend.

There are the obligatory minutes of the AGM. The class AGM was held at the North American Championships in Seattle. Now minutes of meetings are usually pretty dry and are usually written to hide more than they reveal. But these are fascinating because, even in the terse language of the minute writer, it is obvious that one of the members at the meeting, a certain Mr. C, was being a real pain complaining about the regatta venue, regatta fees and expenditure, race officers, etc., etc. By the end of the meeting the class secretary was "asking for Mr. C's help" in various matters. I bet she was! One suspects the exchange was more along the lines of, "If you're so frigging smart why don't you fix the problem instead of wasting our time with your whining?" Or do I just have a suspicious mind?

The adverts in the newsletter are worthy of close study too. The dealer that I might buy my new Laser from has an interesting 2 page spread. There's an ad for some boots I've been thinking of buying. One for a new cleat system I've not seen before. And an advert for a Laser training center in the Dominican Republic. Hmmm, that sounds like an interesting trip one winter. Must check out their website.

And lots more. A Masters Report. An insert of the International Laser Class Magazine with more good stuff. Lots of action-packed photos. And reports of regattas from all over North America. Hmm let's check out the report of our district regatta.....lots of stuff about the leaders and the breeze and the waves.....ahah.....there it is in the small print.....my name for winning first grandmaster. What a great magazine.