Wednesday, February 13, 2013

Don't Spill The Beans

Two Laser sailors were having a chat after a light air regatta and one asked the other (who had won the regatta) about a piece of equipment the winner had been using.

The winner's reply was, "I like it...I don't know if it really honestly makes any big difference, but it's pleasing to my eye."

His friend agreed, "It sure looks good."

What do you think they were talking about?

PS If you know for sure the answer to this question (perhaps because you were one of the sailors having this conversation or heard their discussion) then please don't spill the beans just yet. It's more fun to read some wild guesses before revealing the truth.





29 comments:

O Docker said...

This was a frostbite race, no? Could it be the Ames Mountain Mover 18-inch snow shovel with one-of-a-kind patented VersaGrip handle?

Tillerman said...

No.
No but the Ames Mountain Mover 18-inch snow shovel with one-of-a-kind patented VersaGrip handle is pleasing to my eye.

George A said...

I’m guessing it’s the new one piece traveler block.

Tillerman said...

Excellent answer George, but unfortunately incorrect.

But you are on the right lines in the sense that it's one of those few things that Laser sailors can buy that is perfectly within the class rules, and it looks good, but whether it really makes the boat go any faster is certainly debatable.

splinter said...

i'll have a guess at the stainless outhaul sleeve thingummywotsit.

Tillerman said...

No, it's not the stainless outhaul sleeve thingummywotsit. I don't think that ever really caught on with serious Laser sailors. At least I've never heard a couple of top sailors standing around after a regatta speculating about whether it really makes the boat go faster and drooling about how "pleasing to the eye" it is.

Tillerman said...

OK. Here's a clue. The thing they were admiring costs about $50-65 more than what most Laser sailors use.

my2fish said...

is it one of those Speedpucks?

Baydog said...

Must be the fire extinguisher in the cockpit.

George A said...

Well, that rules out the new dagger board brake thingie. Laser sailors must have more money than Moth Boaters!

Tillerman said...

No, it's not that my2fish. They would be illegal under class rules. The thing we are talking about is perfectly legal and always has been, but (and here's another clue) I don't think it has been available until fairly recently.

Tillerman said...

Great answer Baydog, but unfortunately not correct.

Quite right George. Not the new dagger board brake thingie. And come on George, if you could buy enough speed to win a major Moth regatta for $50, wouldn't you do it?

George A said...

Only if my fellow competitors couldn't buy one--otherwise, as in any arms race, it would be a wash and money spent to no advantage. That's development thinking vs strict one-design thinking I suppose.

Baydog said...

An onboard computer? Like to tell you how fast you're going and what the water temperature is in case you have a dunk?

Dallas Dude said...

rolled vs folded sail

Anonymous said...

Is it the rolled sail. John Macausland was talking about this recently.

matt said...

It is a wot-tack? One of these http://www.wottac.com/ ?

Unknown said...

Is it the rolled sail as opposed to a folded sail?

Smilicus said...

I think it might have been baked beans and lots of it to give the eater/sailor an extra few "wind gusts" and cast some "dirty" wind on the others so he/she could take the race.

JP said...

A go faster stripe or fancy ribbon to show wind direction.

Tillerman said...

I was wondering when someone would find a ways to work in the bean reference. Thanks for not disappointing us Smilicus.

Tillerman said...

Dallas Dude, Anonymous and Mike Johnson have it right. It is indeed a rolled sail (as opposed to a folded sail.)

Doug at Improper Course posted three video interviews with the regatta winners at the recent Florida Masters week - 2013 Master Madness. In the first one, John MacCausland discusses rolled vs folded sails at about 1:33.

O Docker said...

Most of the online threads I found about this were a few years old. The hot topic today seems to be whether sails are faster rolled clockwise or counterclockwise. It's hard getting good data about this, as most of the people who favor clockwise also store their spars in alignment with the earth's magnetic field, and that may be more of a factor than the direction of furling.

I think both issues will soon be dwarfed by the growing debate over whether sails are faster woven from factory dacron or small-batch, artisanal dacron.

bonnie said...

Nobody guessed Miss 43?

Tillerman said...

What? Miss 43 was at Florida Masters Week? Nobody told me.

Tillerman said...

I thought it was well known that sails rolled clockwise are faster on starboard tack in the northern hemisphere - and vice versa?

Anonymous said...

If we stipulate that the rolled sails are faster, then perhaps it would be good to get an early sail number with only 5 vs 6 digits; saves weight and reduces air drag from the edges of the numbers.

Smilicus said...

I aim to never disappointing...lol

Anonymous said...

I am fascinated by the concept of rolling clockwise or counter clockwise.

Is this a north of thee equator thing and should the reverse apply south where I am

Steve

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