2015 - Those Who Inspired Me

By Doug

I keep reading that people who appreciate things live longer, happier lives, so since 2010 I've kept an appreciation journal. Each December, I write about people who have inspired me that year, so here goes.

CP Burks lives here in Texas and runs regattas better than anyone else. He sets windward-leeward courses that are short, simple, and tactical. CP easily runs 12 races each day, and everyone gets their money's worth.

Sailing is a cerebral sport so I appreciate people who make my brain work. See if you can factor what this really means (the answer is below):

I met Roberto Bini (ITA) as we were leading at the first mark in the first race at the Hyères Master Worlds. And we've been friends ever since. He and his wife Christine invited me to train in Italy and we spent 2 weeks sailing, going on short trips, and competing in the Euromasters. Italy has so much to offer, Pam and I will definitely be back.

The KingstonWorlds was one of the best. The race organizers, the many friends and family that I have not seen for so long, and of course my fellow competitors were all inspirational. And of course who could not be inspired by a Kiwi helping an Aussie win a world championship, as shown at the end of this video.

Dave warning: this has nothing to do with sailing: I find most commercials a waste of time. But I do appreciate the people who make them fun to watch, even for people like me who don't need more car insurance.

Here's the answer to the math problem... pretty clever.
 

 
Sydney is known for some of the best sailing in the world. Having lived there, I can assure you there is nowhere where the competition more fierce or more friendly. What Sydney is also known for is its spectacular New Years celebration which gets my vote for the best fireworks in the world. 

 

And who cannot help but be inspired by Sydney's Peter Stephinson who has shown us that even Laser sailors can fly!

 

Pam and I wish you all a Happy New Year.

Some Amazing Sailors

By Doug

The Laser Master Worlds is an amazing event. It's where top sailors from many classes like the Finns, FJs, Solings, J24s, and of course Lasers meet to compete - it's sort of like a giant all-star turnout. We get great people, great locations, and of course great competition.

What amazes me is that in spite of the intense competition, the same people keep on winning. Here's an interesting statistic: from 1991 to 2008, just three people shared a consecutive winning streak:

• Keith Wilkins won the Master Worlds 9 times. Keith was fast in a breeze and also had great speed in some of the more difficult lighter conditions. I remember race 6 at the 1997 Algarrobo Worlds when it was light with choppy waves where you need to sheet out to keep the boat moving. Keith pinched and sheeted block-to-block without losing any speed. He did the same thing in race 8 at the 1999 Melbourne Worlds. It was a trick that I still have not learned... does anyone know how it's done?
• Mark Bethwaite won it 6 times. The Aussies have always been fast in a breeze but they were vulnerable in the lighter conditions. That all changed at the 2007 Roses Worlds when Mark started winning lighter races, as described in detail in race 5. The Aussies getting fast in lighter conditions is bad news for the rest of the fleet! 
• Yours truly won it 2 times, in Chile against Keith and Mark with a modified type of match racing, and in Korea when neither could make it by being in good shape.

Wolfgang Gerz is another Laser sailor with a great resume, which includes beating 109 other sailors to win the 1981 Finn Gold Cup (while discarding a 4th place finish!) If we include Wolfgang, the four of us share a winning streak from 1991 until today! I wonder how many sports have had that kind of consistency at the world championship level.

I recently turned 65 and will be joining Mark and hopefully Keith as a Great Grand Master to do battle again in Mexico (Wolfgang will join us in a few more years). What other sport helps you look forward to birthdays?

Unfortunately, we're too old to compete with Brett Beyer and too young to compete with Peter Seidenberg who have also dominated in their respective age groups.

A Little Surprise ...

by Pam

So, about two and half weeks ago, Doug traveled down to the annual season ending Wurstfest Centerboard Regatta.  Lake Canyon Yacht Club has this launching ramp that is rather hard to forget.  It has a reputation.  It’s infamous.  Just ask a J/24 sailor from District 14 or click on the picture below and go to the Texas J/24 website and see how to launch a J/24 by pushing it down a ramp.  Just the thought of it makes me think about fingernails on a chalkboard.

It’s been an off sailing year for me, so Doug headed down to Lake Canyon, alone, with my car … my favorite car ever, our tandem trailer, my dolly and his good Aussie Laser.  Headed down to LCYC to launch on that infamous ramp.  What could go wrong, right?  I always worry when it comes to Doug.  He has one of a kind experiences … often!  But, he’s also just so dang lucky.  

I get a call on Saturday afternoon and he tells me how the sailing is going, who he’s run into, who says 'hi,' and all about the weather, the competition and the lake level.  No news is good news, right?  That would be wrong. 

Sunday, I was up a ladder most of the day taping and bedding and before I knew it, the day was gone and Doug should have called already to say he’s won the regatta and is on his way home … but he hadn’t called. 

So, I ring him up and he breaks the news that he didn’t win.  He finished 4^th. The combined ages of the top 3 sailors were still more than 17 years younger than Doug which he sees as a good sign for the class, as well as for him being able to keep up.  

He tells me he’s been on the road for a couple of hours and proceeded to talk about all sorts of things for almost 15 minutes and then says something along the lines of, “listen I had a little surprise that I need to tell you about … you know how that ramp is really steep?”  My heart sank and I reluctantly asked, “What happened to the trailer?” and he says, “It wasn’t the trailer.” I cringed and continued, “What happened to the car?” He continued to stall “It wasn’t the car.” Phew! “The dolly?” “It wasn’t the dolly?”  Oh no!  “Your boat?”  He says, ”Well, I was really tired and had only made it halfway up the hill and someone came to help and the boat sort of slipped off the dolly, landed on the concrete and started slowly sliding down the ramp.”  Holy crap!

As I continued to drag information out of him, I learned that this happened on Saturday and bunches of people sprang into action to catch the boat and stopped it from sliding much more than 10 feet and he had already detoured to Austin on his way home to drop off the boat for Fred Schroth to fix.  Thankfully, Fred was at the regatta.  Doug wouldn’t even look at the bottom until after racing on Sunday and Fred was able to quickly assess the damage and give him a really reasonable quote for the repair.  I’ve seen Fred’s work.  It’s good.  It’s solid and he makes it even better than the original.  Everything was going to be okay.

Two and a half weeks later, the boat is repaired, back home, and the entire bottom polished out better than new.  Thank you Fred!  Yep.  Doug has unique experiences and he gets lucky. Just don't be standing next to him outside during a lightening storm.  He's going to be fine but will definitely have a tale to tell.

I told Doug that next time he wants a bottom job on his boat that he could simply ask instead of tossing the boat on the ramp and giving it a good shove.

Whoever that fella was that was looking to match the gelcoat on his Aussie Laser, give Fred a call.  It was perfect!

The New Laser Mark II Sail

by Brett Beyer

Brett is the current Master World Champion, an event he has now won 11 times. He has worked with Olympic sailors from multiple countries and is the best coach I have ever met. Brett has written some of our most popular posts, including:

• Why the Aussies win more at the Olympics
• How the US could improve it's Olympic coaching
• Sailing upwind in choppy conditions (see the table in the margin)
• On-board coaching downwind

Brett has been assessing the new Laser Mark II sail in Sydney. Here are his comments.

This week, one of my guys tried the new sail for the first time. We had a range of wind conditions from 5 knots to 15 knots so it was a good test. My initial impressions are:

• There is no leech flutter at all – so that will be an improvement.
• The tapered battens conform to the natural sail shape better – so that will be an improvement.
• There is less lower leech hooking – so that will produce less weather helm.
• The mid to upper leech really stands upright, even with firm downhaul. This I feel will produce the biggest (potential) difference. Bigger/stronger guys can enjoy better/more consistent sail shape for longer up the wind range before depowering.
• The use of downhaul now doesn’t need to be excessive as this is not an effective depowering device, like on the old cut sail.
• The depowering will now be more reliant on vang and outhaul – more like the Radial sail.
• You can produce a flat/depowered sail and still have nice consistent sail shape. ie no mismatch of shape.
• There is not the amount of knuckling on the luff when some downhaul is pulled on. Seems the sail is cut with less luff round down low.
• The top tapered batten produces rounder shape up the head which will be more power for lighter winds/bumpy water.
• There is still some diagonal wrinkles from mast join to clew but not as bad/deep.

I’d like to see a top class sailor use the sail in over 15 knots to see how the leech responds. The old sail just stretched and with excessive downhaul did twist off the leech a little. I’m not sure that will or can happen with the new sail, hence the reliance of vang over downhaul.

So, I think the sail will be an improvement in most wind and chop conditions. Because of the very firm and upright leech, I’m not sure how it will go in 5 knots and bumpy water and then in 15 knots or more. There will be some re-learning I suspect of how to get the rig to be slightly more ‘elastic’ in bumpy water, i.e. more leech movements.

Given all that you have learned, do you plan to use the new sail at the next worlds?

I am convinced the sail will be better in light to medium breezes and flatter water. I'll wait to see a top sailor use it in a breeze to see how the leech opens up. I suspect it won't and therefore you have to rely on excessive vang like the Radial, but that is just a slight variation. So that only leaves light wind and bumpy water where I think the new sail will be a disadvantage.

I will use the new sail in Mexico as I think it will hold its shape up the wind range and therefore suit bigger guys like me.

An update from Brett:

We have just concluded the NSW States Titles over the weekend with around 50 Standard Rigs. Probably 10 were using the new cut sail. It seems to have a slight downwind advantage as well. Not necessarily in raw boatspeed but the firm leeches make getting the exact vang tension more forgiving and more accurate over a broader wind range.

The new sail does produce more weather helm and over-sheeting is more of a risk in the lighter winds. But to me, these slight variations are not enough of a disadvantage/risk to not use the new cut sail.

We don’t have access to rolled sails in Australia so the choice of rolled vs. folded is made for us. It is early days but I suspect the break in period will not be as long or as critical as the original cut sail. Better and stronger cloth with better shape means the sail is fine straight out of the bag.

Update 1/15/2016:  additional impressions

Foiling Lasers

By Peter Stephinson, the Foiling Laser Guy

Despite all the hype, foiling is currently the preserve of the elite as foiling boats are currently limited to high-end, custom multihulls or expensive, delicate, difficult to manage dinghies.

There is now one very practical option available today for all sailors to try. A retrofit, clip-on kit for Lasers from Glide Free Design. Compared with all other foiling craft, this is much cheaper and is now readily available. You don't even need to buy a new boat!

We have been quietly developing and releasing this product around the world and believe it has the potential to give all sailors a taste of what only the elite have experienced to date.

This is an amazing product and superb design. I'll be joining Peter before the Laser Worlds in Mexico and will be taking lots more videos with my hat cam... Doug

Kingston Laser Masters - The Good, the Bad and the Unexpected

The last part of this video is interesting because it might be the first time ever that a Kiwi has helped an Aussie win a Laser worlds!

ILCA - Legal Mumbo Jumbo

by Pam

I rarely read the Sailing Anarchy forum these days but when I do I always get a quick read on the some of the questions being asked by the class members (and non-members). Things usually begin with a little speculation, then a few people throw in a couple of facts, then the speculation continues on this mixture of speculation and facts. 

It's like reading one of those historic fiction novels where you can't tell where history leaves off and someone's imagination kicks in.  Finally, I get frustrated and head to the Internet to look everything up for myself just to satisfy my curiosity. 


One of the questions recently was about the ILCA.  What kind of entity is the ILCA?  Where is the main office?  I did a little research and couldn't find a definitive answer but it appears the ILCA (or their attorneys) may be misrepresenting the organization in some legal documents.  I always start by following the patents and other legal documents.  Presumably, they'll want to be sure to get this stuff right:

SAIL PATENTS:

Radial Sail with Reinforced Luff Tube

US 8739721 - (US patent)  filed Dec. 9, 2010 and granted Jun. 3, 2014

WO 2012/076852  (PCT international application) filed Dec. 9, 2011 - will never grant

AU 2011340315 (PCT national application) - not a patent - it's still in examination

GB 2499751 (PCT national application) - not a patent - it's still in examination

 

Sail

US D664493 - (US design patent) filed Feb. 9, 2010 and granted Jul. 31, 2012

LASER CLASS ASSOCIATION, INC. d/b/a 

INTERNATIONAL LASER CLASS ASSOCIATION

In 2011, the US patents were assigned to the ILCA (UK address).  

In 2013, when the UK patent application was filed, the UK database indicated the ILCA is "incorporated in the United Kingdom"

In June 2013, the Texas Comptroller lists the name of the ILCA as "Laser Class Association Inc" and indicates it is a Texas non-profit corporation with offices in Austin, TX.  The formation documents at the Texas Secretary of State list the management as Tracy Usher, Hugh Leicester, and Andy Roy with Eric Faust being the organizer and registered agent for the LCAI.  The Assumed Name (the d/b/a or doing business as) documents list the International Laser Class Association as the d/b/a for the Laser Class Association Inc.

In December 2014, document 174 of the Kirby/LPE litigation has an Affidavit from Tracy Usher stating "ILCA is a self-administered, self-funded, non-profit international organization ... As of June 24, 2013, ILCA registered in Texas to become a non-profit corporation.  The name of the corporation is "Laser Class Association, Inc." but it still operates as the ILCA with its primary offices still located in Falmouth, Cornwall in the United Kingdom."

As of Septemper 13, 2015, the UK Land Registry shows Jeff Martin as the current Lessee of 51B Church Street, Falmouth, UK TR11 3DS but the lease also indicates the lease termination date was January 31, 2013.  Companies House has always been the 'go to' place to find information about a UK company and yet the ILCA isn't listed. 

It has been suggested on Sailing Anarchy that the ILCA is an Isle of Man company which doesn't have records that can be looked up to verify anything.  It has also been suggested on Sailing Anarchy that it is a British unincorporated association which isn't required to register anywhere so it can't be verified.  

Why would Jeff Martin have the lease for the UK ILCA office in his own name unless the ILCA really is an unincorporated association, as I believe those types of entities can't hold title to property?  It is my understanding that under British law, the Isle of Man is not part of the UK.  So, given the legal documents in place that have declared the ILCA to be a UK company, I'm leaning toward believing that it is an unincorporated UK association. 

If that assumption is true, then how can the ILCA hold title to the US patents (if a UK unincorporated association has no such right to hold title to personal property which is what a patent is)?  And how could it ever hope to enforce its rights in the US patents (since it would have no right to do so)?  So, why wouldn't the ILCA want the Texas non-profit corporation to hold title to the patents instead of the UK entity? 

So, I'm left with more questions than answers. I'm going to have to stop visiting Sailing Anarchy.  It makes my head hurt.

Update on Kirby/LPE Litigation

by Pam

Karaya LASER TM Cancellation Proceeding (92/057,167) TM for: SAILBOATS, AND PARTS AND ACCESSORIES FOR SAILBOATS - NAMELY, SPARS, BOOMS, CENTER BOARDS, RUDDER COVERS AND BOAT COVERS
10-Oct-14	Proceedings Terminated - contractual estoppel - the "Head Agreement" dated July 11, 1983 stated BKI "shall not at any time question or contest directly or indirectly the validity of the trademark ‘LASER’” and would not do any act “which would or is likely to invalidate the trademark ‘LASER’ in any country of the world . . . "
Velum LASER TM Cancellation Proceeding (92/057,217) TM (Service Mark) for: ORGANIZING SPORTING EVENTS, NAMELY, SAILING COMPETITIONS, AND REGATTAS; SAILING SCHOOLS
12-Oct-15	Plaintiff's Pretrail Disclosures
26-Nov-15	Plaintiff's 30-day Trail Period Ends
11-Dec-15	Defendant's Pretrial Disclosures
25-Jan-16	Defendant's 30-day Trial Period Ends
09-Feb-16	Plaintiff's 15-day Rebuttal Disclosures
10-Mar-16	Plaintiff's 15-day Rebuttal Period Ends
Kirby v. LP Lawsuit (3:13-cv-00297)
Parties:	BKI - Bruce Kirby, Inc. (Plaintiff-Counterclaim Defendant) BK - Bruce Kirby (Plaintiff-Counterclaim Defendant) LPE - LaserPerformance (Europe) Limited (Defendant-Counterclaim Plaintiff) QM - Quarter Moon, Incorporated (Defendant-Counterclaim Plaintiff) ILCA - International Laser Class Association (Defendant) GSL - Global Sailing Limited (Additional Counterclaim Defendant) PSA - Performance Sailcraft Pty. Ltd. (Additional Counterclaim Defendant) - DISMISSED 11-20-14 KL - Kayara (Jersey) Limited (Defendant) - DISMISSED 2-27-14 - lack of personal jurisdiction VL - Velum Limited (Defendant) - DISMISSED 2-27-14 - lack of personal jurisdiction ISAF - International Sailing Federal Limited (Defendant) - DISMISSED 2/27/14 - lack of personal jurisdiction FR - Farzad Rastegar (Defendant) - DISMISSED 2/27/14 - failure to state claim
Pending Motions	174 Motion to Dismiss by ILCA 180 Motion for Summary Judgment by BK, BKI 183 Motion for Summary Judgment by ILCA 184 Motion for Summary Judgment by GSL 186 Motion for Summary Judgment by LPE, QM
18-Sep-15	2:00 PM Hearing on 174, 180, 183, 184, 186 motions

Update: 9-18-15 Minutes