After a very successful November series for the Lasers last year the Sailing Committe has decided, in my absence, that this year's series should be sailed as a single handicap fleet. Below is the letter I have sent to the members of the commitee. I would be very pleased to hear the views of Laser or any other sailors on the subject.

Dear Neil and co.,

 I am very disappointed that a meeting of the Sailing Committee attended by as many members as there were apologies ( I know you can’t have a say if you don’t turn up) feels that the November series should be run as a handicap event in future.

It was agreed by the committee last year that the Lasers could have a separate start as a trial run. As far as I could see it was a success with a positive feeling from the Laser fleet and no complaints from anyone else that the series was somehow the poorer because of it.

 People who sail Lasers do so largely to get fleet racing in equal boats where the result doesn’t depend (much) on who has the best equipment, what the conditions are, whether the handicap is fair and what sort of course is set, to name a few of the problems with handicap racing.

 The Laser class should clearly have a separate start for all series racing as the most active fleet (unless you have figures which prove otherwise) but have to race in a handicap fleet simply to provide someone for the occasional symmetric dinghy to race against. We accept this victimisation (why don’t we stick the FFs in with the Tempests, they are very similar) in a spirit of co-operation and goodwill. It doesn’t seem unreasonable to let us off on our own for one short series a year.

 Note also that the separate Laser start was run at very little inconvenience to the OOD and that I collated and reported all the results myself. It was also run at no cost to the Club as I provided all the prizes myself. Please let me know if a sponsor has come forward for the handicap series or if any of the other Class Reps are willing to do this.

 These are my own thoughts so I shall ask around the other Laser sailors for their views, I am very happy to hear counter-arguments (was someone’s series ruined without my knowing? I asked several people that question in November and the answer was always no) and that we have a discussion about it.

 Jonathan.

This Saturday (25th April) there is another attempt to start the Grand Prix series for this year. The first scheduled event at Bassenthwaite at the beginning the month was cancelled due to lack of entries so this weekend we try again at Royal Windermere Yacht Club.

Entries have been promised from as far away as Kielder and Killington so I am hopeful we will get enough of a turnout to make it worthwhile - if we don't then I think the series wil have to be abandoned.

As before I will promise a prize in some form (probably liquid) to any UYC debutant.

Briefing is at 10.30 with the first warning signal at 12.55, there will be other classes (GP 14s and RS 200s I think) so we may not be the first start. Details of catering etc on the RWYC website.

Please, let's see some of you there.

As you all know the club opens this Saturday and the first race is the Spring Noggin (all-class handicap) at 13.00 on Sunday.

There will be a training session for Lasers starting at 10 a.m. I'm not quite sure of the exact format but be ready to go on the water at 10.

The forecast is for sunny intervals and 16mph SW so there should be some good sailing though I guess the water is still pretty cold.

Any Laser issues you would like me to know about, please e-mail me jonathan.nicoll@ncumbria-acute.nhs.uk (as long as its not the Radial handicap, which we do not have legal power to change)