New Rooster 8.1 looks to be a Win - Win solution

by Sail-World/GJN on 1 Mar 2007
Steve Cockerill of Rooster Sailing has come out with another left field play . . . . .

The new Rooster 8.1 package is a mast/sail rig to supercharge the standard Laser hull. It comprises of a replacement 3.6 meter bottom mast section, which takes the standard topmast section and an all new 8.1 sq. meter sail, increasing the standard sail area by 1 sq meter.

Steve, who revels in his enfant terrible persona of the chandlery world, is never happier than when he is making waves - in one of the many dinghy classes he sails or when challenging the big boys of the chandlery business. He was not a boat builder, not a sailmaker and not a clothing or equipment manufacturer. But he has successfully taken on all these areas with a range of branded clothing, equipment, sails and minor dinghy classes presented with panache and a flair for publicity.

The Rooster 8.1 is another niche product that is carefully targeted at its audience - Owners of a Laser who find they are growing a bit heavy (85+ Kilos) to compete with the optimum lighter weight sailors, are not interested in the Open circuit and probably have a sail that has seen better days.

It looks to be a win - win solution . . . .

The 8.1 puts a taller, more powerful rig straight into an existing Laser hull, promising more speed with a modern sail design and all for £350. Compared to replacing your knackered old sail with an official new one for £420. Or a replica (or so called training sails) for around £205 and still not going any faster.

The Rooster 8.1 replacement rig will allow many owners to breathe some life back into their sailing at a minimum cost, effectively supercharging the hull.

This is the Cockerill creed - The Laser is fantastic but there are a lot of bigger (85 + kilos ) sailors who find that Laser sailing has lost its appeal. The 8.1 rig, aims to get them back in the boat with a rig to suit their weight and bring the fun feeling back - Basically more bang for your buck!

The higher aspect ratio sail should prove more efficient and the Mylar leech will banish those leech flutter blues. The 4oz Dacron, bi-radial construction, with Mylar leech panels and four long battens (a tapered top batten is in the works) also promises a longer performance life.

After testing the 8.1 rig, Steve says that it has been faster on all legs and in all wind conditions, with the same sort of mainsheet loads as for a standard rig. Proving to be more manageable as the cunningham worked more efficiently in controlling the sail, allowing the standard rudder set-up to be retained.

The Rooster 8.1 has a provisional PY of 1051 compared with the standard Laser PY of 1078. This puts it up with the Phantom.

At the Dinghy Sailing Show, Rooster will have an example of the new Rooster 8.1 rig and a further development, a carbon topmast replacement which is half the weight of the standard topmast. Steve is also looking at a tapered top batten.

Steve Cockerill has a long and successful history in Laser sailing and says he intends to continue competing on the Laser/ Radial circuit. If the Rooster 8.1 takes off as he hopes, I am sure we shall soon see Steve competing at the first 8.1 nationals, even at his under 80k weight.

Number crunching:

Over 180,000 Lasers built, say a minimum 100,000 still around in clubs somewhere. Now if 1% think a bigger, more efficient, longer lasting rig is just what they need to get back some sailing fun, that’s 1,000 potential Rooster 8.1 owners out there.

Editor note: start buying old laser hulls now.

Steve Cockerill is the current RS300 National Champion, Streaker National Champion, UK Laser Masters National Champion (Std rig), Laser Masters World Radial Champion

Website: http://www.roostersailing.com