sailing a laser one tips?

[boatman03]

i got a laser one 14 ft and i would like some tips on how to get the full speed out of it on the pond. if you can help please do<br /><br />Boatman03 (alec)

 

[sloopy]

Re: sailing a laser one tips?

what sailing skills do you have?<br />How big is this "pond"

 

[boatman03]

Re: sailing a laser one tips?

i can sail solo but do not have my scippers yet. I am only 11 and the pond is not to big 307 acres about? aka SMALL

 

[sloopy]

Re: sailing a laser one tips?

thats cool. What sailing skills do you know? How are the winds on the pond? what gear do you have on the boat? Do you have a boom vang?<br /><br />You don't need much to sail, and it is real FUN! What you want to do on a small pond like that is to not worry about getting alot of performance on each tack because you will have to tack soon anyway (by the way how long and how wide is this pond) If you want any performance you don't want to carry much on that boat (ie all you need is a life jacket and some sort of paddle when no one is around to pull you in if something happens) When you sail the boat and it heals you need to hike out a little, experiment with hiking out and see what is faster in different wind conditions, I have done little laser sailing so you will have to find out for yourself about that. You can also pull up and lower the centerboard (too much will make you sail sideways and and could cause the boat to heal more. (the centerboard on a laser is not like a keel on a bigger boat that has tons of wieght to keep it upright, in a laser you use your body wieght to keep it upright.) <br /><br />That is about all I can tell you on laser performance, there are tons of laser sailors out there (its an olympic boat (speaking of olympic sailing if you hear someone say they have an olympic addition laser and they brag about it. Tell them that there is NO hull difference, the only difference is the cool graphics and it comes with all the cool goodies!) so there are a ton of PRO's who know over 100 times more then me who would be glad to help you.!) you can go to www.sailnet.com and join the laser sailing discussion group.!<br /><br />ALSO if you want "performance" from all those cool goodies you rents can buy you. Buy a harken vang system and some high tech line. It will be hard to notice the differenct if you have always had a vang though (but the $150.00 harken vang is so cool!)<br /><br />Good luck and one of these days me will edit the spalling gremmer errors!

 

[Vahevala]

Re: sailing a laser one tips?

The laser wants to be sailed flat on the water. In heavy winds(10 to 20mph)the mainsail wants to be very flat, Outhaul tight and boom vang as tight as it will go(with your size sit on the boom and adjust the vang). When sailing you must hike out to keep the boat flat. On any point of sailing let sail out till it starts to luff and then pull in 1 foot of mainsheet. again keep sail flat and keep boat flat. In light airs you want a full sail and a slight list to windward. A very fun boat enjoy. Won many of races on the Laser and the Banshee.<br /><br />Vahevala

 

[plywoody]

Re: sailing a laser one tips?

How familiar are you with the fundamentals of sailing? The nice thing about sailing is that whether it is your laser, or an America's Cup yacht, the basic fundamentals are exactly the same. There are differences in some of the hardware, of course, and each different boat has a bit different characteristics, but the fundamentals are the same. If you are not familiar with sailing basics, you can usually find something at your library that will help, or a sailing course somewhere, or better yet a sailing club, or, as Sloopy says, you can find lots of info online.<br />Whatever you find, sailing is a skill that you can never get good enough at, and there is always something to learn, while you are having lots of fun at the same time.<br />Be safe, however, and always wear a life jacket.

 

[boatman03]

Re: sailing a laser one tips?

thank you all for all your help i will go to sailnet and try to become an olimpic sailer at just 11 (or 30)

 

[boatman03]

Re: sailing a laser one tips?

do you have a full URL for the laser discussion group? if you do please tell me i can not find it