Instruction

I would start by looking at what your class offers.
There are also a number of professional coaches ,the Mark Rushalls and Richard Whitworths etc, who don't just deal with Olympic aspirants.
However, I would start by finding the fastest teenager or uni student at the club and give them a few beer vouchers

There used to be a fabulous Laser coaching clinic run somewhere in the Caribbean. Maybe you can find something on Google.

I know that's not very helpful, but winter coming on, ... Caribbean ... .

So, what you're looking for is something to fill in until you can get on a course.

Maybe cast your net a bit wider than your own local club, and also consider commercial sailing schools.

Read books. There are quite a few "be your own coach" books around. Start with Twiname Start to Win. And do the practices they recommend. And invest in Bethwaite High Performance Sailing and keep it on your bedtable.

Try to keep your theoretical knowledge just half a step ahead of your practical experience, so that when something new crops up you can fit it into your theoretical framework and best learn from it.

Originally posted by davidyacht Clive Eplett's book, see; http://clubsailor.co.uk/wp/club-sailor-from-back-to-front/book-review-by-hugh-brazier/ could have been written for you.

Originally posted by Brass There used to be a fabulous Laser coaching clinic run somewhere in the Caribbean. Maybe you can find something on Google. I know that's not very helpful, but winter coming on, ... Caribbean ... .

That would be Ari Barshi on Dom Rep, Cabarete, lot of good guys go there, but to me as different a thing sailing a Laser in warm blue waters to racing in a grubby green puddle.. Chalk & Cheese don't think it will help much, maybe with fitness and boat handling

Remember practice doesn't make perfect, it makes permanent! If you are doing something wrong more practice simply makes it more ingrained!

So as others have said, I'd recommend a balance of theoretical knowledge, coaching and practice. Also, racing is not always the best way to get better at racing. You aren't really learning much about tactics if you aren't keeping up with the fleet, and you won't learn much about sailing faster when you are at the back and trying to catch up, all you tend to do is repeat the same things right or wrong.

However an hour spent practicing (eg) windward mark roundings when not racing, when you aren't under pressure and trying to rush, when you can experiment with different ideas and see what works and what to avoid, will teach you more than dozens of races. Even more so if you have read up beforehand and / or have someone who can coach helping you.