In a handicap race, Lasers Vs menagerie of other boats, Lasers can point downwind almost directly at the leeward mark - the other boats sailing at wider angles due to the stayed masts. This sometimes enables Lasers to achieve an overlap with boats which were previously ahead before the two boat length as they sail less distance, etc.

So for example if sailing a Laser there is boat to your side at the mark which you can claim water on, but there are also a few boats ahead of you which you are now beginning to cover and therefore slower than you. What should you do to slow down to avoid contact with the boat ahead, baring in mind that you are pointing directly downwind and have little room either side (leeward boat - mark) to alter your course.

I guess pull in the mainsheet, outhaul, push down the centreboard and even jump back to the rear of the boat to cause additional drag. Or should you just not get into such a scenario and sail a wider angle around the leeward mark and queue up behind all the other boats. Your advice would be appreciated, cheers?

Go wide of the mark and "queue up" so that you go round the mark with a good rounding next to the buoy.  You just need to make sure that you slow down enough not to become overlapped with the boats ahead.  (Either to leeward, so you hve to give them room to round and are not on the inside anymore, or to windward where you have no water and are going to get screamed at!).  The laser has to give you enough space to do this.

You just have to watch that in going wide of teh mark to join the queue that you do not go outside the 2 boatlengths and then have to give water to other boats coming from behind.  This shouldnt be a problem unless you are in a big fleet.

It's not an uncommon tactic for a leading boat to slow down big-style when inside the two boat-length circle at the leeward mark. As you will know it forces the overtaking boat to the outside of you. As you both round the mark you are to windward of the other boat, and he is blanketed by you with little room to escape and no opportunity to overtake.

However, Nudge, you seem to be in the overtaking boat. The best thing to do in my opinion is to join the queue. Go as tight as you can to the mark to get clear air as you start beating again. You also have the opportunity to tack away from the others. If you go wide round the mark you will be in somebody's dirty air and to leeward which limits your options markedly.

Cheers for the advice – with regards aggressively moving the tiller back and forth (tried it at the weekend before a race and it does slow the boat down a treat) is it legal when racing?

Usually exaggerated tiller movement is assumed to be creating momentum, so if you did it to slow down would other competitors/ race officer think you were cheating.

(Answered the question myself) Just checked the rule book, so think it should be fine, though cannot recall seeing anybody do it in a race.

Rule 42.1: Except when permitted in rule 42.3 or 45, a boat shall compete by using only the wind and water to increase, maintain or decrease her speed.

Rule 42.3 (e): A boat may reduce speed by repeatedly moving her helm.