Laser sailing
Printed From: Yachts and Yachting Online
Category: Dinghy classes
Forum Name: Technique
Forum Discription: 'How to' section for dinghy questions and answers
URL: http://www.yachtsandyachting.com/forum/forum_posts.asp?TID=8031
Printed Date: 07 Aug 25 at 9:31pm
Software Version: Web Wiz Forums 9.665y - http://www.webwizforums.com
Topic: Laser sailing
Posted By: doeywizard
Subject: Laser sailing
Date Posted: 15 Jul 11 at 9:44am
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Hi, I have just started sailing my laser a bit more from my topper and I am getting on ok with it. The only thing which has happened to me a few times is when I gibe my main sheet gets trapped round the transom, i then gave it a flick in gibes and it stared to work a bit better, but I got it looped round the boom once. What I am trying to say is can I please have some advise about sailing the laser from a topper. Thanks Isaac ------------- Topper 46148 for sale http://sailingdinghies.apolloduck.co.uk/display.phtml?aid=276804 |
Replies:
Posted By: Strangler
Date Posted: 15 Jul 11 at 12:48pm
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Hi Isaac
Yes getting the mainsheet over the end of the boom if you try to flick it is a problem. Don't flick.
Gybing without rolling the boat lets the mainsheet drag in the water and therefore be pulled backwards and then catch on the corner of the hull. Look at youtube, rooster, jon emmet videos of gybing - with excessive roll to overcome the Laser specific problems... and also give you acceleration out of the gybe.
 Some points -
In lighter winds grab the toestrap to 'pull the boat on top of you' to create lots of roll. It may feel unnatural but you will get used to it!
Watch the videos to see how much sheet is pulled in before the gybe.
Practice practice practice. ------------- |
Posted By: NickA
Date Posted: 18 Jul 11 at 8:39pm
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Of course you can get a device to stop this happening (a Laser Mainsheet Transom Deflector).. but laser people are so determinedly inflexible, it's not class legal! So, design a boat with a design flaw and then make everyone live with it to keep the playing field level .... and make it more skillful too of course  .------------- Javelin 558 Contender 2574 |
Posted By: Foiling_Toff
Date Posted: 19 Jul 11 at 6:27pm
| Just keep practicing it. Go out on a fairly windy day and do long legs of gybing reach to reach. |
Posted By: getafix
Date Posted: 20 Jul 11 at 11:02am
+1 |
Posted By: laser193713
Date Posted: 20 Jul 11 at 2:05pm
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I wouldnt agree with the dont flick advice. The trick is to flick just before the sheet unloads iteslf.
A gybe should work as follows.
1)head up a bit and pull sheet in up to half way, more in light winds generally.
2)start to steer the boat through the wind using little rudder and as much bodyweight as you can.
3)feel the sheet start to unload as the leech wants to pass through the wind and the sail wants to gybe. At this point pump in about a metre of sheet. looking backwards at the sheet coming off the end of the boom to see it go slack is a good practice, try and sail the boat without gybing but controlling it to let this go slack and tight again using steering in light winds to get a feel for this.
4) as soon as the boom starts coming accross start to move your weight, faster in heavy winds.
5) as the boom hits the centreline reverse the steering to head back downwind which will balance the boat out and stop you capsizing to leeward on the new side.
This is the basics of what is known as an S gybe. The flick of the mainsheet you were doing is not wrong but you must have timed it badly. Basically, if the sheet is too tight when you flick, it will probably still get hooked on the back, if it is too loose then it is likely to go round the end of the boom.
Really it is just a case of practicing this, may involve getting wet a few times but its all good fun! ------------- |
Posted By: doeywizard
Date Posted: 25 Jul 11 at 3:05pm
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Thanks for all the useful advice: ) I will give it all ago ------------- Topper 46148 for sale http://sailingdinghies.apolloduck.co.uk/display.phtml?aid=276804 |