Heavy enough for Laser full rig?
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Category: Dinghy classes
Forum Name: Technique
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URL: http://www.yachtsandyachting.com/forum/forum_posts.asp?TID=10756
Printed Date: 28 Jun 25 at 8:19pm
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Topic: Heavy enough for Laser full rig?
Posted By: dohertpk
Subject: Heavy enough for Laser full rig?
Date Posted: 09 Mar 13 at 5:36pm
| At the risk of sounding like Jeremy Clarkson, I want MORE POWER. I weigh 72kg - has anyone got experience of sailing a Laser full rig at that kind of weight? I'm sailing with a Radial rig at the moment and I love it, but I wouldn't say no to a bit more speed. Thanks! |
Replies:
Posted By: Reuben T
Date Posted: 09 Mar 13 at 5:59pm
|
I weigh 70kg and only ever sail a full rig. Unsurprisingly I do quite well in the light-medium wind , but have found I don't suffer that much when it gets a bit blowy because I am more used to being overpowered when going upwind so can cope pretty well, and then downwind I have a weight advantage to make up some of the lost ground. Anyway I enjoy the challenge so wouldn't move down to a radial even if I thought my results would improve. I suspect being taller than average at '6"2 helps me keep it upright, also it probably depends on the average wind speed of where you sail, but I would say to go for it and have a blast. |
Posted By: dohertpk
Date Posted: 09 Mar 13 at 6:10pm
| Thanks for your reply; wind conditions where I sail are seriously variable - might be nice to have the option for MORE POWER. Good to know it's manageable at any rate. |
Posted By: PeterG
Date Posted: 09 Mar 13 at 6:37pm
|
I'm 75kg. I usually use a full rig, though I do use a radial when the wind is up - it's just a lot easier on my not so young frame to do so! The key is to have good, modern, fully working controls. A full rig with a good kicker, outhaul and cunningham is a lot better behaved than one with "original features". ------------- Peter Ex Cont 707 Ex Laser 189635 DY 59 |
Posted By: dohertpk
Date Posted: 09 Mar 13 at 6:48pm
| yeh i have the original, i.e. 'non-XD' set up. Does the XD kit make a big difference yet? |
Posted By: dohertpk
Date Posted: 09 Mar 13 at 6:48pm
| *yeh* |
Posted By: GybeFunny
Date Posted: 10 Mar 13 at 7:10am
| I am 70kg and sail on a small lake and I use a Rooster 8.1 a lot of the time. It all depends on how open your club is to the prevailing wind. If you sail on the sea you are probably right in a Radial, on a small lake a full rig will be fine. |
Posted By: Rupert
Date Posted: 10 Mar 13 at 9:15am
|
I'm about that weight and short, and I found I could use a full rig, but was much faster upwind with a radial - probably enough to make up for any speed drop downwind - once I was well and truly overpowered. Agree that on a lake the extra power will be better, on the sea, not, in stonger winds. But if you just want MORE POWER then why not?! ------------- Firefly 2324, Puffin 229, Minisail 3446 Mirror 70686 |
Posted By: maxibuddah
Date Posted: 10 Mar 13 at 10:56pm
|
Back when I sailed them I weighed in about 74 kg and only ever sailed full rigs. Back thn radials were only for kids or real lightweights. It seems that somehow since then that the the laser must have gained about 50% extra power or something cos I don't never stand it. We never had xd controls, only the swivel on the kicker. I found it easy enough and used to love sailing in windy conditions and won opens even if windy. Yeah it would have been easier in a radial but I never regretted having the full rig. I fact I did try a radial once or twice and only ever found it difficult on the helm with heavy whether (or was it lee, too long ago to remember) helm. I'm sure if its different these days with the different cuts of the radial sail. ------------- Everything I say is my opinion, honest |
Posted By: dohertpk
Date Posted: 11 Mar 13 at 12:51am
| thanks for all the replies; so the consensus seems to be the full rig would be manageable, at least below 15 knots. I think I'll pick up a Rooster replica and that would give me the option on the less breezy days. And maybe hit the protein shakes hard to try and gain some weight. |
Posted By: rich96
Date Posted: 11 Mar 13 at 6:05am
|
Dont try to get too heavy too fast - plenty of time for that later in life !
Dont forget that the best Laser sailors are rarely over 80kg (albeit very fit) so being over 70kg isnt amillion miles away.
I certainly had my best results when 73 - 76 kg.
|
Posted By: jeffers
Date Posted: 11 Mar 13 at 11:23am
Or PM Lasernut he makes a very nice replica sail at a very good price (as long as your club allows replicas). ------------- Paul ---------------------- D-Zero GBR 74 |
Posted By: pondmonkey
Date Posted: 11 Mar 13 at 4:33pm
you'll be fine... it's only a Laser  ------------- |
Posted By: fab100
Date Posted: 11 Mar 13 at 6:09pm
|
You'll be fine with a full rig But you must get the XD kit and when over-powered give some serious welly to kicker and cunno upwind - so that, in-extremis the boom hardly rises when you ease the sheet and cunningham grommet is down by the goose-neck (rig it all one side of the boom, not straddling it or you will not be able to get it tight enough) And if you've not got them, get yourself some form of hiking pads/shorts - these are a must-have too. Then you are all set - just get fit and able to hike like crazy Personally, I would not bother with a Rooster 8.1- in the conditions you are likely to put the thing up, it ain't gonna be exciting sailing anyway. Better to make the most of knowing how to use the full rig and have some identically rigged competition to measure yourself against. Use the saved cash for the XD and hikers. ------------- http://clubsailor.co.uk/wp/club-sailor-from-back-to-front/" rel="nofollow - Great book for Club Sailors here |