Technique: Fixed rudder laser radial tacking

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Fixed rudder laser radial tacking

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=12182
Printed Date: 28 Jun 25 at 4:31am
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Topic: Fixed rudder laser radial tacking

Posted By: Riv
Subject: Fixed rudder laser radial tacking
Date Posted: 09 Oct 15 at 9:38pm

After a pleasant evenings sail today in an F2 with the tiller tied to the centre line I can gybe it easily but just can't get it to tack. Lots of heel both ways, weight back and front of the boat, backing the sail.

The nearest I got was head to wind when standing on the bow facing the mast and backing the main by pulling on the boom by the vang fitting.

Good thing the water is like a warm bath.

Any ideas?

Replies:

Posted By: ClubRacer
Date Posted: 09 Oct 15 at 9:49pm

realistically rudderless sailing requires a jib, as on a single hander the center of effort is central to the board.

maybe you need to;

get speed to wind while being flat

induce leeward heel to get the boat to head up

as the boat passes the wind back the main to try and flick it around, don't back it too much or it'l make you start to go backwards and with no rudder to counter steer it will stop you dead

a bit of kicker off might help with the boat not stopping head to wind, but you'l need enough to get you through

Posted By: Rupert
Date Posted: 09 Oct 15 at 10:05pm

Should be possible fairly easily. You do need to flick quickly from leeward to windward heel, and backing the sail will push you round onto the new tack, with practice. Played this game on Lasers and Lightnings, just takes some experimenting. Excellent way of using less rudder once you get back to sailing normally. Keep trying!

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Firefly 2324, Puffin 229, Minisail 3446 Mirror 70686

Posted By: Do Different
Date Posted: 10 Oct 15 at 7:17am

F2 is pretty light to generate much way to get through the tack.

Long while since I Laser sailed but I do have a similar play session with my Contender in light airs. What works for me tacking. Start a little freer than absolutely close hauled, sheet in swiftly and smoothly to squirt in some speed, as the speed comes up lean into the middle, the leeward heel and sheeting in should push the boat up, as the boat passes head to wind free the sheet and induce a little windward heel to encourage and allow it to bear away.

In simple terms I can see no benefit to backing the sail as it will only serve to push you back up head to wind. Not dissing previous posts and precise meaning can get lost in translation, timing is everything so I guess there are moments when a brief back could be used.

Posted By: Riv
Date Posted: 11 Oct 15 at 8:49pm

I've been out again this evening another F2 and tried the methods above, they will probably work when the winds are stronger.

However the boat will tack doing the following:

From a port tack,
0) Get some speed up, going as close to the wind as you can
1) Sheet the sail in (about 25cm between stern main blocks)
2) lie on the starboard deck with your head level with the mast. (literally to leeward)
2) with your left hand hold onto the port gunwale so you don't fall overboard
3) keep the boat heeled so that the starboard gunwale by the mast is about an inch under water
4) Hold it at this angle of heel.

The boat will very slowly luff and then the stern seems to come loose and swing around. It then makes loads of leeway, so get it upright and release the sheet. It will then sail off.

No wonder people are looking at me strangely