Light wind sailing tips
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=7961
Printed Date: 25 Jun 25 at 8:43pm
Software Version: Web Wiz Forums 9.665y - http://www.webwizforums.com
Topic: Light wind sailing tips
Posted By: GybinJoe
Subject: Light wind sailing tips
Date Posted: 18 Jun 11 at 5:53pm
Does any one have any tips for lightwind Laser standard sailing?
I Always seem to be overtaken on the upwind leg  I'm well able to roll tack but any help with relation to kicker/ outhaul would help alot!
thanks!------------- Laser Standard (Helm) J-80 (Crew&Helm) Laser 2 (Helm) Beneteau(Crewing for multiple boats) |
Replies:
Posted By: alstorer
Date Posted: 18 Jun 11 at 10:00pm
|
#1 bit of advice, applicable to ALL dinghies in light airs: get your weight forward. Further forward. getting the transom out of the water gives a HUGE speed boost instantly.
------------- -_ Al |
Posted By: asterix
Date Posted: 19 Jun 11 at 11:27am
| don't oversheet the main and close the leech off - that is slow |
Posted By: tim grasse
Date Posted: 19 Jun 11 at 3:31pm
| when there is very light wing the air doesn't have much energy so it cant bend arround a deep sail, try putting some more outhaul on as this will flatten the sail and you will get a flow of air around the sail. |
Posted By: G.R.F.
Date Posted: 19 Jun 11 at 4:17pm
|
No idea if it works on a laser, probably does, but sail slightly heeled, let gravity put some shape in the sail and heeling points the boat up a bit, I never sail anything flat in light airs, keep the stern out, no 'noise' off the back, don't have the sail to full, nor the leech too tight and concentrate, 'feel' the air around you and focus on the shortest distance to the mark and watch the water for puffs. When it's light, lots of folk just switch off, when in fact there's often so much going on to help. ------------- https://www.ease-distribution.com/" rel="nofollow - https://www.ease-distribution.com/ |
Posted By: GybinJoe
Date Posted: 19 Jun 11 at 4:49pm
Thanks, I'll keep that in mind. Race this Saturday so hopefully I'll get some light wind practice  ------------- Laser Standard (Helm) J-80 (Crew&Helm) Laser 2 (Helm) Beneteau(Crewing for multiple boats) |
Posted By: alstorer
Date Posted: 19 Jun 11 at 9:07pm
Aye, people take the (good) advice of "try not to move around much, keep everything smooth" as "don't move. At all. Sleep." Think, from what I've seen, a slight heel does help in Laser, but then there's many here know much better. On a one-design, it's the sort of thing that two-boat tuning can really help with- get a friend of similar ability, and go out practicing (not racing). Change one thing at a time, on one boat only, and see what relative difference that makes to speed. ------------- -_ Al |
Posted By: jeffers
Date Posted: 20 Jun 11 at 9:31am
|
Light winds in a Laser....if you are comfy then you are not sat in the right place.
You need to get your weight as close to the mast as you can (but not in front of it) to lift the transom and a small amount of leeward heel to help keep the sail shape.
With regards to the rig you should use the same amount of outhaul as you would when it was really windy (general rule of thumb is a handspan at maximum depth for medium winds when you are searching for power and up to being fully powered and a clenchec fist for heavy winds and light winds).
With regards to the cang it is about finding what works for you. I find that sheeting the block in until they are a couple of inches apart and locking the kicker off there works well. Then just play the main in any puffs you get. This keeps the leech nicely set and does not 'choke' the sail.
Cunningham I do not use any when it is very light. If you sail is very old and stretched you may need to use a little to keep the sail shape correct.
Above all watch your tell tales and try to keep still and keep all your movements and manouevers smooth.
Also try to get a mate to go out with you, one of you set the boat up for medium winds and the other play with the settings and trim/blanace and see what works best. Switch around as well as what works for 1 may not work for the other. ------------- Paul ---------------------- D-Zero GBR 74 |
Posted By: Rupert
Date Posted: 20 Jun 11 at 1:45pm
|
Concentrate far harder than you do when there is wind. Pick out every lift & header, even though you can barely feel them. Learn to tack the boat really smoothly on those headers. Being heeled helps in the lifts, allowing the boat to drift up into them, but you'll need to flatten her down a bit to bear away in the headers, if you don't tack, or you'll use too much rudder. You might want the outhaul tighter than in medium winds (personally, I don't, and I seem to go OK, but I'm not a Laser sailor) but no way do you want it tight enough to start creasing the foot.
------------- Firefly 2324, Puffin 229, Minisail 3446 Mirror 70686 |
Posted By: patj
Date Posted: 23 Jun 11 at 1:53pm
| Sit Still. Movements shake what little air you've got right out of the sails. |