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EmmyC
Newbie Joined: 30 Oct 10 Location: Berkshire Online Status: Offline Posts: 39 |
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Topic: Laser Tips Posted: 30 May 12 at 6:26pm |
I had my first sail in my Laser the other day in a force 3-4 and I had a bit of trouble getting it block-to-block. Was I not trying hard enough or should I upgrade the ratchet?
Thanks ;) |
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Neptune
Really should get out more Joined: 08 Jun 09 Location: Berkshire United Kingdom Online Status: Offline Posts: 1313 |
Post Options Quote Reply Posted: 30 May 12 at 9:21pm |
The ratchet only helps you hold it not pull it on.
Perhaps more kicker would help. |
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Musto Skiff and Solo sailor
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fab100
Really should get out more Joined: 15 Mar 11 Online Status: Offline Posts: 1005 |
Post Options Quote Reply Posted: 30 May 12 at 10:31pm |
Remind us which rig please.
But default answer is just pull harder
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timeintheboat
Really should get out more Joined: 01 Feb 07 Location: United Kingdom Online Status: Offline Posts: 615 |
Post Options Quote Reply Posted: 31 May 12 at 7:03am |
I'd go with Neptune. Assuming you are hiking hard then to get block to block you are going to be bending the rig by pulling in the mainsheet - unless you get something to bend the rig for you - which is the kicker.
When you have it pulled in as tight as you can reach forward and twang the kicker - how tight is it? I my old days of (full-rig) sailing in those conditions I would go block to block, pull on the kicker so it is taut and then in just a bit more as the default (and marked) starting position.
Edited by timeintheboat - 31 May 12 at 7:04am |
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Like some other things - sailing is more enjoyable when you do it with someone else
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radixon
Really should get out more Joined: 27 Oct 06 Location: United Kingdom Online Status: Offline Posts: 2407 |
Post Options Quote Reply Posted: 31 May 12 at 9:11am |
I'd check out the rope you are using, some are too thick and hold the water.
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EmmyC
Newbie Joined: 30 Oct 10 Location: Berkshire Online Status: Offline Posts: 39 |
Post Options Quote Reply Posted: 31 May 12 at 5:04pm |
Thanks for the response guys.
I still have the old kicker (about as much use as a chocolate teapot), the Harken is on order - That may have played a large part in me not getting block-to-block. Also, my mainsheet has a tendancy to knot and tangle itself - Perhaps I should replace it ;) |
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jeffers
Really should get out more Joined: 29 Mar 04 Location: United Kingdom Online Status: Offline Posts: 3048 |
Post Options Quote Reply Posted: 31 May 12 at 5:08pm |
Most people use a 7mm mainsheet in a Laser these days.
It does take a reasonable amount of force to get it to go block to block so if you don't have XD style kicker assistance then you may struggle unless you are strong in the upper body department (or a gorilla like me). The old kickers are useless so just concentrate on getting as much on as you can until your new one turns up. Grippy gloves also help but you so tend to burn through them quickly.
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Paul
---------------------- D-Zero GBR 74 |
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jeffers
Really should get out more Joined: 29 Mar 04 Location: United Kingdom Online Status: Offline Posts: 3048 |
Post Options Quote Reply Posted: 31 May 12 at 5:11pm |
The other thing you can to is go above close hauled to reduce the force on the sail and crank the mainsheet on then lock the kicker off. Then come back down to a close hauled course. You need to do it pretty quickly though or the boat speed drops right off.
I use this technique when it gets to upper F5/F6 territory.
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Paul
---------------------- D-Zero GBR 74 |
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EmmyC
Newbie Joined: 30 Oct 10 Location: Berkshire Online Status: Offline Posts: 39 |
Post Options Quote Reply Posted: 31 May 12 at 5:18pm |
Thanks Jeffers - I did try that once or twice but I was far too slow and kept heading into wind quickly - I guess that may have to be something to perfect!
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laser193713
Really should get out more Joined: 13 May 09 Location: United Kingdom Online Status: Offline Posts: 889 |
Post Options Quote Reply Posted: 31 May 12 at 5:40pm |
Which rig are you using? The 4.7 is easy to get to block to block with no kicker because of the bent mast, the radial is a little bit harder but because a large amount of the mast is top section which is really bendy it shouldn't be a problem. The full rig can be a bit hard if you aren't a gorilla!
The kicker will help but don't get lazy and just use that to pull the boom down, it will bend the bottom of the mast far too much and flatten the sail and you will go slow. Best practice is to have the kicker on just so it isnt slack when it is about 10 knots of wind, then as it builds keep pulling and pulling to flatten the sail. An important thing to remember with your new kicker will be to let it off when you are sat around between races etc and to ease it enough on reaches and downwind. If you don't do this you will find yourself bending a lot of top sections! As said, the most common mainsheets these days are about 7mm, rooster polylite or similar. That said, when I finished lasers I was using a development version of the Laser red fleck mainsheet which is slightly under 6mm. There were a number of versions of that sheet and if I remember rightly Paul Goodison took the yellow fleck version to the olympics where it was light wind, this was about 5.7mm there was a white fleck and a green fleck version too i think. I quite liked the thin mainsheet but others would definitely disagree! If in doubt use the rooster 7mm sheet.
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