Print Page | Close Window

Laser Mainsheet

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=13364
Printed Date: 29 Mar 24 at 3:45pm
Software Version: Web Wiz Forums 9.665y - http://www.webwizforums.com


Topic: Laser Mainsheet
Posted By: Jumps
Subject: Laser Mainsheet
Date Posted: 18 Jul 19 at 8:22pm
Hi All,

One of 'pupils' on my sailing class (he's a good sailor and helpful guy) reccomends putting a Fig 8 knot in the mainsheet when the boom is at 90 degrees,

I did this and had no problems in light winds,
In stronger winds I thought about this and decided that the Knot would prevent me easing the sail if I get overpowered on a run.
further thinking.. if I let the boom past 90 degrees it will be pulling hard on the cleated control lines.

Is the 90 dregrees stopper knot a good or bad idea ?

Also whist tacking around a course, I frequently look down and realise I've been 'knitting' with the loose ends of the mainsheet and tied my ankles in a knot! LOL

Does anyone have any suggestions





Replies:
Posted By: PeterG
Date Posted: 19 Jul 19 at 7:44am
If you stop the boom at 90 then you limit your options for sailing by the lee.

However, letting the boom out beyond 90 on a run when you are overpowered is likely to lead to a swim, so I wouldn't recomend it as a way of depowering, you just make the boat less stable. If things are dodgy downwind it's safer to pull the sheet in.


-------------
Peter
Ex Cont 707
Ex Laser 189635
DY 59


Posted By: Ardea
Date Posted: 19 Jul 19 at 7:56am
I used to tie the very end of the mainsheet around the toestrap so any knot would be a loop.  You do need to make sure have another actual stopper knot (which should allow the boom out more than 90 degrees as mentioned above) to allow you something to hold onto when the boom is fully out.

edit - by used to I don't mean I have a better solution now, just that I don't sail lasers anymore!


Posted By: Sam.Spoons
Date Posted: 19 Jul 19 at 9:18am
You can't spill wind on a dead run. If you let the main out beyond 90º DDW the effect will be to roll the boat to 'windward' instead of to 'leeward'. As PeterG says, the normal and seamanlike technique is to sheet in a little and generate some heeling moment to leeward whilst heading up just a little.

-------------
Spice 346 "Flat Broke"
Blaze 671 "supersonic soap dish"


Posted By: bustinben
Date Posted: 19 Jul 19 at 10:07am
If it's windy, boom past 90 is a recipe for disaster.  Don't forget that with kicker eased most sheeted out point of the sail is about 2/3 of the way up and will be well beyond 90.  You don't need to do it anyway, if you're running that hard by the lee in the breeze you should probably gybe and get the bow up.

You can either set the knot so that it lets the boom go just past 90, and if really soaking in lighter suff go for a very eased kicker and in heavy winds just make sure you never drop the sheet (instant wipeout).  Or set your knot for super light winds but add another stopper further up if it's windy.

Like people have said, depowering downwind is achieved by sheeting in and also pulling a little more kicker/outhaul on, but really your best bet is just to go as fast as possible and be confident in your boat handling to sail a path around the waves Tongue


Posted By: Jumps
Date Posted: 19 Jul 19 at 10:23am
Some great insights here - many thanks everyone.

I hadn't considered that past 90 would kick me off to windward
You've saved me swim !


Posted By: jeffers
Date Posted: 19 Jul 19 at 12:14pm
In light airs up to around 100 can be very quick sailing by the lee. In heavier winds, with the kicker off the leech twist will almost certainly end in a death roll to windward.

When I had a Laser I used to have it about 100 and work out how much I needed it pulled in to be at 90 and put a small mark on the rope.

-------------
Paul
----------------------
D-Zero GBR 74


Posted By: 423zero
Date Posted: 19 Jul 19 at 5:27pm
re, Knitting and standing on mainsheet tailings, always an issue with centre/aft rigged boats, my Aquabat had same rigging, I was halfway through designing a retrieval reel when I sold boat and thought perhaps I was wasting my time, knowing class associations would probably ban it Angry
This would have been similar to a air hose reel you see in garages.


Posted By: tink
Date Posted: 22 Sep 19 at 4:41pm
Top tip from some laser site,  before the start when close hauled trail the mainsheet behind you to eliminate twists. It appears to work but hard to quantify. Just saying as it conflicts with the tying to the toe strap.  

-------------
Tink
https://tinkboats.com

http://proasail.blogspot.com


Posted By: Oatsandbeans
Date Posted: 22 Sep 19 at 8:09pm
This is really interesting.All the posts so far have been spot on. This is exactly how it is taught, but the good guys sail in big breeze with the boom off at 90 degrees a floppy leach and going like a train with reverse flow ( and not capsizing) so should we teach this at an earlier level and get them to miss out all the unlearning and relearning of the “best” way to do it? I have no idea at all, maybe you have to learn in the way that we all have-I am not sure!


Posted By: johnbrooker
Date Posted: 31 Jan 20 at 11:58am
As others have said, stopping the boom at 90 degrees limits your options for sailing by the lee. But it does make sense to work out the max you'd want to ease the main sheet and tie a know there

-------------
https://dinghyracingtips.com" rel="nofollow - Dinghy Racing Tips Blog
https://www.youtube.com/channel/UC_-XsHqQUPXWd-cuuPZIUqQ" rel="nofollow - Sailing Tips YouTube Channel



Print Page | Close Window

Bulletin Board Software by Web Wiz Forums® version 9.665y - http://www.webwizforums.com
Copyright ©2001-2010 Web Wiz - http://www.webwizguide.com