How to Sail the Laser

HOW TO---

The little boat has been around for 35 years plus and there is a lot of information out about how to sail it.

So this BLOG is just some ideas to bounce off.

If you are just starting then go to PRIMARY ADVICE of Feb. 09. That is the best starting place.

There are a lot of books and DVDs to tell you how to do it.

Books:

Dick Tillman "The Complete Book of Laser Sailing" The first and revised and new sections added. The old bible

Glen Bourke "Championship Laser Sailing" How to, plus the story of his run to World Champion.

Ben Ainslie "The Laser Campaign Manual" includes a CD ROM. Great picture sequences.

Ben Tan "The Complete Introduction to Laser Racing" Not written by world champion but biggest and most complete with training and medical section. If you only have one book, get this one.

Tim Davidson "The Laser Book" Some of the best pictures.

Paul Goodison "RYA Laser Book" Great pictures and advice with some simple things glossed over.

DVD:

"Laser Coach 2000 CD" Computer thing with around the course format.

Rick White "Red Hot Sailboat Racing DVD" Basic DVD The one to start with.

Steve Cockrell "Rooster Sailing Lasser Boat Whisperer" both "Up wind" and "Down wind" DVDs These are the MUST ones. Advanced sailing. Do a lot of the other stuff first so you don't get to scared with the high wind materal.

Michael Blackburn "Bass Strait Laser" Crossing Bass Strait
is a long time on a broad reach. Amasing what he puts on and can still sail a Laser. Surfing and gybing sequences. Maybe share this one with friends but you can skip this one.

"Advanced Laser Boat Handling" DVD by the Laser Training Center in Cabarete. Instructional DVD pictures of professional type sailors demonstrating tacks, gybes, etc. If you really want to be good you should see this DVD.

"Sailfit Seminars" DVD Sailfit.com... 82 minutes from Kurt Taulbee's Seminars in Clearwater, Florida. He has given a 5 day seminar here in Eustis, Florida. and is well thought of. Tillerman attended at least one of his in Clearwater. A good look at seminar exercises and lots of stuff done the wrong way with Kurt's comments. The comments cover some new ground for us. You should see the no rudder exercise, if you have ever tried it and given up. How about pulling up the centerboard on the starting line, if you want to slide to lee a little.

"Daring Downwinds-- Clearwater Pass" DVD Sailfit.com
Kurt Taulbee's video of the high winds and high waves as the tide rips out the pass, the high winds blow in and crazy radial sailors try to get back in. Some comments about how to handle it by Kurt, but more questions than answers. A little like the Bass Strait Crossing, but with a bunch of wipe outs.

At Lake Eustis Laser fleet you can borrow all these books and DVDs from Sam. In another fleet maybe just divide them up and get most to pass around. All the advice is not the same and you get a little different flavor from each.

Now if you do that -- you can skip all the stuff I put in the right hand side of this blog.

Tuesday, March 3, 2009

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I was checking the report card on the Laser Mid Winter Championship East. (clwyc.org)
The Laser Radial with 108 entries sailing in two fleets and finished 10 races.
Paige Railey had inserted herself above Anna Tunnicliffe for the first time in a while, but only by a few points.
I will give you a little run down (a couple of these numbers may be off , but not much).
After 10 races.
1) Paige 15 Average place 1.5
2) Anna 23 2.3
3) Ben Koppelar (Netherlands) 46
4) Alex Andersen (Junior BVI) 65
5) Chris Barnard (Junior Newport Harbor YC -California) 66
6) Ian Heausker (Junior Davis Island) 68
7) Lisa Ross (Adult, female, Canada) 76
8) Emily Billings (Adult, female, Clearwater) 76
9) Colin Smith (LESC coach) 89
18) Michael Zonnenberg (Martin’s Grandson) 105 best race a 7.. Not bad- 108 boats.
In the top 12 = 3 adult females, 2 male adults, and 7 juniors. Ladies 1-2 and 7.
If you sail a Laser, this may be the crowd you will run with. Maybe that is why we have the "masters" stuff.
Mid winters East but we let Chris in from California. Well, yes, the Virgin Islands and Netherlands.
Notice how the two top gals got away with the 1-2-3 positions with 50 boats starting. Probably the only time anybody else got first was when they were covering each other. There are videos of the races. They did well coming up wind, but were particularly fast off the wind. I think working the waves both directions. Maybe it is the full time sailing, coaching and completions around the world.
March "Sailing World" came today with an article on the 8 steps to sail better. 1. Sail a lot. 2. With people that are better. 3. With people that are not better. – Help them and that will focus you a little on what you do better. 4. Books, DVD, internet, your own notes–"What I learned today." 5. Get fit– Strength, stamina, flexibility, and agility. 6. Do other sports–cross train (not so sure about that one.) 7. Sail in different positions. This was advice for multi- position boat, but break Laser sailing easily into light wind, medium, and strong wind. All different. 8. Learn the rules. Books, discussions, big fleets.
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