SHIFTING GEARS IN THE LASER

You will have to help me with this one. It is weight in the boat, heel, sheet, outhaul, Cunningham and vang.

Light wind-- now weight forward. I don't see world champions sailing in Force 1 winds sitting on centerboard, but I do see them with the front foot in front of the sheet. Then we have big time heel to leeward to reduce wetted surface. In the rule book it says you can't sail a Laser from in front of the mast during races. (They don't put that kind of stuff in the rules to keep you from doing stupid things.) Outhaul loose for more power, but some say to make it tighter so you have better attachment of air flow. A little vang to keep about 6 inches from block to block and then you can let it out a little from the transom to keep the boat moving when the wind is really flat. Cunningham off. Did I cover it all? How do you do a roll tack from all this? I think they have to have more wind for the championship races.

Now you know, I really am not sure what to do when it is light.

Medium wind. Boat flat or heeled to weather (more about that tomorrow) Weight pushed to the front of the cockpit. Outhaul for hand breaths from the boom-- do you have a mark on the boom at the clew? (Some day we will do marks for settings on the boat.) Sheet at 6 inches from block to block and if you have to start to sit out then block to block. Cunningham to take the wrinkles out. Out haul tensioned so if you have to bear off to take a stern you accelerate.

Higher wind. Hike the boat flat. Weight can be in the middle of the cockpit. If planing way back and then if you drop off the plane back to the middle. This can keep you busy. Vang on tight going up wind, so you can ease the sheet out in the puffs to keep the boat flat and fast. Out haul tight if you are having trouble holding things down and water is fairly smooth. Cunningham is busy. Keep the draft in the middle and not running aft, where it will want to turn you over and not push/pull you forward.

Now as the wind goes up and down. As you sail into those holes and then into the pressure, keep the gears moving so you are going fast.

No more excuses--I sailed into that big hole.