LASERS CHECK THE MULTIHULLS

These folks were fastest around the world.  Can we learn any thing from them?   Rick White, one of the multihull instructors, (NOT TALKING ABOUT AROUND THE WORLD RACING) says that starting is 90% of the game and the other 90% is rounding marks.  He gives us five MUSTS for rounding the leeward mark.
1) Perpare for the upwind leg.  Outhaul, Cunningham, centerboard.
2) Remember the inside overlap rule and watch for inside boats.
3) Watch for the "pin wheel" and don't get caught on the outside.
4) Slow down to get behind if you need to.
5) Enter wide and exit close to mark.

Then I add to 5, if you are way ahead or way behind, nice wide turn and pass close to mark.  No need to go below the leeward mark.   The exit close is to keep the followers in your back wind or to be up wind of the folks ahead it they have bad rounding.

AND  as you go into the mark visualize the last wind shift and your exit angle from the mark.   Then  you can better hit the close hauled course, not to high or to low.    

THANK YOU, RICK.
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LASERS SAIL THE "WALLY"

I love this picture. It has nothing to do with "Wally", but she is really having fun.

 I have been thumbing through Bill Gladstone’s North U Tactics book again, and thought I ought to take another crack at translating the “Wally” section to Laser sailing. I don’t have a polar diagram for a Laser and don’t think we should add the speedo, wind velocity and other stuff needed to exactly do this stuff, but we generally understand that as we pinch upwind we go slower and nearer the windward mark and that as we bear off more (bow down) we sail faster but further away from the weather mark. The quickest way to get to the weather mark is a course in between and particularly sailing fast to the next header.


“Wally” was a program from the America Cup Campaign in Australia when they varied the target boat speed to the average wind direction and gained VMG (velocity made good) to the next mark when the wind changed.

Up wind if you get a lift, “Wally” says to bare off a little more and sail faster. You will increase your separation from your competitors so when the header comes you increase your lead.

Up wind if you get a header you should tack, but if you are pinned or have other reason to stay on the headed tack, then sail higher and slower to reduce your separation from others that stay on this tack.

Downwind if you get a header (the wind moves more toward you bow) Wally says not to bear off as far as the wind changes, but stay a little high and sailing faster so when the shift comes that is a lift (moving back behind you) you can gybe or go to by-the-lee or a  reach depending on how long you think the shift will last, what the waves are doing and all that other stuff.

Downwind if you get a lift, it is time to gybe or go by-the-lee, but if you don’t want to, then sail lower and slower to close the separation from others that don’t change. You will gain more VMG if you gybe or go by-the-lee.

Sounds confusing? Well, everything is not easy..
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THE LASER ELEVEN

The Eleven best ways to top finishes.

1. Nail the start.
2. Hit the shifts.
3. Keep the pedal down. (Keep sailing fasst)
4. Go to the pressure  (wind).
5. Stay out of the corners.
6. On reaches, high in the lulls and low in the puffs.
7. Inside or behind at the marks.
8. Get in the passing lane if behind.
9. Avoid confrontations-- for for speed.
10. Cover on the beat to the finish.
11. Keep track of your goals  --- to win the race or to win a series, etc.
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LASERS SAIL FAST

This is old stuf, recently written, but worth thinking about.

The WOW or words of wisdom as long as I had three wins on Sunday. Topics, so you can judge if interested at all--- 1. Windward heel--- 2. Roll tacks --- 3. By the lee sail trim.


Rob was sailing with windward heel whenever he could manage it, and making it pay off—speed and less leeway. The little lee helm that it requires bothered him, but not enough for him to think that it wasn’t working. I have done that before. The results are not spectacular, but a little better speed and height never hurts unless you are going in the wrong direction.

With the windward heel, the upwind side of the boat that is in the water gets rounder and downwind side in the water gets straighter. Now that is the same as the sail, but working in the opposite direction. A foil in the water working upwind and one in the wind pulling forward.

My 80 year old roll tacks are working better and I thought I was picking up a little on each. It may have been the wind shifts, but…. Turn up slowly into the wind and burn off your speed going in the upwind direction trimming in the sail and roll the boat hard to the new leeside as you turn to the new close-hauled heading or just past it. Ease out some sail, so when you rock the boat back up, you can pull in some sail to pump you forward. You should be putting half the side deck under water when you roll. As soon as you are back up level check the tell tales for fast up wind sailing. With a good roll I think you can take advantage of small shifts and avoid the lay line, till late.

If you think you need better roll tacks, then practice some. Buddy Melges STARTS his practice sessions with 50 tacks. If you can’t come to sail other days than race days, come early or stay late and do some extra practice. If you are practicing before the race be sure to hang near the starting line so you don’t miss the races.

Downwind I got away from Rob several times with careful sail trim by the lee. When you are by the lee, the mast keeps the trailing edge of the wind over the sail straight and makes it faster in light wind and more under control in heavier wind.

Now to trim the sail, get a little vang on but not enough to take all the twist out of the sail. Trim the sail in so that the bottom of the leach flutters a little. Hopefully the full sail at the twisted top will keep the thing from gybing. This is a little like the curl in the windward edge of the spinnaker when you are trimming it, or the luff in the jib when you ease it a little. Now ease the sheet a little so it won’t gybe with a little wind shift and then ease again to be sure you are right on the edge. Rob and Alejandro sail with the sail far out and maybe stalled part of the time. Do that is an airplane and you will fall out of the sky. Then don’t sail dead downwind. Off on some kind of broad reach. Tacking downwind or when the folks one the coast are working waves, I think they just do transitions from by the lee to broad reach and then back again to catch the next wave.

Then in that third race Rob and Patrick went around the leeward mark together with me close behind (a three boat race). They were covering each other and let me go off to the left alone and the three of us came together at the finish. The RC gave me second place, but it could have been anybody. I tried to shoot the line, but don’t know if that helped. It can give you and extra foot or so. (Finish at the downwind end of the line and go head to wind just before crossing the line.)
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LASERS LOOK OUT FOR THE RULES.

Thanks again to John Payne Photo.com for the great pictures from Orange Bowl Regatta.

Now we are back to advice from Buddy Melges and "Sailing Smart"...   "My basic racing rule now is that I will never steer myself into a situation that I will know will create a discussion after the race... Any jam up can easily effect my race results no matter who is right."
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THE THIRD LASER SLOW UP

The red boat needs to slow up so it will not be on the outside in the turn around the leeward mark.  Trim sail in to lose power, move to the back of the boat to drag the stern, or easiest steer right and left to take a longer course.  Now you can go behind and maybe get an inside overlap or at least follow around the mark with the ability to tack at will.

THE FIRST LASER SLOW UP

First a little report on the weather in central Florida.  80 degrees out today and it is going to be 60 tomorrow.  So this is the last warm day of the year and I was able to get some Laser sailing in this afternoon.

Well if you had a jib, you could have the crew back it while you eased the main to slow up, so not to be over the line at the start.   In the Laser it is luff up, vang off, and back the sail by pushing on the boom if necessary.  Bow even with people around you.  A little room to leeward if you can arrange it.  Heal to lee so you can get a pump in when your time is expiring, vang on and sheeting in.

I know this in old stuff, but we hit the slow up button from Buddy and just trying to touch the three slowups that I know.
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LASERS SLOW UP

It is Thanksgiving Day and I am thank full that I will be able to go down to the lake and sail a Laser with a son and a granddaughter.  And I still have time for this blog.

We are still working on Buddy Melges's book and suggestions.   Working up from the last bit on the windward leg, he wants to delay going to the starboard tack lay line at the windward mark.  You save the wind shifts till the end, but now you  may face a long string of starboard tackers going to the mark. 

When he is looking for a gap to tack into, he does not bear off and sail down the line.  That is the wrong direction and makes the turn into the tack too much and too slow.  Just ease the sheet, slow the boat and wait till the gap comes to you.  This is the second of three times during the race that you should slow up.

Also if you can arrange it, come in on port tack more than three boat lengths from the mark to preserve some of you rights around the mark by entering the ZONE on starboard.

LASERS CONSOLIDATE

When Buddy Melges works out a little lead toward the left, he will be looking for the first opportunity to tack toward the middle to consolidate what ever lead he has. Maybe a little header. Take as much as you can he says.  Hang with the fleet and somewhere in the middle of the course if you can.  From that position you won't loose to much on big wind shifts.  The goal is to be in the top few boats at the windward mark.
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LASERS PRACTICE STARTS

More Buddy Melges suggestions:   Practice the START.   From stopped to close reach and changing gears to going fast close hauled.  It is at the start, that you have the first chance to get out in front with clear air and ability to tack with the wind shifts.

This is the time that the boats are the closest together and a little more acceleration  will  really pay off.  You need to practice this alone and in all kinds of wind conditions.  And you can practice it with a friend and after you get all the details worked out.

It needs to be automatic, so you can be keeping track of your competitors, time and wind shifts when the real starts come up.
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THE LASER SAILOR AND 10,000 HOURS

Malcolm Gladwell in this book explores the lives of people like Mozart , the Beatles, Bill Gates, and other really successful people to find that before success, they had put in at least 10,000 hours of practice (or trial) before they got really good at what they were doing.

10,000 hours is what?  It is an 8 hour day, 5 days a week for almost 5 years with no time off for Christmas or sickness.

Now that is his 10,000 hour rule. That is the minimum that great performance needs.

He thinks no one is just born with the talent.

You have to pay your dues.

So how much sailing

practice and regatta

sailing will you

be doing this

week, month,

or year?

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LASERS SAIL FLAT

This note stolen from Sailing World (November- December 2010) Steve Hunt “Open Your Bag of Tricks”. He notes 10 tricks and I just stopped with number one. “Sail the boat at the optimum angle of heel”.


I love this picture of Steve Cockerel sailing in wind and waves. He is almost flat. Flat is fastest, but with waves and spray, a little heel encourages the foredeck spray to roll off and not all come into the cockpit. He is rocking back and heading up to go over the next wave. Most importantly with the supervang, he is sheeted out a foot or so past the transom, to keep sailing fast and hold the angle of heel. Don’t let the gusts increase your heel. Sheet out and if you are supervanged the mast doesn’t straighten when you sheet out. Now you are going faster. If you heel, you will be doing more leeway, slower and rudder dragging more, as you try to keep going straight.

In less waves try to keep the boat flatter. You might even be able to sail with windward heel which makes the a asymmetrical hull work to weather. When the wind is very light, then weight forward and big time leeward heel to reduce wetted surface. (When you are going slow and not making any waves, then wetted surface is holding you back.) Going down wind, it is max windward heel to get the sail up into more wind and the center over the boat so you don’t need much rudder.

If planing, move way to the back to get the bow up and boat flat. You will be more stable planing on the flatter surfaces at the stern.

So the optimum heel changes around the course, but if you think more about that and get it screwed into your bottom automatic brain, you will have more time to look around and see what is happening on the course. Now you are sailing faster and keeping your “head out of the boat” and into the rest of the race.

Remember sailing fast makes your tactics look great.

Practice “think heel”, if you don’t already.

Now check out the boats ahead of you.

What are they doing?

What heel?
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LASERS SAIL BY THE LEE

But not with the Spinnaker up.

Remember, sailing downwind in lighter wind.  Weight forward with radical heel to get the sail up into more wind and reduce the wetted surface.

 Think about transitions.  Avoid straight downwind. 

If you have some waves catching up to you, then dive into the deepest hole in front of you, pump the sheet and angle down the side of the wave to stay with it.

If you are sailing faster than the waves are moving, going around the big ones.

If you are not leading, what are the folks ahead of you doing?

Look behind.  Maybe you want to keep your wind clear. 

Look behind for more pressure that you might want to move to.

Wind increasing -- be a little more conservative.  Practice, maybe doesn't make perfect, but it helps.
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LASERS SAIL IN HIGHER WINDS

Steve Cockerell (the Boat Whisperer) going up wind.  He called the last day of racing at the Masters a "walk in the Park".
John Bertrand struggled to stay in third for the regatta. Read John's blog "Bertrand Racing". Steve had been sailing close by this sight in England in winds in the 28 kt range.  So do you suppose it is just what you are used to doing?  Does practice pay off??

Notice he is sheeted out a foot and a half from the stern.  I think that is a compass on the deck.  He has his watch on this left hand.  Maybe he uses that coming back down the line on port and has another watch on the mast to look at when he is on Starboard.   Anybody know???
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LASER SAILORS MAKE NOTES.

Hold onto the sheet!  How did this ever happen?

We learn from our mistakes, but how are we going to keep track and remember all of them?


1. You can keep thinking about them.

2. Write them down.

3. Get out and sail, so you can collect more.

4. If you have a coach, he is probably making a list.



“Smart Laser Sailors Keep Record” September 22, 2009 has check off list of many of the things you might or should check in each race. But at least keep a written note about the big mistakes.



5. Then you need to put the big mistakes together so you can review them.

6. Review them often.

7. Some will need practice. (Like leeward mark roundings. Or 720's)

8. Maybe organize into “Do This” and “Don’t Do This”.

9. Review and visualize.

10. If all that is too much work, just forget it –let us go racing just to be sailing with the other folks. Most of us are doing it just to have FUN.
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SAIL A LASER BETTER

Tom Slingsby wins in England and tells us how to do it!   The 22nd place in the Olympics in China gave him the instruction.  You learn more from your bad races than you do from the ones you win.  Now all you have to do is remember not to do all those dumb things....It probably could be a long list.
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TWO LASER SAILORS AND THE LEEWARD MARK

Two of our Laser sailors.    The one on the right has had some success winning various sailboat races.  He tells us, "half way down the the downwind leg you need to be thinking about heading not at the leeward mark, but to the left of it, to enter the zone on the left (inside)".  Waves and "pressure" may lead you other places, but always think left.
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LASERS DO NOT ALWAYS WIN

How do we keep the tail end of the fleet entertained? Do they get discouraged? Will they quit coming? We want them to come. The frontenders want someone to beat up on! The tailenders are the frontrunners of the future. Everyone starts there. We have to have them. And how do we keep them coming?? I have asked several people about that and gotten no help, so here are some thoughts..

HOW TO HAVE FUN IN THE BACK OF THE PACK.



1) Remember it is all fun for you. Those others are worried about winning a trophy. You are not!



2) If you wanted one of those big silver things you would go down to Merry Jewelry Old Silver shop and buy several really gorgeous ones for a lot less than a new sail.



3) Come early and go out and check the wind or come late and join in wherever. Who cares. You are having fun.



4) Bring plenty of water, soda, a sandwich. You are going to have a party.



5) Sail by the RC and wave to everyone. Remember to smile and laugh. You are having fun! They are checking watches, making lists, checking flags and checking the wind.



6) Wave to all your sailing friends out here on the water. Call them by name if you remember it.

Call things like “good luck” and “don’t turn over” and “did you see that big alligator?”



7) Don’t worry about the course. You are just going to follow the other folks.



8) Work on the small stuff.



8a You are competing against the other back of the packers.



8a1 Usually there is no money or trophy involved.



8b If you are way way last, skip a mark and suprise the next guy with how much you have caught up.–OK, but don’t pass him. He is working hard and you are having fun.



8c Remember you may be getting your own “our favorite sailor award” or the “pickle dish”.



8d You are really practicing “sailing the boat”. Make the most of it.



8d1 Before the start do the “four things” (another note for the four things, if you don’t know) and sail down the line and check the wind. Establish a routine.



8d2 Practice starting at the boat end.



8d3 Practice starting at the pin end.



8d4 Practice starting at the middle.



8d5 Practice starting second at the boat and tacking for clear lane.



8d6 Practice port start at the pin.



8d7 Practice port approach and tack into a starboard hole.



8d8 Follow the fleet Champ and see what he does.



8d9 Practice tacking.



8d10 Practice tacking into a close by the lee spot.



8d11 Practice ducking starboard tacker.



8d12 Practice bare off and then tack, to go behind windward boat that has you pinned.



8d13 Practice tacking on 5 degree headers.



8d14 Practice port tack approach to windward mark. Easy if you are behind or ahead.



8d15 Practice port tack approach to windward mark out past the 3 boat length zone.



8d16 On shore, pace off three boat lengths to see what it looks like.



8d17 Practice starboard tack approach at the windward mark and set up one or two boat lengths above the lay line. That will make it easier to get around when you are with a lot of boats.



8d18 Practice a “ head reach” (luff head to wind and coast around– good for ½ boat length if no waves) around the windward mark.



8d19 When you hit the mark, do a 360 turn before resuming you position behind everyone. More good practice.



8d20 Practice a double tack at the mark (easy if you are last).



8d21 Practice going around the windward mark. Clear the sheet, vang off, heel to windward, sheet out, turn to big time by the lee, and push the boom out if you need to.



8d22 Practice getting trimmed for downwind. Outhaul and Cunningham off. Weight forward with dramatic heel to windward. By the lee or broad reach. Do transitions downwind.



8d23 Look behind and to the side for dark water. Get in the pressure and try to stay there.



8d24 Downwind is the catch up leg. See if you can make it work?



8d25 Measure the guys ahead on you out stretched fist and thumb. See if you can make them bigger.



8d26 Think about entering the leeward mark zone on the left side, just in case you could be inside some other tailender.



8d27 Make note of the last wind shift. If it was from the left, then you might want to tack right after the mark rounding.



8d28 Set up the outhaul and Cunningham at 6 or 7 boat lengths. You want to do that before the excitement of fighting for inside and rounding the mark.



8d29 Sail to two boat lengths to the right of the mark.



8d30 Visualized the close hauled course past the mark.



8d31 Abreast of the mark push the board down and start the circle turn sheeting in with long pulls with alternating hands.



8d32 Aim for passing just to the right of the mark closehauled.



8d33 If the last shift before the mark was from the left (now right), think about tacking as soon as you are organized and the lane is clear of other boats coming into the mark. (It will be clear if you are really still last.) After you tack you will be on starboard tack closehauled, and have right of way over anyone still coming down wind to the mark. Don’t forget that it is slow to be running into boats going the opposite direction, even if you have right of way. Not to worry – remember, you are last.



8d34 SHORT BEAT TO FINISH



8d34a Look for and go to the downwind end of the finish line. If one was favored at the start and the wind is the same, then probably the other end.



8d34b If a big shift to the right go left.



8d34c Approach on the first lay line. When you reach the crossing of the laylines to the pin and to the boat, look to see which is closest. Go for the short end. If you can’t tell, stick with the tack you are on.



8d34d Shoot (head into the wind just before you cross the line, so you get to the line a second or two earlier.) one end or the other.



8d35 Get a big drink of water.



8d36 Thank the RC for waiting for you (if they did.).



8d37 Get out your sandwich and stuff, if you brought them. Have a party.



8d40 Ashore, check for water inside your hull. Don’t do that before the race. Don’t spoil your record.



8d41 Check all the lines for wear and make a list of all the things that need to be fixed before the next big race.



8d42 Make a list of all these things that you were able to practice today.



8d43 Find the guy or gal that won the race and ask them what you could do better.



9 NEXT TIME WORK ON THE BIG STUFF.





NOW YOU OTHER FOLKS.... Look up these people after the race and tell them how glad you are that they came. Tell them that they will soon be ahead of some other folks. We need everyone, so let us try to keep them coming.

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LASER SAIL IN LIGHT AIR

Light Air tips – some stolen from Tony Rey SW June 2008. Some of us read those old sailing magazines.

Sail to the pressure. Get some good polarized sun glasses that help you see the ripples on the water. Stand up now and then for a look around. Practice standing up and still sailing fast with control of the boat.

Be careful of the middle as the new wind may be coming in from the sides.,

Sail the long gybe first Tony says, but Lasers want to stay on starboard and work the long “ by the lee” or the long “broad reach”. Stay away from dead down wind. Do your transitions from by the lee to broad reach with plenty of heel to steer the boat. It is legal to steer by rolling even if it makes you go faster.

When in doubt, heat it up by sailing higher on the runs.

Smooth turns. Use less rudder.

Going down wind sit forward with lots of heel to windward to get the sail up. When very light get the boom forward of 90 degrees so that the heel and gravity holds the boom out.

Going upwind when it is really light, reduce wetted surface (you are not making waves any more)so get up on the centerboard with weight to lee so you get some heal. How far forward? The rules say you can’t sail from in front of the mast, so somebody was sailing from up there and making it work.



IF YOU ARE LOOKING FOR VICTORIES. “Maxim Victories by Minimizing the Risks”– Morgan Reeser SW Jna2009

1. Shoot for top 1/3 at the top mark.

2. Pass more boats than pass you.

3. No DSQ, OCS, DNFs

4. Sail to the pressure (wind).

5. Long tack first from the middle of the course.

6. Headed or lifted.

7. Best side?

8. Where is the fleet?

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DELLENGAUGH TALKS TO LASERS

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In the December Speed and Smarts Dave Dellenbaugh tells how he sailed away with the Thistle Championship.
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Startegizing, starting, boat prep, tactical moves, and speed testing.
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Working for speed 1) New Sails. 2) Get the mast straight. 3) Clean the hull.
4) Speed test with a friend. Mark the fast points. (2010 rules allow Laser to mark up mast, booms and hull for fast points. Not sails yet.)5) Get everything as light as you can.
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Avoid breakdowns.. Check all you lines and equiment and replace if warn.
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Starting avoid the crowded ends. Get line of sight and be near the line.
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Sail fast up the middle and work the shifts.
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If you are fast it will make everything else look good.
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Suprise anyone??
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Subscribe at www.speedandsmarts.com if you want to read all 16 pages.
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