LASERS PRACTICE THE ROLL TACK

Big and Little, you need to practice those roll tacks.  They make a big difference.   And the tacks in medium and high winds are all different.  If you are interested is finishing higher in the races, you need to get in more practice time.
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LASERS USE THE CHECK LIST

IF you are young and forgetful or old and forgetfu,l then you need a check list of the things that you need to take to the boat with you..

Here is a little list that you can add to or subtract from.  Write it on a card and keep it with something that you won't forget.

Sailing clothes.
Hiking pants.
Water shoes.
Gloves.
Cold weather stuff.
Watch.
Sun glasses.
Boat parts you brought home to repair.,
Sails.  Light and/or heavy  air.
Extra tell tales.
Tools.
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LASERS TIME THE LINE

I have been looking for a new suggestion to help us all out, but in looking back through all this stuff I think I should just pick out some important ones.

Time the line.  One of the four things to check before each start.  Not only will it give you a good idea about how to get to the other end if the wind changes, but a feel for how much distance you go in a certain time and how to position yourself with the rest of the fleet.  Sail other little distances and guess how much time and then check it.   Dennis Conner was always guessing and checking time and distance.

Try it.  Everyone needs better starts.
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LASERS HAVE FUN

LASERS HAVE FUN


The fellow above is having FUN because he just won this third world championship or something like that. Not many of us can do that, so here is my list of ways to help be “sure” that you have fun.

1. Smile

2. Expect it to be fun.

3. Dress right

4. Bring food and drink as appropriate.

5. Sunscreen- cloths, hat, sunglasses.

6. In adverse conditions, do what you are able and a little more (to expand your ability) then drop out if it is too much. Drop out happy. (Man, I don’t have to keep doing this.)

7. Say hello to friends.

8. Say hello to non-friends.

9. Give someone a little help.

10. Do a good deed that no one knows about.

11. Help others do the odd jobs.

12. Say hello to as many fleet members as you can.

13. Come early.

14. Stay late.

15. Leave any time you need to.

16. If there is someone that you don’t like, visit with him or her.

17. Show up. You can’t have fun sailing if you stay home.

18. If you have a “bad time”, start a sailing blog. It will be good material.

Now think about these things that light up the please centers in the brain. (“The Compass of Pleasure” David Linden)

Legal                                             Illegal

Caffeine                                         Cocaine

Alcohol                                          Morphine

Nicotine                                          Heroin

Food--- fatty, sweet, and salty

Actions                            Sex

                                       Gambling #

                                       Aerobic exercise #

                                       Relief of pain

                                       Meditation

                                       Prayer

                                       Anonymous charitable giving

                                       Positive social interaction. #

                                       Pleasure in new abstract ideas

                                      Maslow flow. #

# Perhaps present in sailing.
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NEW LASERS SAIL FAST

Marit Bouwmeester  sails away with it at Weymouth.
Note the supervang, not much Cunningham, outhaul fairly tight,  Zhik but look at those arms (no tiny girl), Clear start on the mast,  200,ooo boat with polished bottom.

When you pile the hair on top of your head, it helps you hold the boat down when you hike hard.
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LASERS HIKE HARD

This is Molly Forbes, granddaughter of friends in central Florida and member of U of Wisconsin sailing team. 
She is helping Andy Burdick win the A scow regatta in Minnesota.

  Hey Molly, this is not a Laser.  Sit in just a little.  The scows need to heel up, reduce the wetted surface and get on the narrower round leeward chine.
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LASERS STRUGGLE TO COMMENT

Doc Haagen Dozs made comment on the previous blog -- and I haven't been able to add a comment for two days.. (MY BLOG REJECTS ME.)  I hope that problem self corrects.  When I go on other blogs my comments stick, but not on my own...  

Say, do you like that picture above.   I may give you a long story about that some time..

       But Doc says he trims sail by the lee when it is windy on the Wylie cat 30.  My comment is "Wow! I would be afraid to be sailing that close to accidental gybe on a big boat with the wind up.   Maybe if the crew and helm are all experienced and ready to get the heads down just in case."

I would be glad to hear more about sailing the Wyliecat.
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