Guys, a couple of comments on Sunday’s racing at the WSM. First on boat setup....I noticed many different rigs in a class that is very tight one design. Here are the mininum components of a fast frostbite Laser. Traveler-should be completely non stretch Spectra or some other product. Keep it tight at all times to force the boom to the stern quarter and discourage pinching. Outhaul-Make sure that it is adjustable to the extent that you may release 1 foot from boom’s end. I use an ’S’hook to make sure that I do not overtighen in heavy breeze. Clew tie down-I noticed many boats with no or loose tie downs.Guys, this is very important. You must have kevlar or spectra here and make this supertight, even if you need lubricant to make your outhaul function as a result. Cunningham-Should be capable of pulling grommet out of sail. Vang-Must have a swivel.You may add purchase to the old cast aluminum Holt vangs or design your own.Try to sail with at least an 8:1 system. Mainsheet-Gone are the days of light air and heavy air sheets.Get your hands on a non stretch 1/4--5/16 cored line. Wear sailing gloves if your hands are too soft. You may take the lazy man’s way out and shell out about $384 at BYB,APS or other dealers to buy the Harken or Holt packages.Given most of you sail other classes, I recommend looking at drlaser.com and use the spare fittings you own to create a custom rig for under $50. Sailing. Once we are all going the same speed, let’s talk about Saturday the 7th.Upwind: it was windy but only 15 knots. Traveler tight,cunningham tight,outhaul 1 hand palm off the boom at old boom cleat. Vang was slack except in those huge overpowering puffs. Otherwise I sailed two-blocked and concentrated on keeping the boat flat. Don’t be afraid to dump the main to avoid heeling. Reaches: Vang just above perpendicular ,cunningham loose, outhaul out 6[.Down wind: Vang 5 degrees above perpendicular, cunningham loose, outhaul 1 foot out. Did not overease main given the large puffs-remember your sail head is eased far further than your boom when your vang is loose. Sailing Sunday 11/16. Sunday was very light.My main thrust upwind was maintain speed and clear air. Many people bailed out to the right only to find the wind shadow of the shore taking most of their breeze. Only 2 times all day did I see the right pay. Even with bad angle the left seemed to have twice the breeze.Downwind I played things the same way.On this leg the shoreside worked only at the bottom of the course the last race.Downwind I noticed that many sailors attempted to sail using conventional Albacore and Lightning techniques.Always sail by the lee rather than broad reach as Dave will now attest from the second to last race.Only when you are confident that you will be on a powerful beam reach jibe.Max in Frank’s boat was able to sense this in the last race. All of us need to compare notes before we hit the water to make sure we are sailing the same craft.Given how cheaply these changes can be made there is no excuse not to have pretty equal boats.I hope this helps. Good Sailing, |
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