Recent content by Skipper Johnson

Hey Mezza! Its not really tacking I have a problem with. Its really the gusts. The lake I sail on is very gusty which makes it hard to commit to really hiking hard. I guess I should just bear away a little and ease the sheet as I anticipate the gust. Dont be jealous Mezza, Im talking about a 12...

Hello there laser-liking type people. Long time no post. I have progressed from complete fool to vaguely competent over this year. I am now coming mid field and hardly ever crashing into the commodore. My question. In around 20 knots, I really struggle to windward which I feel terrible about...

When I told my wife that I had just spent $2,500 on a boat, she was (to put it nicely) a little miffed. Of course, I was one step ahead. When she saw the boat with the name Suzie Lou (her name Suzanne Loiuse) the state of being miffed was somewhat reduced. Moral, you can buy a boat and still...

I know how you feel, it's nice to be competitive even if you don't win. Remeber if you are testing yourself against more experienced sailors, so don't get down. Just make sure you learn something each race. Also remember the person who wins is probably some obsessed nutcase who has no other life...

What's up Mezza?

After doing so well the week before, this week I came last (apart from the Tasar that did its' mast and DNF). We sail a mixed fleet of only about 14 boats. Last week was about 5 knots and I came 3rd. This week about 20 knots. I really struggle in the wind. Particularly upwind. I death rolled on...

No, sailing sucks. End of Report

:d

Thanks Mezza

I used to tow the Laser but got sick of it. So I got a Mercury 50 and built a holder on the laser transom. Now I just use the Laser with its own outboard. It goes well but is a little easy to tip.

Future Laser Olympics champion shares his latest race report. The two-edged sword. Being a bumbling fool on the water, crashing into competitors, almost sinking the boat, upsetting the commodore and generally stuffing up has a positive. It means writing race reports is midly interesting...

For the first time last week I tried sailing by the lee in 20 kts+. I was amazed how stable it was. Only once did my sail flick but if you pay attention and steer you can avoid the accidental gybe. QUESTION: Is it imperative to have the boat heeling to windward when sailing by the lee? In...

LOL

Good one Clive.

Here's a thought. Just think of running as a mirror image of tacking. When you hit by a gust in tacking, you ease the mainsheet and head up. So when running, I guess it makes sense to pull in the sheet and bear away.