humming sound while planing

MiLLz

Member
While sailing Shoreline on some high speed reaches and I noticed a mysterious humming sound coming from somewhere equally mysterious. The sound would go away when I slowed down. Is there cause for concern?
 
Maybe it is just you humming as you start to go fast.

If it is not that, it is your foils. It is not uncommon and usually means imperfections on them somewhere.
 
Your centreboard and rudder blade hum when the trailing edge on them is quite blunt and rounded. It is definitely nothing to worry about. The way that you can stop the hum is to sand down the back edge of the foils until they are relatively sharp or sand the back edge of to make a square edge at the back. IMHO I wouldn't change it at all, I haven't.
 
I know that it is related to bad hydraulic flow on your foils and loose fiting within your daggerboard trunk. if like me, you do not race your Laser, enjoy it. On a reach (or on any other point of sail), I constantly try to go as fast as I can, but on a reach you can make the boat "sing", then I know I am flying and enjoying every second of it.

I also heard it scares away sharks for your salt water sailors! :D

Make her sing, she'll thank you!

G
 

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