Forgive Novice Mistakes

Gaz

New Member
Hi all, I'm new to online forums so, as the title says please forgive me if I'm breaking any rules; I'm here to learn
Anyway, I've been sailing since July last year, crewing on an enterprise and a little helming on a Feva. Just bought a Laser 2nd hand (the price was very right) and I'm hoping the people on here could give me a few pointers as to novice mistakes to avoid and any dry land drills to do.
I'm yet to get her wet but I did helm a Bahia yesterday and it bit me, realising six months of dry land hasn't been kind!
I await any responses with, to be honest, a little bit of fear!!!
Gaz.
 
Hi Gaz... and welcome!

When I see new dinghy sailors capsize it's often because they don't have a consistent method for tacking or they don't have a way of managing the mainsheet during a tack. And often both at the same time. So the trick is to always be able to have the mainsheet free in one hand during the tack.

Here's how I, racers and many others tack. This is an especially nice method for when it's really windy. A good way of being able to sail "defensively".


Cheers,

- Andy
 
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Cheers for the reply Andy and thanks.
Did you post something after your message? There was just a patch of white...I must sound like such a Muppet so far!

Gaz
 
Did you post something after your message? There was just a patch of white...

Yes, I did. It was a link to a YouTube video showing the tacking technique I was referring to. If you can't view the video by clicking on the "patch", go to YouTube and paste the following into their search window:

Tacking - Start Sailing with Olympic Medalist, Shirley Robertson

You should see the 1 minute, 23 second long video near the top of the listings. She's in a yellow dinghy with a yellow sail.

- Andy
 
Ah...okay. I'm really glad you posted that as I brought my rudder and tiller home today and rigged something up in the conservatory to practice just what she was describing. I find that mid-point is where all the flapping begins and wanted to smooth it out. I've uploaded a pic of my idea...my partner is so happy at my interior design ideas....
 

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Ah...okay. I'm really glad you posted that as I brought my rudder and tiller home today and rigged something up in the conservatory to practice just what she was describing. I find that mid-point is where all the flapping begins and wanted to smooth it out. I've uploaded a pic of my idea...my partner is so happy at my interior design ideas....
There you go! Tacking in the living room. :)

Cheers,

- Andy
 

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