leeward mark rounding

My leeward mark roundings really suck an I keep getting boats sneaking inside of me because I can not head up soon enough. I am getting all caught up in the gybe and getting the sail tuned back. Any tips, do I need to gybe earlier or is there a good procedure?

It really sounds to me that it's not a problem with gybe but a problem of positioning going into the mark. If you are right next to the mark and going into your turn no way you will exit the rounding tight to the mark ensuring no one can get inside.

Enter wide, exit tight. Best way to make an efficient turn and leave the mark tight to port.

You must do a few things to get a proper leeward mark rounding.

first, PRACTICE! it took me weeks of practice of over and over again to get it perfect.

If there is a gybe mark in your course, there is no need to gybe at the mark, therefore you always want to head a little higher than the mark so that you can achieve the "inside overlap" and have room and push out within the two boatlength circle to get that "wide and tight rounding"

You MUST as soon as you head up, trim in like a madman. If you don't you will lose speed, momentum, and ultimately your position. getting stuck at the mark can really screw you over. I recommend to watch some videos on youtube or to get the Laser sailing book...I think it's by Mr. Ainsle..it has a great DVD to go along with it

shutterman...

Could you point out a couple of youtube links or suggest a solid
search entry...?

Cheers!

Here's a good video of laser light air sailing
http://youtube.com/watch?v=NKJcTgUmHcc&mode=related&search=

type in:

LASER RACING
LEEWARD ROUNDING
LASER SAILBOAT

Those all turn up good results...

Sailorsteven:

Get all your settings ready for the upwind leg a few boatlengths before the mark. If you have to gybe right at the mark start sheeting in before you gybe, especially if you've been by the lee. It's a lot less mainsheet to have to pull in after you've rounded the mark. Also, if you don't have inside overlap and have to wait for a clot of boats to round ahead of you, slow down, let them round, then come up tight to the mark behind them. It's much better than getting pinwheeled on the outside and being to leeward of a bunch of boats. Slowing down is tricky especially in breeze; oversheeting and sitting waaay back (like on the rear corner) helps. And, like others have said, practice!! I've been hard-core racing for 5 years now and my leeward mark roundings still suck a lot of the time. Although it could be worse-you could be having to take down a spinnaker!