Recent content by Padraigh36

Hi all, Is sailing big angles (be the lee etc) downwind actually faster by straight downwind? Racing over the weekend I went from 3rd at the windward mark to 11 at the leeward mark. The wind was light (5-8knts) and I was the only boat in the fleet that attempted to sail anything other than...

Hi all, Just to up date. The block on the boat does seem to be quite worn in parts. It looks as if it has worn unevenly so it could be a Friday afternoon job. I swapped my block with a friends at the club and the difference was very noticable so the plan is to get a new block as soon as...

I've worked my way up to razor wire. It would be nice to be able to hold a fork and knife after sailing though. I know I should loose a couple of pounds but this seems a very extreme way of doing it.

I do wear gloves but use the short finger variety. The water is very warm and salty where I sail (Persian gulf), my hands end up like you get in the bath, so great chunks get knocked out quite easily. My wife is getting fed up with the rope burns on my hands and my knees cut to bits. I intend...

Thanks for the help. The main sheet was rigged correctly ie fed through in the right direction. I checked the block after the first race and the ratched was engaging although I did this under hand pressure alone. I will check the teeth on the block this weekend and see if there are any visible...

Hi Guys, The rig is the same as last season so no changes to mast or sail. If the main block is a 55mm block does this mean it can cope with a much thickker line than standard? What about the other blocks on the boom, could they cope with a 10mm sheet for example? Padraig

Sailing this weekend I found that the load on the main sheet was much higher than I normal. The wind was not particularly strong (12-14knotts) however I needed a double wrap of the main sheet around my hand just hold onto it. The ratchett on the main sheet block was engaged but it felt as if...

I have had lower back trouble for years. I have only recently started sailing lasers and bought a pair of Queensport hiking shorts specifically for the built in lower back support system. These hikers have a belt similar to a weight lifting belt as part of the shorts. They are great, I...

Guys, Thanks for the advice. I have been taping the upper and lower section together to prevent the upper and lower section moving while I am rigging the sail but I haven't packed out the inside. I also think I have been sailing with too much kicker so I will try to ease and see how that...

Dredies, Thank for the explanation. I do not fully understand your explanation for point 2. You mention having 100 - 300 mm of movement at the top batten. Do you mean leech movement? Padraig

Hi TLF, Just joined the forum and have only started sailing a laser dinghy haing spent some sailing other single handed dinghies. I have 3 questions about setting the sail. 1. When I pull on main sheet tension and block to block the boom I end up with a horrible diagonal crease from the...