Recent content by whirlwind2

I'm looking for a Laser in good condition to charter for CORK OCR (August 21-25). I would need a Radial bottom section. My email is [email protected]. Thanks!

To steer without your rudder, you heel to leeward and sheet in to head up and heel to windward and ease the main to head down. The rudder should follow you movements. Sailing without a rudder is very difficult in a Laser because the pressure on the sail makes the boat head up, and there is no...

One of my favorite books is North U's Performance Racing Tactics. As far as racing goes, make sure to get out to the course early and notice wind and current patterns. Before the start create a game plan for the start and first beat. Don't worry too much if it's right--just be flexible and...

Another thing that will help is pulling your board up pretty high (about 12inches). You should have just enough in the water that you are barely in control. It will make it easier to keep the boat flat and you will go faster. Also, if you're having problems hiking, make sure that your strap...

If it's possible it would be cool to move the camera around. Maybe put it on your mast a little below the gooseneck. Also, in The Boat Whisperer DVD there are some shots from the top of the mast. These can be good for looking at your steering and body placement and movement. One problem with...

You should base your strategy off the wind and try to sail your own race. Don't just tack because there is a boat on starboard. Sail to where there is more wind and/or to the next shift. Also find out if there is current where you are sailing. The best book I've found on this is Performance...

I have a brand new sail that I plan to use this coming week for a big clinic and regatta. I don't have time to break it in before then. The wind is expected to be 8-12 knots. Will this be really bad for my sail?

When it's choppy you need more vang and less outhaul on than flat water. Make sure you're moving your body a lot. Sometimes it helps if you just watch good sailors. Maybe take a day off and watch the people in the front of the fleet from on shore or try and get a video of good sailors. The...

Older sailors are definitely role models. I learned to sail in a family run sailing program where the sailing gods were my friends' parents. They taught me the rules and how to rig and sail, but also what good sportsmanship and personal responsibility are. I am continually learning from older...

I think it is better to tighten the vang when going through chop so that when the leech pops it is like an "auto pump" and isn't just spilling air from your sail. The vang should never be so tight that it catches in the water.

Lunges are good for preventing knee injuries and also build up your quads. For your core you can also hold a plank position (like a push up position but your elbows on the ground and your hands together). Swimming is good for just about all your muscles if you have access to a pool.

In light air it is fast to heel to windward because it reduces your wet surface area and moves the center of effort in your sail over the center of buoyancy, reducing weather helm. You just have to be careful not to heel to windward so much that the deck is in the water because that greatly...

Going by the lee is also much more stable than ddw. Make your transitions fast so you spend as little time as possible going ddw. Also, hook your back leg around the hiking strap to lock in and have your front foot against the front of the cockpit so you can slide back quickly when you get on...

Anywhere between 140 and 155lbs (63.6 to 70.5 kgs) is good. You also might want to check out what the expected conditions are.

I don't like wearing booties when I sail a laser because my feet get tangled in the mainsheet. The problem with not wearing them though is sometimes my feet get cold and/or my ankles get sore and/or the tops of my feet become raw. Today I saw the Zhik barefoot booties online and wondered if...