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Yes Westport & Little Compton is lovely. I took a sunfish down the East Branch of the Westport River, which was very shallow, and road the swells off Horseneck Beach. The tide runs very strong out of the Westport River. The Horseneck Beach area is as rough as any of the SE coast. It would be a...

In my opinion, tightening the vang is definitly the last thing I do before I put the centerboard in and shove off. Also if the wind is blowing hard onshore, pulling the stern well on the beach with the bow facing into the wind made it easier than rigging beam to; but I'm still learning. I was...

The only sailing I've done all summer has been on my laser. Its been a thrill, yet extremely challenging to learn by myself, which is why this forum has proved so useful. The biggest payoff has been my rock hard abs. Tonight I'm going to try to get on a J24 for a race; many of the laser fleet...

Ok, I had tied the sail down through the clew of the sail, not the hook circle. So the entire sail will release via the cunningham, and slip of the hook.

Thanks for the links but it's still not clear, the "quick release" action is simply for ease of docking? Isn't the clew and sail "tied down" so how could that be a quick release of the entire sail? So much to learn so little time

In what situation would you need to release it quick? Do you rig your boat while it is on the dolly, and then put it the water. Backwards learning here, yesterday was my first day of surfing, planing and jumping the waves from the wake of the sportfishers leaving the channel, an...

well i grew up here in newport, but only got into sailing 5 years ago. The laser fleet here are all professional; while I have stumbled on opportunities to crew on a boat with a pro a couple of times, it would be nice if there was a laser fleet of amateur, radial, or women sailors around. How...

Well, I was lucky that it was low tide and to my surprise I was able to stand and walk the boat back to shore, as I was exausted at that point, but I went out in 15knot gusts, with minimal vang on, and I'm only 125lbs. Actually, on the sunfish I remember being able to get back in the boat while...

The first time on my laser I capsized and couldn't get back in. The next time I went out, after downsizing to a radial rig, I practiced getting into the boat from the water- from the windward side with one hand on the main sheet to fill the sail and provide resistance, and with the other hand I...

Is there a trick to not catching the main sheet on the corner of the transom? Many thanks!

:confused: how exactly does my autobailer work? I have the kind with a round circle and a metal rod sticking out of it. Also, I noticed the on the bottom of the hull, the square little hatch for the bailer to empty is not flush with the bottom of the boat. Could this be why when I put my boat...

Yesterday, the third time out now on my radial, out practicing amongst Oracle and Alinghi no less. I questioned whether in sailing the laser that despite all the technical skills and knowledge, my boat speed is so limited by my weight. Are there any non-syndicate sailors in Npt this summer who...

Hey thanks. Glad to hear the radials can mix it up with the full rigs.

My laser has no mainsheet cleats. Are they legal, and must I buy them from Vanguard. I'm assuming they're a must have. My second time out ever with my new radial rig, I did not get beat up. Only later did I realize the radial requires battens as well, can I use those from my full rig. How...

I've decided to go and buy the radial. THanks.

Yesterday was I took my laser out for the first time ever. It was an offshore breeze gusting to 15 knots. I could not handle the boat. I was glad the tide was low in the harbor so that I could stand as after the first major capsize I didn't have the energy to hoist myself out of the water and...

So would a less restrictive wetsuit be good for early summer conditions here in southern new england? I think the water temp is already up to the mid fortys.

Or should I go with the more expensive Helly Hansen types? I don't want to wait till early/mid June when the water warms up here in S New England to try out my new laser. I don't want to buy a wetsuit just for April & May if I'm going to have to invest in a drysuit anyways. But will a drysuit...