I wonder if somebody can assist me with a couple of questions:
I have been sailing (mainly larger boats) for many years but am only just starting on a Laser. I'm currently hiring a sailing school Laser and plan to buy one this winter (if practice and learning go well).
Qu 1 (the "eternal question"). At 150/155 lbs 5' 10", am I better to think about getting a Standard or Radial. At the moment even a Radial is proving challenging but I recognise I have a lot to learn technique wise. I prefer the idea of a Standard but if it would be too much for my weight it might make more sense to go for a Radial (money means I would prefer not to buy both, though clearly a bad decision can be rectified without swapping the entire boat). I appreciate that technique is important and at the moment my technique is pretty poor, but with practice it will hopefully improve. However, if a Standard is going to be just too much is reasonable (common) winds then it may be an unwise choice. From looking through other threads on the subject I have the impression that, with practice and technique I could manage a standard ? Any thoughts.
To make my "learning harder", the boats have old sails, kicker rigged wrong way round (to my mind) with free end at foot of mast, out haul tied down in position. Does not bother me too much as I have to learn technique and poor'ish set-up/gear only makes the learning process more "robust" (plus I'm not one to gripe about the gear - I'd rather get on with what I've got available).
Qu 2. (On a Radial, inland waters and variable winds) I am having problems keeping the boat upright in gusts at the top end F3 on a beat. In a gust I hike, boat heals, I easy the main to avoid capsizing and boat stops. Am I just being too "coarse" and sudden on easing the main and is it just a case of persist and practice. Whilst the sails have tell tails, there is no wind indicator/burgee so I wonder if I'm sailing too free off the wind with the main in too tight. Maybe related is that when a gust hits the boat seems to have a very strong desire to head up, then using the required decent amount of rudder well and truly puts the breaks on - almost a broach.
Any suggestions very much appreciated. I'm confident I will get there. At the moment I need to get reliable control in a decent wind/weather range before I start going to regattas (I need to be safe and able to avoid other boats, not fall over in front of anybody, etc.).
Regards
Ian
I have been sailing (mainly larger boats) for many years but am only just starting on a Laser. I'm currently hiring a sailing school Laser and plan to buy one this winter (if practice and learning go well).
Qu 1 (the "eternal question"). At 150/155 lbs 5' 10", am I better to think about getting a Standard or Radial. At the moment even a Radial is proving challenging but I recognise I have a lot to learn technique wise. I prefer the idea of a Standard but if it would be too much for my weight it might make more sense to go for a Radial (money means I would prefer not to buy both, though clearly a bad decision can be rectified without swapping the entire boat). I appreciate that technique is important and at the moment my technique is pretty poor, but with practice it will hopefully improve. However, if a Standard is going to be just too much is reasonable (common) winds then it may be an unwise choice. From looking through other threads on the subject I have the impression that, with practice and technique I could manage a standard ? Any thoughts.
To make my "learning harder", the boats have old sails, kicker rigged wrong way round (to my mind) with free end at foot of mast, out haul tied down in position. Does not bother me too much as I have to learn technique and poor'ish set-up/gear only makes the learning process more "robust" (plus I'm not one to gripe about the gear - I'd rather get on with what I've got available).
Qu 2. (On a Radial, inland waters and variable winds) I am having problems keeping the boat upright in gusts at the top end F3 on a beat. In a gust I hike, boat heals, I easy the main to avoid capsizing and boat stops. Am I just being too "coarse" and sudden on easing the main and is it just a case of persist and practice. Whilst the sails have tell tails, there is no wind indicator/burgee so I wonder if I'm sailing too free off the wind with the main in too tight. Maybe related is that when a gust hits the boat seems to have a very strong desire to head up, then using the required decent amount of rudder well and truly puts the breaks on - almost a broach.
Any suggestions very much appreciated. I'm confident I will get there. At the moment I need to get reliable control in a decent wind/weather range before I start going to regattas (I need to be safe and able to avoid other boats, not fall over in front of anybody, etc.).
Regards
Ian