Recently bought a laser after sailing double-handed dinghies for many years
Yesterday I sailed it for the second time. It was blowing about 15 knots consistently with gusts over & this had caused some waves to chop up.
I had a radial rig on & I weigh about 68kgs. I was so overpowered. I was hiking so far out that my bottom was hitting the waves, yet I still couldn't sheet block to block as I just could not keep it flat. I had outhaul, cunningham & vang cranked on hard.
Rob, that's what I was thinking, too. The volume of the topmast is something like seven litres, and if my calculations are right, you'd need to fill it about halfway to make it problematically heavy for someone who's the exact design weight for the Radial:
So yes, you'd have to keep the topmast under water for quite some time, and/or have a fairly big hole in it. I'm actually thinking of an unsealed rivet hole left from end-for-ending. But we'll probably find out soon.
_
Of course, if you dunk repeatedly, things go from bad to worseBut if the top mast is already full of water at the outset, one may have a problem
But if the top mast is already full of water at the outset, one may have a problem
Depending on the size and location of the entry and exit holes, one can imagine a fast fill/slow drain scenario.How would one get full and stay full? If it gets in it has to get out.
How would one get full and stay full? If it gets in it has to get out.
Yes Rob B, i know how to pinch upwind.
I spent the entire time fighting the boat so much that i couldn't even do that effectively.
Honestly my husband has the same problem (fighting the boat) when he sails it too, & hes a lot stronger than me - the weather helm is just ridiculous. Neither of us have ever sailed a boat with so much weather helm.