tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3209493946963010404.post8807608301385245412..comments2024-02-25T10:43:07.698+13:00Comments on STREAM OF CONSCIOUSNESS: __________________________ RACING A LASER ________________________Alden Smithhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06601028197387499096noreply@blogger.comBlogger4125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3209493946963010404.post-30926763364939325622016-11-05T14:13:04.055+13:002016-11-05T14:13:04.055+13:00Andrew, they certainly are tricky - even the very ...Andrew, they certainly are tricky - even the very experienced guys and girls who race them at the local club capsize a lot (to their own astonishment) when the wind gets very strong. Sailing downwind in a big breeze is living on a knife edge.<br /><br />Congratulations on getting your Starling up and running! A Starling and summer coming on ..... a very good combination.Alden Smithhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/06601028197387499096noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3209493946963010404.post-17062530577357702672016-11-05T14:02:18.081+13:002016-11-05T14:02:18.081+13:00Lasers are very tricky.
I've sailed one a cou...Lasers are very tricky. <br />I've sailed one a couple of times, spent most of the time capsizing and then sailed into a wharf. Much to the delight of kids doing booms off it. haha. <br />I have my Starling up and running, now to just get it out on the water. <br />Andrew McKay Anonymoushttps://www.blogger.com/profile/06096383715595941497noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3209493946963010404.post-80536011929340956292016-11-03T18:41:13.785+13:002016-11-03T18:41:13.785+13:00Thanks Dan. Winning a race is always good for the ...Thanks Dan. Winning a race is always good for the ego but doesn't change my basic opinion of the Laser - which is that the boat leaves a bit to be desired. The problem is that 90% of the adults at the club are racing them, so that's where the competition is. <br /><br />It is interesting what you say about the size of the rudder. When sailing to windward I found it hard to stop the boat rounding up into the wind when hit by big gusts of wind, despite the fact that I had de - powered the rig by flattening the sail with the cunningham and the out haul on the foot of the sail. I didn't have too much trouble sailing off the wind - but it's early days! LOLAlden Smithhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/06601028197387499096noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3209493946963010404.post-3845067473633383012016-11-03T18:30:00.318+13:002016-11-03T18:30:00.318+13:00Congratulations on winning race three. Lasers are ...Congratulations on winning race three. Lasers are fun, but I think there are better boats in that category. Force Five, Banshee, and especially the RS Aero. Biggest problem with the Laser, and the reason they're so hard to sail downwind in a blow: the rudder is way too small.Dan Gurneyhttp://www.estuarian.orgnoreply@blogger.com