Tips from another beginner for anyone else finding this. You've probably already sorted this out, but if you hold the tiller near your torso with an underhand grip you can comfortably point the tiller extension where you intend to go. Also, keep the sheet in the cockpit forward of your feet and one side or the other of the hiking strap so it doesn't get snagged under/by your foot or anything else. Gybing a Laser is next level and the sheet can snag on the corner or transom such that the boom can't come all the way over and you'll have to reach back to free the sheet while concentrating on keeping the boat from going over in the middle of the gybe. More advanced sailors intentionally roll the boat so the boom comes over with enough force to avoid snagging the sheet on the transom.
I agree with everything but the underhand grip, or maybe i just understood it wrong, so your having your palm under the bottom of the tiller instead of above..
Hi Greg Vaguely looking at buying an old Laser. At the age of 57 am I being a bit silly? I used to sail a Mirror. Is it possibly to sail a laser in a leisurely manner?
@@QzBlaze Yes there is a late 70 year old in my club that sails a radial rig laser with no problems at all. go for it, he races it in strong winds. I wouldnt call the laser a leisure sailer and it is quite a phycical boat but dont let it put you off!
@@QzBlaze yeah, get into it. I'm about to turn 50 and in terrible shape, but will be doing a Laser regatta at the end of November. Sadly I'm far too heavy, and haven't sailed for years, plus my boat is as old as I am. Sailing a Laser is only as physical as you make it. Yes, hiking lets you sail faster, and you'll probably swim a fair bit in the beginning, but the rewards are there, they're great fun on a broad reach, spray flying everywhere, centreboard humming, and adrenaline pumping.
@@QzBlaze it can be sailed in a leisurely way, just get the 4.7 or radial rig, they have smaller sails. Then also stay out of windier days, no more than 10 12knots. It’s still going to feel very tippy. Ps I race in them with others of similar ages and I’m 62
@@red-kiwi I loved it! They are so nimble and fun. The rigging is a bit of a challenge (for me). I ended up spending more time windsurfing and kayaking but looking forward to experimenting more on Lasers next summer.
@@GayStephenson Awesome. I have also been racing Dragons ua-cam.com/video/te01M6eP3VE/v-deo.html and I find that really fun. I found the Laser a bit too nimble for me at this point, the slightest mistake and you are in the ocean :)
Great share - good way of doing the voice over but leaving the natural, real-time sound in there, too. Great you left the 2 capsizes in the video - shows it's not big deal.
Thank you! I have started sailing the 420 for the couple of years now and I must say I prefer it over the Laser as it has the jib, seems to be a bit more stable, and I can more comfortably take friends out. I might upload a video of me sailing the 420, the last outing was a stunning day and we had some nice 15kn winds to play with.
@@sustaintech I broke my Laser two Fridays ago at the horrible ramp I use on the Hudson River. You have to put up with your boat being mauled by the poorly laid out steel dock ready to devour your boat. Went out today for the first time in the Laser, strong breeze. It is definetly more tippy than a Sunfish but I think I will come to love it, just have to get a feel for the boat, and there is less margin of error on running downwind. Frostbiting starts next weekend and I hope to get in 4 days of sailing before then to get accustomed to the boat. No shame in following the fleet around the first couple of weeks, and besides the water is still warm - at least until maybe November. Please post your videos, greatly appreciated. I am 3D printing mounts for my GoPros and will post videos as I start taking them. Cheers -
Tips from another beginner for anyone else finding this.
You've probably already sorted this out, but if you hold the tiller near your torso with an underhand grip you can comfortably point the tiller extension where you intend to go. Also, keep the sheet in the cockpit forward of your feet and one side or the other of the hiking strap so it doesn't get snagged under/by your foot or anything else.
Gybing a Laser is next level and the sheet can snag on the corner or transom such that the boom can't come all the way over and you'll have to reach back to free the sheet while concentrating on keeping the boat from going over in the middle of the gybe. More advanced sailors intentionally roll the boat so the boom comes over with enough force to avoid snagging the sheet on the transom.
I agree with everything but the underhand grip, or maybe i just understood it wrong, so your having your palm under the bottom of the tiller instead of above..
Hi Greg Vaguely looking at buying an old Laser. At the age of 57 am I being a bit silly? I used to sail a Mirror. Is it possibly to sail a laser in a leisurely manner?
@@QzBlaze Yes there is a late 70 year old in my club that sails a radial rig laser with no problems at all. go for it,
he races it in strong winds. I wouldnt call the laser a leisure sailer and it is quite a phycical boat but dont let it put you off!
@@QzBlaze yeah, get into it. I'm about to turn 50 and in terrible shape, but will be doing a Laser regatta at the end of November. Sadly I'm far too heavy, and haven't sailed for years, plus my boat is as old as I am.
Sailing a Laser is only as physical as you make it. Yes, hiking lets you sail faster, and you'll probably swim a fair bit in the beginning, but the rewards are there, they're great fun on a broad reach, spray flying everywhere, centreboard humming, and adrenaline pumping.
@@QzBlaze it can be sailed in a leisurely way, just get the 4.7 or radial rig, they have smaller sails. Then also stay out of windier days, no more than 10 12knots. It’s still going to feel very tippy.
Ps I race in them with others of similar ages and I’m 62
This is a cool idea to film your sailing lesson! I also enjoyed the voiceover and the water sounds, very soothing 🌊
Thanks for sharing your experience! Excited to sail one of these this weekend at Club Locarno.
How did your Laser sailing experience go?
@@red-kiwi I loved it! They are so nimble and fun. The rigging is a bit of a challenge (for me). I ended up spending more time windsurfing and kayaking but looking forward to experimenting more on Lasers next summer.
@@GayStephenson Awesome. I have also been racing Dragons ua-cam.com/video/te01M6eP3VE/v-deo.html and I find that really fun. I found the Laser a bit too nimble for me at this point, the slightest mistake and you are in the ocean :)
This is fantastic. Thanks for sharing
Great share - good way of doing the voice over but leaving the natural, real-time sound in there, too. Great you left the 2 capsizes in the video - shows it's not big deal.
Thank you! I have started sailing the 420 for the couple of years now and I must say I prefer it over the Laser as it has the jib, seems to be a bit more stable, and I can more comfortably take friends out. I might upload a video of me sailing the 420, the last outing was a stunning day and we had some nice 15kn winds to play with.
@@sustaintech I broke my Laser two Fridays ago at the horrible ramp I use on the Hudson River. You have to put up with your boat being mauled by the poorly laid out steel dock ready to devour your boat. Went out today for the first time in the Laser, strong breeze. It is definetly more tippy than a Sunfish but I think I will come to love it, just have to get a feel for the boat, and there is less margin of error on running downwind. Frostbiting starts next weekend and I hope to get in 4 days of sailing before then to get accustomed to the boat. No shame in following the fleet around the first couple of weeks, and besides the water is still warm - at least until maybe November. Please post your videos, greatly appreciated. I am 3D printing mounts for my GoPros and will post videos as I start taking them. Cheers -
Very cool having individual instruction. Which school did you take your lesson with? Cheers
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