News & Views for Southern Sailors - Southwinds Magazine

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At the New York Boat Show in 1971, there were 141 boats sold. Forty years later, the number passed 200,000 with a hull built in Australia. boats were pretty quick upwind, too. More recently, a few more controls in convenient places aft of the mast were added to the original spartan arrangement, making it somewhat easier to adjust controls under way. Many well-known SOUTHWINDS–area sailors still active in the sport honed their skills on the Laser. Early multipletitle winner Dick Tillman still takes home silver in the class. Ed Baird is a past world champ, as is Peter Commette. Zach Railey sailed a Laser until he got too big and went on to a silver medal in the Finn. His sister Paige Railey is at the top of Laser Radial sailing. Anna Tunnicliffe won gold in China and Brad Funk steps out of his foiling Moth into a Laser in big events. After a decade, a smaller rig was designed for lighter REVIEW YOUR BOAT SOUTHWINDS is looking for sailors who like to write to review their sailboat — whether it is new or old, large or small. It can include the following: ■ Year, model, make, designer, boat name ■ Specifications: LOA, LWL, beam, draft, sail plan (square footage), displacement ■ Sailing performance ■ Comfort above and below deck ■ Cruiser and/or Racer ■ Is it a good liveaboard ■ Modifications you have made or would like ■ General boat impression ■ Quality of construction Photos Essential (contact us for photo specs) We have found that our readers love reviews by those who own the boats — comments are more personal and real All articles must be sent via email or on disc For more information and if interested, contact editor@southwindsmagazine.com or call (941) 795-8704 (If you hate your boat, we aren’t interested — you must at least like it) sailors. But the “M” rig just did not have the balance needed to attract a following. Later, the radial rig, using a shorter bottom mast section, was perfected. Now sailors who weigh less than 150 pounds could sail the boat in good wind. In many areas, including Florida, Radial fleets often outnumber the full-rig Laser fleet at events. More recently, an even smaller sail, the 4.7, was introduced, attracting kids right out of the Optimist Dinghy to Laser sailing. What about those sailors who enjoyed the boat when it was introduced and who have become—ahem—more mature The Laser class has long embraced “Masters” sailing. It does indicate the physical requirement to sail the boat well when the youngest “Masters” class starts at a mere 35 years of age. Heck, I have two sons old enough to be “Apprentice Masters” in Lasers. Other groupings start at 45 and 55, and the Great Grand Masters start at 65 years. Often, the GGM class specifies a radial rig. But many of them sail the full rig, and very well indeed, in any sailing weather. Just try to out-sail David Hartman or Dick Tillman on the racecourse. In Masters racing, all of the age groups owe Great Grand Masters points each race. Apprentice sailors owe three points, Masters two and Grand Masters one point for scoring. What is it like to sail a Laser It is a boat that reflects the effort that sailors put into it. The harder they hike, the more active the main sheet and the more proactive must be the wind shift management, and the more body movement, the faster the boat. Therein lies one aspect of Laser racing that must be understood going into the class; Expect sailors, young and old, to “work” the boat. This craft seems to invite kinetics. A certain amount of movement is accepted even when there are judges eyeing the action. It took a while to figure out just how far one could go. Paige Railey was tossed out numerous times in major events while “testing the waters” on kinetics. But now the standard seems to be known. Suffice to say, you don’t sail a Laser like a bump on a log. Much of the time upwind, the boom is let down the tight traveler all the way to leeward, and the main sheet pulled to, or nearly to, as far as it will go. “Two-blocking” is a term often heard. Then the boat is sailed flat in most conditions, not pinched except in tactical situations, and “coaxed” up and down waves with body movement fore and aft—all while hiking out with butt well outside the deck, of course. Reaches are fun. But then we seldom have reaches in racing any more. Too bad. It is on the runs that 34 July 2011 SOUTHWINDS www.southwindsmagazine.com
The Laser is an international class and is the single-handed Olympic boat for men. Usually, the top sailors are very tall, fit and weigh between 175 and 190 pounds. The radial rig is used in the Olympics for women sailors, and they don’t say how much they weigh. An attraction from the early days of the Laser and today is that all Laser hulls are the same. All foils and spars are virtually alike, as are the sails. Take care of the equipment, buy new sails when needed, and know that it is the sailor and not equipment that wins or loses a race. many gains or losses occur in Laser racing. The boat surfs and planes readily, so the goal is to keep it going fast. To do that in waves, the trick is to always be going downhill. Since there are no shrouds to inhibit the boom from being let out, a Laser sailor can allow the boat to be sailed by the lee to a marked degree. So, on runs, a serpentine course is followed, using a wave on a broad reaching course, then arcing to a by-the- lee course on the same wave. When needed for a wind shift, a jibe is a chance for a big tug on the mainsheet for a boost. A skilled downwind sailor can often gain more boats on a run than a skilled upwind sailor can on beats. The Laser is an international class and is the single-handed Olympic boat for men. Usually, the top sailors are very tall, fit and weigh between 175 and 190 pounds. The radial rig is used in the Olympics for women sailors, and they don’t say how much they weigh. Because it is an Olympic boat, the skill level at the top is high indeed. In the Radial, the U.S. women, notably Paige Railey, is at or near world top-rated. In the full rig, however, after dominating Lasers for years, the United States currently lags behind in world rankings. Maybe it is good time for you or your kid or grandkid to step up and become the next Laser phenom. For more information go online to www.laserinternational.org/ SPARS AND RIGGING By Sparman USA We offer you 25 years mast and rigging experience and use only the highest quality products • Re-rigging any sailboat, anywhere • Supplying the best spar and rigging products at the best price • On-site mast & rigging installation, tuning and problem solving Working with you one on one to Solve your mast and rigging problems whatever they are wherever YOU are. Contact us today at: 352-222-4019 Info@sparmanusa.com www.sparmanusa.com News & Views for Southern Sailors SOUTHWINDS July 2011 35
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Page 4 and 5: ON TAMPA BAY IN ST. PETE WET SLIP S
Page 6 and 7: SOUTHWINDS NEWS & VIEWS FOR SOUTHER
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Page 10 and 11: FROM THE HELM Mandatory Life Jacket
Page 12 and 13: LETTERS the officers who often don
Page 14 and 15: LETTERS W. J. Moran, I’m afraid t
Page 16 and 17: Modern Packaging Distresses Bubba N
Page 18 and 19: Southeastern U.S. Air & Water Tempe
Page 20 and 21: Mandigo (813) 641-2488, or gmandigo
Page 22 and 23: The flotilla has found that many bo
Page 24 and 25: Seminar speakers include: 1) Mark P
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Page 32 and 33: OUR WATERWAYS By Steve Morrell Flor
Page 34 and 35: Sailors in Cuba By Gretchen F. Coyl
Page 38 and 39: HUI WHARRAM SPRING 2011 Florida Key
Page 40 and 41: Caught Between Two Storms— Dodgin
Page 42 and 43: Hurricane Preparedness Class St. Pe
Page 44 and 45: “DAMN THE TORPEDOES” 26th Annua
Page 46 and 47: CAROLINA SAILING Always Challenging
Page 48 and 49: RACING ■ SOUTHERN REGIONAL RACING
Page 50 and 51: RACING may say a feeling of accompl
Page 52 and 53: RACING for all racing in west Flori
Page 54 and 55: RACING Upcoming Regattas JULY Commo
Page 56 and 57: RACING teams’ standing. Perhaps f
Page 58 and 59: ONE OF THE LARGEST SELECTIONS OF SA
Page 60 and 61: 58 July 2011 SOUTHWINDS www.southwi
Page 62 and 63: SELECTED LISTINGS Catalina 470 1999
Page 64 and 65: CLASSIFIED ADS 1988 Hunter 26.5 New
Page 66 and 67: CLASSIFIED ADS 37’ one-off Cooper
Page 68 and 69: CLASSIFIED ADS 2008 Beneteau 43. Ai
Page 70 and 71: CLASSIFIEDS SAILS & CANVAS (CON’T
Page 72: Sail & Power — Anchored Together

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