The Secrets of Boat Handling Tracy Usher Looks at the Year Ahead

The Secrets of Boat Handling Tracy Usher Looks at the Year Ahead

Tracy Usher The Secrets of Laser Looks at the Year Ahead Boat Handling © Paul Wyeth © Chuck Lantz World March 2013 Tracy Usher comments on championships for 2013, Jon Emmett explains how boat handling can help © Beatriz de Sabóia e Lima sail measurement issues and Robert Scheidt’s you win races! return to Laser sailing! It seems that 2013 is rushing by, and “R”, in turn making it impossible to Well it is no secret that boat speed can slam down as it comes back in contact spring is nearly upon us and it’s time differentiate between “RUS” and “AUS”. win you races: this is why we are always with the water. to start planning for this year’s world To address this issue the Technical and trying to optimise our boat speed for the However we are not always trying to go © Matias Capizzano championship events. I’m happy to Measurement Committee has posted expected conditions of a regatta, but boat fast in a straight line. Sometimes we need report that ALL of the notices of race for to the website a diagram showing what handling can also help you win races. Just to turn corners and we want to do this in Mark rounding using the 2013 events are up on the website at measurers at regattas will and will not think how many tacks and gybes you do the most efficient way as possible. ILCA Class President: Tracy Usher www.laserinternational.org with all taking allow. Look on the “Information” menu at during the course of a regatta and how very little rudder applications for entry. The Laser 4.7 www.laserinternational.org. close the points at the end of a regatta Remember the aim is not to tack or gybe and Standard Under-21 Championships often are! as fast as possible (unless you need to The second issue is the new requirement for rule reasons) or to come out as fast are up first this year, to be sailed in for sailors participating in ISAF events to When we are trying to maximise our speed July in Hungary and applications for as possible (regardless of angle) you are display their national flag on their sail. when we are not planing or surfing then simply trying to maximise your progress these events have already topped 450 This requirement begins at the Trofeo we are concentrating on two things. sailors! At the opposite end of both the towards the next mark of the course. Princess Sophia regatta in Palma and Therefore the speed and angle that you age and date spectrum is the Master extends to the rest of the ISAF World 1. Boat balance: Worlds, this year in Oman and with tack and gybe may vary considerably with Cup series. The ILCA Technical and This means the windward/leeward angle the conditions. applications there already exceeding Measurement Committee will take this the entry quota. In addition, there are of the boat. By constant good use of body So the secrets to boat handling are very up at its next teleconference in March weight and correct trimming of the sail the Radial Women’s Worlds in China in and aims to provide guidelines for future obvious, using the two fundamental September, the Standard Men’s Worlds then we can keep the boat completely flat. principles we use for boat speed: events. Note that this will apply to events This means we do not need to use our in Oman in November, the Radial Youth organized by the ISAF and will not be a Worlds also in Oman in December, etc. rudder (for example pulling it hard towards 1. Boat balance: requirement for sailors attending ILCA us if the boat heels to leeward) to keep AUS or RUS ?? The good news is that it’s still not too World Championship events. © Chuck Lantz late to get in your application for entry! going in a straight line. Now we want the boat to turn. So we simply use the heel of the boat to turn Good trim+ no rudder = speed After a relatively brief vacation to do The reason that this is so important is that There are two sail related measurement something else it’s nice to see that the boat and let the rudder follow along issues that should be quickly noted, one pulling the rudder when the boat heels , so behind, using as little rudder movement seven-time world champion Robert as to keep the boat going in a straight line, affecting all sailors, the other principally Scheidt has returned to the Laser! as possible. When we are going in the affecting those racing in ISAF events. is just making the rudder act as a brake. It direction we want to then we bring the Judging by his recent victory at the slows us down. The first has to do with attaching country Brazilian National Championship he boat flat again to maximise straight line letters to sails. In recent years the use of didn’t collect much rust during his time If you want to prove this to yourself launch speed. “digital 8’s” for sail numbers and country off, particularly impressive given that he the boat and put the foils all the way down So to bear away we heel the boat to codes has become a popular alternative is now many years past qualifying as a and then walk the boat up and down the to the standard font letters and digits. windward and to head up we heel the boat Master! We welcome him back and wish slipway, it is relatively easy. There is very to leeward, simple. As their popularity has increased it has him well as he prepares for the Laser little resistance to moving the boat. Now become obvious that the country code Men’s Worlds in Oman this next fall! push the rudder as hard over one side as We can also use the sail to help us by can become ambiguous if care is not it will go and try walking the boat up and letting the sheet out to help the bear away taken to properly form the letter from As I’m typing this, spring has sprung down the slipway. I think you would be (although you may need to sheet in rapidly the digital 8. For example, when made here in California with sunny skies and amazed at how difficult this is. so it is set correctly for when you complete with a digital 8 it can be impossible a beautiful northwest breeze blowing... the gybe) or by sheeting in to help head up ‘R’ in it’s correct format © Thom Touw to tell the difference between “A” time to go Laser sailing! 2. Boat trim: (although you may need to let the sheet out rapidly if it is really windy, so it is set SCHEIDT RETURNS For maximum boat speed we also need correctly for when you complete the tack). the boat to be flat forward/aft. Tom Slingsby at If you had two yachts that were identical in 2. Trim: London 2012 Olympics TO THE LASER LASER XD design but one boat was bigger than the In light to medium winds we need to Ex-charter boats available in 4.7 or Standard Rig other, then the larger boat would be faster keep the trim forward. Not only does as the maximum boat speed is determined this keep the maximum water line length same as when you were sailing in by waterline length. a straight line (although it is often JON EMMETT LOOKS AT THE MEKA TAULBEE’S HOLISTIC TRACY USHER COMMENTS but by keeping the bow in the water it SECRETS OF BOAT HANDLING APPROACH TO POWER DRINKs ON SAIL NUMBERS So when we are racing we are always emphasizes the curve of the boat, making tempting to move backwards). trying to maximise waterline length for the heeling more effective at turning the The only exception is in absolutely speed which generally means having the boat. survival conditions, then you keep weight around the middle of the boat, However as it gets windy you may like to the weight as far back in the boat although this of course changes with the move backwards in the boat, so the boat as possible to keep the bow well waves. As we need to move our body is sailing on the flat back section. This clear of the water (and in terms of forward and back so as to keep the boat in will slow down the turn in the upper wind boat balance you would also want 60 boats in great condition available late July at the conclusion of the Under-21 Worlds in Hungary. contact with the water rather than “diving” to keep it completely flat)! 2012 model Laser XD includes new rolled sail, new carbon tiller and extension, trolley, board bag & more .. range and downwind will help keep the into waves (which may well give you a boat planing if it was already. As with any skill, practice makes cockpit full of water) or just as bad “flying” permanent! Forwww.laserinternational.org more information & pricing go to over the waves which makes the boat The rule of thumb is to keep the trim the Fleet discounts available. © Matias Capizzano Dealer enquiries welcome. www.laserinternational.org No part of this publication may be reproduced without prior permission of the publishers. www.laserinternational.org COPYRIGHT AND LIABILITY The articles and opinions in LaserWorld may not represent the official views of ILCA. The publishers do not accept any liability for their accuracy.

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