The Laser Book: Laser Sailing From Start To Finish

The Laser is the world’s most popular adult dinghy and comes with three rigs: Standard (used by men at the Olympic games), Radial (used by women at the Olympic games) and 4.7 (used by young people moving up from the Optimist). But the boat is not restricted to top athletes; its versatility means that it is an ideal boat for beginners and club racers too. Lasers can be found at nearly every sailing club throughout the world. Targeted at the club sailor, The Laser Book covers the techniques and skills needed to succeed in Laser sailing, for those starting out through to those striving to win their Club Championship. Whether you are a youngster moving up to a 4.7 or a club sailor looking to improve your results, expert advice from author Tim Davison, plus contributions from Laser gold medallists, world champions and their coaches, will take your Laser sailing to the next level. Beginning with setting up the boat, Davison takes you through your early sailing experiences and caring for your Laser. Developing your skills on all points of sailing, you will then be introduced to race tuning and racing itself. This is detailed for all three Laser rigs, including the new Mk2 Standard sail. Over 350 photographs show you exactly how it’s done and 50 diagrams illustrate key boat parts, the different points of sailing and complex on-the-water scenarios with clarity. Whatever your background, your current level or the extent of your ambition, this book gives you all the tools you need to get out on the water and improve your Laser sailing.

Table of Contents

Foreword

Introduction

PART ONE: GETTING STARTED: Setting Up The Boat, Rigging, A Touch Of Theory, Your First Sail, Laser Care

PART TWO: SKILL DEVELOPMENT: Launching, Reaching, Beating, Tacking, Running, Gybing, Taking A Penalty, Capsizing, Landing, Racing

PART THREE: THE DIFFERENT SAILS & RIGS: The Standard Rig, The Radial Rig, The 4.7 Rig

The Laser Class Association