Who has set the world record for fastest boat speed in a Laser? Without formal class records to compare against, two Australian contenders have surfaced this week. Daniel Costandi is a 17-year-old Laser Radial sailor who has competed in four Laser World Championships. On November 30, it was blowing 40+ knots just north of Sydney […]
Australian Speed Rivalry Read More »
by Colin Gowland via International Sailing Academy In many conditions, we often see sailors with poor gust and/or lull response. In regards to hiking, particularly in gusts, there can be a tendency to “fight” the boat with hiking and often use too much steering to control power. We see heeling of the boat, pinching, corrective steers
Sail Faster with Less Hiking – Part 3: Gust and Lull Management Read More »
by Colin Gowland via International Sailing Academy Sail Setup in Hiking Conditions Sail is set up for only 5° of weather helm, and set up with a wide enough groove to accommodate steering for conditions or to accommodate very gusty/shifty conditions. Once hiking conditions present themselves, a balanced boat with appropriate rig setup for the conditions
Sail Faster with Less Hiking – Part 2: Sail Setup Read More »
By Colin Gowland via International Sailing Academy Fitness can really limit your upwind boatspeed when the breeze is up – consistent hiking on windy days can feel truly unsustainable. It’s a constant battle, with thousands of hours required in the gym and on the water to improve fitness. And while hiking may be paramount to
Sail Faster with Less Hiking – Part 1: Steering Read More »
by Ari Barshi via Laser Training Center, Cabarete, Dominican Republic We no longer use the term “S-curves” or “Snake” when talking about downwind speed techniques. Instead, the term you will hear when coming to train with us is: Connecting. Connect from one wave to another by making up-turns and down-turns. Some sailors see the ‘S’ of
Forget about S-curves, Sailing by the Lee, and Block to Block Read More »
