Boat Transport Company

The following are basic concepts for a small boat training class:

1)  Understanding of the parts of the Laser and what they are used for.
Example – when to release or tension the Cunningham, Vang, outhaul etc.
2)  More confident and aggressive use of the main sheet.
Example – hand over hand pinkies forward after rounding
3)  Upwind and downwind covering of other boats
4)  Understanding of the center of effort and resistance.
Exmple – steering with your the heel of your boat through shifts downwind
5)  Hiking Technique 
Example – When to hike when going around the weather and leeward marks, starts, and near other boats
6)  Ability to recall rules, signals, changes, and where they can be found in the SIs and Rule Book.
http://www.sailing.org
7)  Concepts of VMG
There is also a need for nutrition and hydration.  I noticed that by the end of the day you were much more tired than you need to be.  I recommend bringing more fresh juice or purified water with you while racing small boats.  Many people also bring nutrition bars or other snacks.
In addition to learning the skills of sailing you also much be in athletic shape to improve quickly.  Here are some exercises and a time line for both your skills and your athleticism for Olympic Class Laser sailing.  They focus on your major muscle groups used and endurance.  Both of us are not in the shape we should be in for a full weekend regatta in heavy air.  REMEMBER START SLOW and don’t burn out!
Month 1
–Start a weekly Laser racing schedule where you always race a Laser at some venue once (or more!) a week.  This will improve your ability to sail the boat and become more comfortable maneuvering. 
–Begin a cross country training program.  This could be on foot, long distance rowing, long brisk walks, or on a bike.  This will help your endurance and keep you alive in race three or four on Sunday of a two day race.
–Start studying – make sure you read the updates for rules, keep up to date on major sailing events when rules have made the difference on the bullet, read the Olympic Class Laser Tuning Guide, Read the 2005-2008 Rules, watch other racers from a coach or committee boat.
–Sail in at least three different environments this month.  This could be sound water, lake water, and a river water.  This will give you more experience with variable currents, shifts, and velocity.
Month 2
–Sail the Laser in variable types of racing environments at least once a week.  This could include gate racing, match racing, and big fleet racing. 
–Begin using weights to strengthen your major muscle groups used while racing small boats.  This includes Quadriceps, Biceps, Abdominal, Back (Lower Back VERY IMPORTANT),  and Triceps.
Month 3
–Visit at least one professional racing seminar or sail trim seminar.  Many yacht clubs and sail makers do this for free once a month.
–Enter into a major weekend or one day race.  You will need to pay a racing fee and request the boat from the club at a meeting (DO NOT FINISH DFL).

This rigging guide is intended as a reference showing one way to rig a Laser to get higher purchase in the cunningham and outhaul. It is not a substitute for personal instruction and you should have at least an Intermediate Single Handed rating before attempting to rig and sail the performance Lasers that we store on dollies. The steps shown in this guide may not work for every Laser, depending on the length of line available for the sail controls. More importantly, this guide shows rigging the Laser without capsizing it, which is OK only if you are strong enough to lift the mast and sail together. If you choose to capsize the boat to rig the main, remember, ALWAYS secure the mast with the cunningham and tighten it BEFORE capsizing your boat and keep it TIGHT the ENTIRE time the boat is capsized. Finish rigging the cunningham after righting the boat. If you have doubts, ask someone. 

•  
  • Mast (top and bottom)
  • Boom
  • Mainsail
  • 3 Lines: outhaul (long), cunningham (medium), clew tie-down (short).  Main-sheet and boom vang are attached to boom and mast.
  • Rudder
  • Rudder tiller and extension
  • Daggerboard
  • PFD

1. Install the buoyancy tank plug.
2. Assemble the mast.  Align the rivet(s) found on the bottom part of the mast top with the gooseneck.  This increases the support strength along the mast top Unfold the sail and slide the sail mast sleeve over the top of the mast.  Align the very top of the mast sleeve with the gooseneck. 

1. Install sail battens.
2. Grasping the mast low, lift and insert the lower mast all the way into the mast step.  Gently lower the mast into the step.
3. Feed the outhaul line through the outhaul fairlead, through the clew grommet in the sail, back through the outhaul fairlead and then fasten it to the clew grommet with a bowline.  Run the other end of the outhaul through the jamb cleat in the middle of the boom.  Once fastened, you have two free hands to attach the boom to the gooseneck.
4. Attach the boom to the mast by inserting the gooseneck pin into the forward end of the boom.
5. On the forward end of the outhaul jamb cleat, make a “trucker’s hitch”
6. Pass the outhaul line around the mast and make another trucker’s hitch.
7. Pass the outhaul line back through the first trucker’s hitch and then forward through the second trucker’s hitch.  Form a loop in the end of the outhaul line, that will serve as a handle for the outhaul line.
8. Tie the clew down to the boom using a reef knot.
9. The cunningham attaches to the boom-vang tang (end with a short line to the trucker’s hitch).  Feed the Cunningham through the tack grommet and form a second trucker’s hitch.  Feed the cunningham down through the first trucker’s hitch, back up through the second trucker’s hitch.  Feed the cunningham down through the cunningham fairlead at the base of the mast and then through the cunningham jamb cleat towards the cockpit.  Finish the end of the line with a figure-eight knot (Note: This eight-knot is essential.  When the boat turtles, this knot prevents the rig from coming completely out of the boat).
10. Install the rudder by sliding the pintles into the gudgeons until the rudder lift stop snaps into place.
11. Ensure that the tiller passes under the traveller line.  Make sure that the traveller is tight.  The portion of the traveller crossing over the tiller extension should be tight enough to produce a light “ping” when plucked.  This tension ensures that the (mainsheet) traveller blocks travel to the corner of the traveller and not ride along in the middle.  When the blocks are in the corner, the boat will gather speed (when close-hauled).  If the blocks ride in the middle, the boat will be slow.
12. Attach the boom vang to the boom.