Irish sailing commentary at its best

You can't beat this:

http://www.tastefullyoffensive.com/2012/08/irish-olympic-sailing-commentary.html

While US flounders, so does Canada!

So,

Several days after the Olympic medals were handed out for sailing, Canadians and Americans alike are now asking themselves why we didn't do well. Improper Course tells us that it's the cheating amongst young Laser sailors...
As for here in Canada, the birthplace of the Laser dinghy, it's perhaps the cost and support for sailing in communities. It's expensive to be a sailor. It's rare to find sailing in schools. It's rare to have access to a place to sail. So, do Canadians do well in sailing? Not really.

Here's an article from the Globe and Mail on this very subject.

Best Race Summary at Improper Course Blog

Improper Course has published an excellent and detailed account of the Olympic Laser races. Very impressive. Video Observations

Daggerboard Cord

I'm going to re-do my daggerboard cord to this one provided by Intensity Sail!

Final Standings - Men's Laser - Olympics

Well Tom Slingsby brings the gold home, with Kontides in second and Myrgren in third. Goodison came in 7th and Canada's David Wright came in 23rd.

All the results can be found here:
http://www.london2012.com/sailing/event/laser-men/phase=sam004101/doc=summary.html

Olympic Men's Laser Class now at Race 8!

The story so far,

Cyprus' Pavlos Kontides is holding out in front, with Slingsby now very close behind...Croatia, Sweden and Guatemala are in the running. GB's Goodison is in 9th right now. As for our Canadian, DAVID WRIGHT, he had a disappointing 7th race, but has got off to a great start in Race 8...Colin Cheng of Singapore is race leader right now. Here's David from an earlier race.

Laser Race 3

A better race for Canadian David Wright, who lost a few positions over the race but regained a few spots and came in 10th. Tom Slingsby couldn't capture Pavlos Kondites, who stayed about 5 seconds ahead of Tom for the last leg. Ah wait - David has now moved up to 9th place unofficially in Race 3. The Uruguayan and the Guatemalan didn't do as well in this race.

Laser Races: First 2

Looks as if Canadian David Wright had an 18th and a 15th placing in the first 2 races. Slingsby done well at the top; Goodison has a 10th and 23rd place.
http://www.london2012.com/sailing/event/laser-men/phase=sam004901/index.html

London Olympics: Laser Class Schedule

Laser Class Olympic Schedule:

• Monday, July 30: 12:00-14:30 (Race 1,2)
• Tuesday, July 31, 14:00-16:00 (Race 3.4)
• Wednesday, Aug 1, 12:00-14:30 (Race 5.6)
• Friday, Aug 3, 12:00-14:30 (Race 7,8)
• Saturday, Aug 4, 12:00-14:30 (Race 9.10)
• Monday, Aug 6, 14:00 (Medal Race)

Dang Vang it!

Last night's race was much better, but I still have so much to learn. At 27 km/h winds, with waves, the races were fast. Things to still learn:

• windward mark turn & release for downwind
• gybing...how to get that boom around and sheet in as quick as possible!!
• layline...

Post-Race Newbie Lesson

I went out racing last night in the strongest wind yet. 2 races and I didn't do well (exaggeration). But, a fellow sailor gave me some helpful tips that I need to remember:

1. Beating, keep sail trimmed & tighten the vang as much as possible (I thought it was tight, but clearly not.) He said you have to see a flat roach area and a bent mast.
2. Keep everything else tight.
3. Buy some tell tales! (I don't have any, so I guess that's the next purchase.)

I find the hardest part of racing so far is beating to the windward mark. Tactically, I still seem to be unable to get a proper line.

Good & Slings - Heated Row!

Ouch - Heated words were had between Slingsby and Goodison at the Skandia Sail in early June.

Insidethegame Link

Windy Weekend

I sailed this past Saturday, in very good conditions. There was a wonderful one-design regatta held and so many classes were racing nearby.
Since Monday was a holiday, I thought sail practice would be in order, but where at home the winds weren't strong, once at the lake, it was too much for me. Maybe others sail in these conditions, but I was nervous and there was no other boats out there...

Chain Sinnet (Monkey Braid)

A fellow sailor was kind enough to show me how to keep my lines properly tied using a chain sinnet. Here's the link at animated knots:

http://www.animatedknots.com/chainsinnet/index.php

At the Back of the Pack

I'm still learning how to get through a course without making major mistakes. I guess the most difficult challenges are:

• start line
• choosing a line
• wind changes

I'll get there...

Danger Will Rogers Danger!

Well, our first full-fledged racing evening was abandoned as these clouds set in over Ottawa:

It was calm, but then thundershowers loomed ever closer. The wind had picked up so too did the race. Sadly, for my official race, it was abandoned. There's always next week. (The boom also hit my head while gybing. Ouch.) I suppose this video might help. 

How to Tack like a Pro?!?

Do a perfect tack...This is my quest tonight at racing.

First Time Laser Racing

A humbling experience is to be in practice races with pros and try to keep all the racing rules, wind directions, flags, timing, maneuvering, bobbing, waiting, reacting, tacking, gybing etc. in mind! I tried, but I'll need to keep practicing before I'm anywhere near as good as the others. Fortunately, the other racers were polite with me and encouraged me to continue!

For Help:
http://www.ukhalsey.com//rulesquiz/quiztest/home.asp

Little Laser Lines

I keep forgetting to better arrange my lines for sailing! For example, my daggerboard bungy should be tied like this!

I've seen a good video of Canadian David Wright's rigging. I think his set-up might withstand any conditions.

Stinkin' Feet!

What is the best footwear when you are sailing a Laser? So far, in my sailing life, I've worn these:

MEC Bubba Neoprene Slippers

But they had no traction. So, I tried these:

Gul Evolution Boots

But, they are heavy, and the moment I get into the water, they fill up with water...So, I have these: 

Vibram 5-fingers KSO

A little simpler, lighter, but difficult to put on. What about high-end racing shoes, such as Aigle's hand-made Maramu dinghy boots?

Aigle Maramu Boots 

Ouch! Expensive. And, I'm nowhere near up-scaling my outfit! What is left for me to find? Maybe these ones:

Zhik Barefoot Boots

My quest continues...

I Like Saying Boltenhagen

I need to follow in Tom Slingsby's steps and "loose some weight"

Second Sail

Sail Day 2 (May 21, 2012):
Weather: Sunny, Very Warm, 7-10 knots
Rig time: still about 25 minutes
Sail time: about 1:30

I still couldn't reduce my time to rig the Laser. I left my mainsheet wrapped around the boom, which was a silly idea, since it simply became twisted. I also had a hard time loosening the outhaul. I didn't have enough tension on the hiking strap, which meant that when the wind picked up I couldn't hike out too far. This time around I tried to gybe more. It may take the whole season to really get it down right. Here's a video that helped me:



To do:
Goal: improve rigging time to 10 minutes.
Re-tie hiking strap

First Sail

Sail Day 1:
Weather: Sunny, Very Warm, Light Winds (5 knots), Cool Water
Rig time: 25 minutes
Sail time: about 1:30

Need to improve rigging time. I spent too much time fiddling with lines and knots. I also wonder if I need to bring along a paddle...The wind died and my light wind skills are poor. I also had an issue that one of my pins had 'disappeared' from one of my Seitech dolly wheels. So later I dropped by the Chandlery to buy two - one to replace, another spare. Overall. good sailing for my first time.

Long Distance Laser Sailing

Can a laser sail across the Irish Sea? Seems that two veteran Laser sailors are going to sail from Dublin to Southport...115 nautical miles. Impressive. See the full story here

Semaine olympique française, Hyères France

Et aussi, la semaine olympique française à Hyères: Wonderful Laser videos are to be found here

Danielle Dube - Canadian Olympian in Radial Class

A young woman, Danielle Dube, from Halifax has qualified for the Laser Radial Class to race at Weymouth. Along with David Wright, these two will compete for gold. You can read about her here

A basic hiking machine - $20.00...

One the first things I need to do before getting out on the water is to get in better shape. I found a plan and built a hiking bench last night, courtesy of the Cabarete Laser Training Centre in the Domincan Republic. Building it only took an hour and was very inexpensive. I tried it once and hiked for about 20 seconds, but then I started to fade...I'll post a photo, but in the meantime, consult the drawing here: Hiking Bench Plan

Last night I applied my sail numbers. The rules are very specific about the measurements, which I think or hope were placed on correctly along the sail.
See here: http://lasersailing.ch/newpage/E-Teilzeichnungen/Laser-Sail-Nos.pdf

This is the first entry to record my path sailing a new Laser dinghy. I sailed them when I was young, but hadn't come back to them until I realized that there is simply no other boat on the market that competes with them. I bought mine at Fogh Marine - a trek to get it, but in the end it was worth it. Over the season, I'll try to learn & improve my sailing & my body. I'll try to keep up with new ideas and products to see how far I can go. Others have come before me, but I hope this blog may help others who are deciding about committing to the sport.