The Complete Book of Laser Sailing

by Richard L. Tillman, Dick Tillman, Bruce Kirby (Foreword by)

Overview

The definitive guide to the Laser.

The Complete Book of Laser Sailing is the most comprehensive book about successfully sailing and racing this popular and challenging high-performance dinghy. Dick Tillman tells you everything you need to know about the boat and how to set it up and sail it, including:

• Rigging and sailing the boat

• Trailering and cartopping

• Maintenance and storage

• Training and physical conditioning

• Upwind and offwind racing techniques

• Clothing and equipment

• Interviews with such champion racers as Hans Fogh, Ed Baird, Ed Adams, and Danielle Myrdal

Plus this updated and expanded edition gives you:

• The latest sail control and rig modifications

• Updated listings of major competition results

• New interviews with champion racers, including Olympian Mark Mendelblatt and Paige Railey on Radials

"A fine-tuned guide to everything anyone could ever need or want to know about the Laser."—Sailing

"This book will most certainly make you a better sailor and could help you become a champion."—Soundings

"This book is a must."—The Little Ship

Dick Tillman won the first three Laser North American Championships from 1971 to 1973 and was a member of the U.S. Olympic sailing team in 1976. He won the Laser North American Masters competition in 1981 and 1982 and was the 2002 Great Grand Master Laser World Champion. He is currently president of the International Sunfish Class Association and continues to race Lasers and other sailboats.

Product Details

ISBN-13:	9780071452199
Publisher:	McGraw Hill LLC
Publication date:	05/16/2005
Series:	Complete Book of Laser Sailing
Edition description:	REV
Pages:	160
Product dimensions:	7.30(w) x 9.10(h) x 0.37(d)

About the Author

Dick Tillman won the first three Laser North American Championships from 1971 to 1973 and was a member of the U.S. Olympic sailing team in 1976. In 1981 and 1982 he won the Laser North American Masters competition. He is currently president of U.S. Windsurfing and continues to race Lasers and other sailboats.

Table of Contents

Foreword by Bruce Kirby

Introduction

Acknowledgments

1 History

2 Basics of Laser Sailing

Tacking

Jibing

Capsizing

Docking and Landing

Rigging the Laser

Reefing

The Six Sail Controls

What to Wear

3 Boat and Equipment

Mainsheet

Traveler

Tiller and Tiller Extension

Cunningham, Outhaul, and Vang

Hiking Strap

Spars

Centerboard and Rudder

Wind Indicators

Compasses

Bailer

4 Advanced Sail Control Systems

Vang

Cunningham

Outhaul

5 Around the Racecourse

Starting

Upwind

Offwind

Finishing

Racecourse Guidelines

6 Advanced Upwind Techniques

Light Air

Medium Air

Heavy Air

Roll Tacking

7 Advanced Offwind Techniques

Reaching

Running

Roll Jibing

8 Practice and Physical Fitness

Boat against Boat

Practicing Alone

Physical Fitness

9 Maintenance

Cleaning, Wet Sanding, and Polishing

Hull Repairs

Spars

Centerboards and Rudders

Sails

10 Trailering, Cartopping, and Storage

Trailering

Cartopping

Storage

11 Sportsmanship

Fair and Friendly Competition

Enjoy Yourself

12 Interviews

Hans Fogh: The Story Behind the Laser Radial

Lainie Pardey: A Female Perspective

Paige Railey: Sailing the Laser Radial

Emily Billing: Starting to Race on the Laser 4.7

Mark Mendelblatt: Starting in a Laser Fleet

Danielle Myrdal and John Myrdal: Sailing and Training Together

Ed Baird: On-the-Water Practicing

Tom Lihan: A Heavyweight's Guide to Light Air Sailing

Terry Neilson: Changing with the Conditions--A World Champion's Perspective

John Bertrand: Preparing Physically to Win a Major Championship

Peter Commette: A Look at the Laser Past

Dave Olson and Peter Seidenberg: Masters Sailing; Dave Olson: Outdated but Still Good Rigging Techniques

Ed Adams: Zigzagging Downwind

Luther Carpenter: World-Class Downwind and Upwind Techniques

Appendix 1: Laser Championship Record

Appendix 2: International Laser Class Association

Index

Editorial Reviews

"This book will most certainly help make you a better sailor and could help you become a champion."

From the Publisher