Masters' Clinic with Thomas Fogh

A group of sailors in the area are heading to the Masters' Worlds' and had arranged for a prep clinic with Thomas Fogh at Britannia Yacht Club.  Somehow they heard that this rookie from Kanata was going as well, and extended an invite.

The first thing I learned is that my goal of "second last or better" is probably a stretch -- holy shit, these guys are good.  Their boat speed on any point, in any conditions must've been 135% mine, and that's not even including the fact that they don't lose any speed during their tacks, whereas I, well, do.

Speaking with the other sailors, as well as coach Fogh, I learned gobs about everything from setup, to boat handling, to proper technique, even a few tactical tips.  The only downside is that (given that the other folks were so much faster than I was) I didn't get a chance to practice the tactical aspects too much.

Setup - Before launch

Right away, I was pointed to some things I was doing wrong in terms of boat setup.  Some of this was functional, some was just to save wear-and-tear on the boat.

Traveller - My traveller was too loose to begin with.  In addition, the line was old and stretchy, and I had it tied in a simple "slip loop".  I should replace the line, and tie it in a bowline before getting it down tight.  For the clinic, I wasn't able to replace my line, but I did sail with it tighter than I normally do -- I was able to point better, depower more easily, and go faster.  Note that I WAS catching the sheet on the transom more (as the block needed some coaxing to move across the rudder, and got stuck a couple of times) but practice should take care of that.

Vang - as the control comes out of the cleat block, I have a loop with a rubberized handle.  My loop was set too far back from the cleat, allowing, in downwind conditions, the boom to rise up.  Also, after the loop, there is a trailing length of line.  I should be tying that extra line to the centreboard -- this allows the handle to "fall" to one side, but still be within reach.

Clew tie down - I didn't have it tied down tight enough

Centreboard brake - replace the rubber "M" brake, it's not holding the board in place

Outhaul - The outhaul ties off at the fairlead, and goes through a block with a hook which attaches to the clew grommet before going back through the fairlead to the control line.  The "turning point" that the fairlead makes should be "above" the tie off point, rather than "below" it.  I never really paid attention to it before, but apparently, the line can get caught under the fairlead where the rivet is.  I erroneously drew the line passing through the grommet, but you get the idea from the picture.  Also, I should add a (class legal) "inhaul", drawn in blue.

Setup - On the water

Cunningham - I tended to put way to much cunningham on.  The low purchase on the cunninham on the Laser, combinded with a stiff upper mast (in comparison to a skiff, a Byte, a cat, etc) means that the cunningham isn't really useful for bending the mast and depowering.  The cut of the Laser standard sail, also means that the cunningham is pulling along the bias of the sail cloth, which "stretches" the sail more than depowers.  Use a bit of cunningham to move draft in and out, but that's about it.

Vang - I didn't use nearly enough vang.  As a result, when I tried to sheet out to depower in gusts, the boom was just moving "up" and was actually increasing power, forcing me to pinch.

Boat handling - Tacks

My tacks the first day were quite awful. Improve:

• Tack smoother, slower.  Don't jam the rudder ever, instead use body weight more, and urge the boat using the rudder
• Move my ass farther back in the boat when tacking.  This helps head the boat up, and allows me to duck lower when crossing
• "kiss the rachet" when crossing
• come out of the turn with the rudder strait
• hike HARD when I come out
• head down a bit, momentarily, to regain lost speed, and get back on close hauled

Boat handling - Gybes/downwind

 I was doing too much of an "s-turn" when gybing.  Sheet in so boom is about 45 and then use body weight to turn the boat slightly to initiate gybe.  Going downwind, in fear of the death roll, I had my vang on too tight, and my boom in too much.  Get better at generating/handling more power.  Centreboard down "a bit", the thinking at the top level has changed from the "board all the way up" days.

Also, my position was wrong in light air.  I typically crouched on the windward side of the boat near the centreboard.  While my "place" in the boat was correct, I wasn't "locked in".  It was recommended that I put one leg under the hiking strap to ensure I could throw the boat around, if need be.

Starts

Wow, this is a post on its own..