We receive a lot of comments about our videos and Rule 42, specifically on the run. Sailors look at a piece of downwind footage and wonder aloud “Is that even LEGAL??”.
We receive a lot of comments about our videos and Rule 42, specifically on the run. Sailors look at a piece of downwind footage and wonder aloud “Is that even LEGAL??”.
It’s impressive how much one drill can reveal about a sailor's downwind technique, even at Olympic levels. This drill highlights rudder errors, sheeting mistakes and body position errors rapidly. It also provides a different, and great, sense of feel and connection with the boat. We recommend it for coaches as well.
Rarely, and for only short periods of time, can you experience a balanced helm during a 20+ knot downwind. Helm exists indefinitely; it’s just a matter of how much. As the wind increases, so does the factor of helm influenced by the center of effort vs the center of lateral resistance, heel angle and boat speeds.
Everything you need to know about VMG, course skew, wave skew, shifts and pressure for downwind sailing. Filmed at The Gorge.
Sailing downwind in Laser is an art. In big breeze, it’s survival. Some people make it look easy, but it doesn’t mean they aren’t working hard. The effort in balancing the boat is lessened if you understand what it wants to do.
How and where to sit is key to being able to control your weight placement downwind. Here we look at various positions across all wind ranges.
Many people often ask us how the downwind style has changed over the years. Here's a quick summary of what modern downwind sailing is like and how to achieve it.
In this video, learn how to get a speed edge and how to maintain your clear air going downwind.
The most important thing to understand about downwind sailing in Lasers is that every time you are off the breeze, […]
The death roll is the most common way to find yourself swimming. Moments after slamming into the water, the boat proceeds to turtle, leaving a helpless, swimming sailor to scramble to recovery gasping for air through the cold water and frustrating slurs as the fleet passes him/her by helplessly.
