looks like fun though
Laser sailing in the 70's

four-digit sail numbers
loose vangs
mast-wrap reefing
no ratchet blocks

good times . . .

(from a guy who sailed Lasers in the 70's)

Just picked up an 89 Laser 2.

Unfortunately the only wind we've had recently has been
driven by thunderstroms and I haven't had a chance to get
her wet yet...

its funny on the Laser forum how they are all talking about how they have never been that fast on a non powered boat other than on a laser...If they only knew...

Yeah, they are fast for a dinghy but I must say that I can blow by them on my 5.2 and even the 14 can get past them.

Dave, have you seen the rooster sailing laser videos? Everyone's using radials for heavy air sailing instead of reefing these days.

I was wondering why everyone was talking about the old days of reefing the main around the mast and what the new technology was. Anyway, we have the Laser State Championships at CSC on September 29-30th(weekend after Outback), bring your girl and the Lasers, you know you have a free place to stay. expecting 40+ boats

I must say, I own three boats, 1 Boyer MK IV A-Class, 1 Tornado (Classic Rig) and 1 Laser. The Laser is 1) fun to sail 2) A blast in really high winds (throw on a blown out sail & old mast and hooting in 30+ 3) easy to setup and rig 4) easy to transport (cartop if needed) 5) in the water in 5 minutes and 6) did I say a real blast to sail in high winds when you don't want to snap your mast, pitch pole, due $$$$ of damage to your real baby!!!

That is what lasers are for us cat guys, just fun to goof off on.

I just got back from Laser Nationals in Vermont this past weekend.. 150 Lasers... 80 were full rigs,, 60 radials and 10 4.7s.... while my real love is cats, the competition is unbelievable at this level. I learned alot, but I think the only part I truly enjoyed was the reaches.
If you guy are interested there is a video (although pretty bad and horrible music) on youtube http://youtube.com/watch?v=q2tdbmOY9do

Thats Paige Railey who dominated the radial fleet punching out with a huge lead after the start

I sailed Lasers in the 70s. I was campaigning the Tornado, but found it difficult to get much competition in that class without traveling thousands of miles and spending huge amounts of money.
So, got a Laser. By the way, I bought it new for $500.., and got it in Chicago from Lands End. Right! Lands End. They once were a sailing parts store. They were also a Laser dealer and this boat was their last one -- they were dropping the dealership and going to get more into clothing. Ha!
The Laser has come a long way since, and all due to the vang. The vang is the single most important tool on the boat and not many folks know that.
As many of you know, I teach Laser/Sunfish sailing and have had some really awesome guest experts. A little over a year ago I put out a video of the seminar featuring Brad Funk, Number Uno guy on the Olympic Team. Very good video, if I must say so myself.

Funny, but Kurt Taulbee, also once on the Olympic Team was sailing at our place in Key Largo just before a seminar. We were doing some beer can races on Waves and he joined in. We all suspected the Laser would take it to weather and the Wave would win off the wind. But, it was just the opposite. While the Wave did not point like the Laser, we footed off and was pretty far ahead at the weather mark. Off the wind, the Wave was still displacing, while the Laser was planing. The Laser almost caught up.

That was when we first started sailing Waves. I am sure we have the Wave going faster than back then, so it might be all Wave at this point.
Rick