Laser 2000 Tuning & Settings

SAIL SETTING AND CONTROLS

Terms;            Kicking strap (vang)

                        Luff tension (cunningham)

                        Outhaul

                        Sheeting position (jib track)

                        Rig tension

                        Spreaders (length and angle)

                        Mainsheet strops

                        Sheet tension                                                   

Basically it is all aimed at achieving an efficient sail shape by altering the tensions on the edges of the sails.

Imagine you are the wind crossing the sails.

Rig terms;      Leech tension (open, closed)

                        Sail depth (flat, full)

General wind  basic rules;

Light winds;                  Flat sails and open leeches (to avoid stalling).

Medium winds;             Full sails and tight leeches (to give power and pointing).

Strong winds;               Flat sails (to reduce power) and controlled leeches
                                    (to maintain pointing but reduce power ).

Effect of controls;

Outhaul;           Flattens bottom third of sail.

Kicker;             Controls main leech.

                        Bends mast.

Cunningham;   Controls main draught position.

                        Opens main leech.

Rig tension;      Controls jib luff sag and leech profile.

                         Effects mast rake.

Jib tracks;         Controls jib leech.

Main strop;        Effects leech tension.

Set up;

Set up of the boat is all about getting as much power as possible out of the rig until overpowered and then gradually depowering to keep the rig under control and balanced.

At the same time pointing ability has to be maintained without stalling the rig.

Upwind set up is a compromise between speed and pointing.

Light winds;        

Flatten mainsail by tightening outhaul.
Open leeches by applying cunningham (fully battened sails only),
easing rig tension, moving jib tracks back and keeping kicker eased.

 Medium winds;

Power up mainsail by easing outhaul. Tighten leeches by applying kicker,
increasing rig tension, easing cunningham.

 Strong winds;              

Depower mainsail by tightening outhaul, and opening leeches by
moving jib tracks back and applying cunningham. Raise centreboard.

Try to think more about the conditions as under/full/over powered,
rather than light/medium/heavy.

Remember;

 Open leeches = acceleration and speed at the expense of pointing.

 Tight leeches = pointing but beware of stalling.

 Full sail = power at the expense of pointing.

 Flat sail = less power but slightly better pointing. 

Beware of;      

Closed slot caused by;   tight jib leech, over full main or eased main.

General Rig set up; (upwind).

NOTES;

 Rake;               Measured top of mast to top of rudder post. One shroud pin hole changes rake by about 40mm.

Tension;           Generally keep leeward shroud just tight.

Jib tracks;         Enough tension so that telltales break at the same time.

Spreaders;        Line between spreaders to mast = 165-175mm (about 860mm tip to tip).

Strops;             Raise in light weather, lower in windy weather.