Lasers are physical boats that are challenging to sail. They were originally designed as fun beach boats with inadequate control and very small rudder. All this adds to the challenge of sailing these boats, especially for beginners. Don’t worry! Beginners can also sail these boats safely if they know how to rig right. So, if you are someone who has been struggling with sailing a laser sailboat, get the rig right, and you have won half the battle!

If you are wondering what getting the rig ‘right’ means, well, it depends! More often than not, a laser rig has more power than required; the excess power must be disposed of effectively. Power is dictated by the sail shape. The power potential increases as the sail gets baggier. In this blog, we will help you with the best tips on how to rig a laser sailboat by operating its strings in the right way. Let’s dive in!

Best Tips on How To Rig A Laser Sailboat 

Following are some tips on controlling the strings of a laser sailboat to rig it safely and properly:

• Toe Strap

It is an important control that you must learn to master. If it’s too slack, you lose control of your body position, and if too tight, the side deck will hurt your calf muscles. How to check if it’s too tight or too loose? Push the toe strap to the floor of the cockpit. If it doesn’t reach it, it is likely to be too tight. On the other hand, if it lies along the floor, it means that it is too loose. Consider it a good starting point if your toe strap just touches the cockpit floor.

• Control the rudder

The rudder of a laser sailboat is generally too small. If it is angled up even slightly, the steering will become harder and heavier than normal. Therefore, you must try to hold it down and make sure it doesn’t move up under speed.

• Attach the tiller

The tiller is a long, slender steering arm fastened to the rudder. If it is already attached to the rudder, check if it’s secure.

• Centreboard elastic

It is almost impossible to get a capsized laser sailboat upright without a centreboard. If your boat’s centreboard elastic is not in good condition, replace it.

• Traveller

Make sure it is as tight as possible. This will make the mainsheet blocks sit as far leeward as possible.

• Hank the jib on the forestay

Even though this is a simple process, it can be challenging if the wind blows the sail in your face. The first thing to do is to find the other end of the jib halyard and hold it securely with one hand. Pull it in slowly to raise the sail as you hand it on.

Starting with the hank closest to the jib’s head, open it to clip the hank on the forestay. Raise the sail a bit by pulling on the halyard. Attach the second hank after you make sure there is no twist in the sail. After raising the sail a bit more, move on to the third yank. Move down towards the luff, raising the sail periodically while ensuring there are no twists and all the yanks are in order.

• Halyard

It is a line pulling a sail up. Every sail has its own halyard. Lower the halyards from the boat’s mast and undo them. Ensure that both ends are secure in your hand or attached to something

Conclusion

We hope these tips help you rig your laser sailboat properly and safely. Keep trying! The more experienced you are, the better you can rig your laser sailboat.