Thoughts on a small cat rig?

[OldCat]

Been a while since I have been over here at the sail trim forum - but I have the chart and book, plus a new small toy to play with. I went back to my learn to sail roots for something to chase the little Pirates with, and bought a Laser.:dance: I gotta get good at this Laser fast, else the Pirates will out sail me!

Questions:
1. Any reason why telltales would be differently placed on the main with only one sail?
2. My older Laser sail is very sensitive to downhaul. Still, it appears to be a good sail with lots of life left in it, at least as a non-racing sail. I need to try my newer nicer sail to see if it acts the same way, but, is this sensitivity a sign of sail age or just a Laser, or perhaps luff sock sail, characteristic? The sail gets vertical wrinkles at the mast very fast if it is too tight.
3. Any tips on how tight or loose the rope 'traveler' should be at the stern?

Thanks and Best to All,
OC

 

[Alan]

Laser's are wonderful boats....best OD racing around (well, maybe with Swedish Match 40's)
The telltales are placed on the main the same as any other main and for the same reasons. They are there for visual assessment of the air flow over the surface of the sail and the exhaust off the trailing edge.
In the picture, the cunningham is too tight which is creating those vertical wrinkles that you are seeing. The sail looks pretty tired which of course will change the trim characteristics from a new one.
The rope traveler should be nice and tight to allow you to '2 block' the mainsheet when going hard uphill. The vang is you twist control off the wind as in the picture.

 

[OldCat]

Thanks Alan

Thanks, Alan.

That picture is from my first day with my 'new' Laser - I got the Cunningham adjustment much better dialed in the second time that I went out, got rid of the wrinkles. Good eyes on the sail - I have two sails and the one in the picture is the older and somewhat tired one - though with the downhaul looser it seems to work fine for recreational sailing.

Thanks for the rope traveler advice - I will try it tighter. What do you mean by two block? Sheet so hard that the blocks touch?

OC

 

[Alan]

Exactly

'2 blocking' is slang for drawing the upper and lower blocks right next to each-other when beating hard upwind. This actually bends the mast, flattening and de-power the sail.

You've inspired me to think about going back to Laser racing again.

 

[OldCat]

Thanks

Alan, Thanks

OC

 

[Don Guillette]

Old cat; I see the lad is ahead of you!! Nothing like beating dear old dad!!

Telltale placement is the same for any size sail - top, middle and bottom. In your case I might skip the bottom one. The traverler line should be as tight as possable. A loose one is not effective.

It looks like very light wind conditions. Crew position is very important in these conditions, and for that matter, all wind conditions. Closehauled in light air the position is leeward/forward. Reaching in light air is the same and downwind it is middle/forward. Racing the young lad, you need ever edge you can get!!!

 

[OldCat]

Thanks

Thanks, Don.

I have a lot to learn about the Laser, it has been too long and I moved on to catamarans after learning to sail on one. In the very light winds, it seemed necessary to heel a little to leeward, or else the boom would not stay over. Not that I have really correct weight position in the picture...

However, the Laser is so much faster than the Hawk, I just sailed right by the big guy! I admitted to him later that if we were racing, I would have to give him a time handicap for a slower boat!

OC