Essential Laser Sailing Hardware
Here is the best class approved sailing hardware money can buy for competitive laser racing
Harken Boom Vang |
Harken Deck Cleat and Blocks |
Harken Micro Air Blocks |
Harken Laser Boom and Traveler Blocks |
Rooster Clew Strap |
Acme Carbon Tiller |
Harken Clew Hook |
JCD Carbon Tiller Extension |
Ronstan 60mm Ratchet Main Block |
C-Vane Wind Indicator |
Sailing Hardware Review
I used to day sail with the original hardware with some added blocks for more purchase, then after racing in some club events I quickly learned that the upgraded hardware makes a significant improvment in tuning. The old vang can be rigged so that it is functional by adding more purchase but, the problem is that it gets jammed when you need to realease it. I sailed my pants off getting to the windward mark in decent position and then had to really work to get the vang off for downwind. If you can't get the vang off before rounding the mark the boat quickly becomes squirly forcing you out of control. The upgraded vang eliminates this problem by using a quality cleat on a swivel. You can also get more vang on when you need it without wasting lots of energy, this is crucial in racing.
Lets move on to the outhaul, originally I had rigged my outhaul with extra purchase while making use of the boom cleat instead of spending money on the deck cleat. It surved its purpose for day sailing but after a few weeks of club racing I realized how much of a problem it was causing. Setting the outhaul for downwind while racing is extrememly difficult with the old rigging. If you try to set it before rounding you'll quickly heal the boat too much. If you try to set it while rounding, you won't be able to have a good rounding. If you try to set it downwind you better be able to dance. The upgraded outhaul which you can put together yourself, makes setting the outhaul infinitely easier. Here's why, you can place a mark for upwind and a knot for downwind you that all you do when rounding the mark is uncleat the outhaul line. Huge gains in time and energy savings!
Before racing I never really noticed how much the cunningham affects boat performance. My first club race was in very heavy wind, big waves and rain, only 8 boats including myself were crazy enough to race out of a 50+ boat fleet. I thought I had plenty of cunningham since I'd added more purchase. The race committee which is composed of experienced laser racers quickly noticed that I didn't have nearly enough cunningham and kept yelling "More Cunningham!", my cunningham was maxed out!. The other 7 boats left me in the dust upwind since I couldn't depower the sail nearly enough. My current rigging which I will be taking some pictures of soon makes it easy to rig and derig while adding plenty of control. You need to be able to control everything quickly and easily in sailboat racing. Continued...