The Laser is one of the most popular racing dinghies in the world and is sailed in the Olympics. It is fast, wet, and can be unstable in high winds, which is when it’s the most fun! A Laser can be sailed with one of 3 sizes of sails: Full, Radial, and 4.7, based on your size and expertise.
Who:
Regular MITNA members with a Provisional rating or higher.
Intermediate Sailing class recommended.
You are expected to be comfortable hiking and using the tiller extension.
When:
Typically, summer evenings; see the schedule in the sidebar or the calendar. Click to register.
Registration is limited and on a first-come, first-served basis for those who meet the requirements.
Prerequisites:
Pre-registration is mandatory!
Provisional Rating
NOTE: Pre-registration is mandatory. You must be an MITNA member with a Provisional Rating!
The class will be about 3 hours long and concentrate on rigging the Laser and general boat handling.
You must have a provisional rating to join this class, with no exceptions. The Laser is a challenging boat to handle. It capsizes easily, and you do not have as many indicators as a Tech Dinghy. Therefore, you will be expected to be fully proficient with:
- Using the tiller extension
- Good tacking and jibing technique
- Perfect understanding of going upwind and downwind
- Know the major parts of the rig: Main sheet, downhaul, outhaul, boom vang
- Be proficient at sail trim going upwind and downwind
- Be very comfortable getting wet: It is practically guaranteed that you will go swimming during this class!
The class will start with the rigging and general boat handling demo, regardless of wind conditions. As much as possible, the students will go out in their own Laser. We should have several Lasers available for the class, but otherwise, we may have to share the boats during the class.