The Complete Book of Laser Sailing

A graduate of the U.S. Naval Academy, Dick Tillman won the first three Laser North American Championships in 1971, 1972, and 1973. He was a member of the U.S. Olympic sailing team in 1976. In 1981 and 1982 he won the Laser North American Masters competition. Most recently he was a bronze medal winner in the Laser event in the 1998 Nike World Masters competition. From 1981 to 1991 he served as the Executive Director of the International J/24 Class Association. He is currently president of U.S. Windsurfing (a national class association for windsurfing) and sits on the board of the U.S. Sailing Association (formerly the U.S. Yacht Racing Union [USYRU]).

Foreword by Bruce KirbyIntroductionAcknowledgments1 History2 Basics of Laser SailingTackingJibingCapsizingDocking and LandingRigging the LaserReefingThe Six Sail ControlsWhat to Wear3 Boat and EquipmentMainsheetTravelerTiller and Tiller ExtensionCunningham, Outhaul, and VangHiking StrapSparsCenterboard and RudderWind IndicatorsCompassesBailer4 Advanced Sail Control SystemsVangCunninghamOuthaul5 Around the RacecourseStartingUpwindOffwindFinishingRacecourse Guidelines6 Advanced Upwind TechniquesLight AirMedium AirHeavy AirRoll Tacking7 Advanced Offwind TechniquesReachingRunningRoll Jibing8 Practice and Physical FitnessBoat against BoatPracticing AlonePhysical Fitness9 MaintenanceCleaning, Wet Sanding, and PolishingHull RepairsSparsCenterboards and RuddersSails10 Trailering, Cartopping, and StorageTraileringCartoppingStorage11 SportsmanshipFair and Friendly CompetitionEnjoy Yourself12 InterviewsHans Fogh: The Story Behind the Laser RadialLainie Pardey: A Female PerspectivePaige Railey: Sailing the Laser RadialEmily Billing: Starting to Race on the Laser 4.7Mark Mendelblatt: Starting in a Laser FleetDanielle Myrdal and John Myrdal: Sailing and Training TogetherEd Baird: On-the-Water PracticingTom Lihan: A Heavyweight's Guide to Light Air SailingTerry Neilson: Changing with the Conditions--A World Champion's PerspectiveJohn Bertrand: Preparing Physically to Win a Major ChampionshipPeter Commette: A Look at the Laser PastDave Olson and Peter Seidenberg: Masters Sailing; Dave Olson: Outdated but Still Good Rigging TechniquesEd Adams: Zigzagging DownwindLuther Carpenter: World-Class Downwind and Upwind TechniquesAppendix 1: Laser Championship RecordAppendix 2: International Laser Class AssociationIndex