The Complete Book of Laser Sailing [Paperback]

Richard Tillman (Author)

Book Description

Publication Date: May 25, 2005 | Series: Complete Book of Laser Sailing

The definitive guide to the Laser.

The Complete Book of Laser Sailing is the most comprehensive book about successfully sailing and racing this popular and challenging high-performance dinghy. Dick Tillman tells you everything you need to know about the boat and how to set it up and sail it, including:

• Rigging and sailing the boat
• Trailering and cartopping
• Maintenance and storage
• Training and physical conditioning
• Upwind and offwind racing techniques
• Clothing and equipment
• Interviews with such champion racers as Hans Fogh, Ed Baird, Ed Adams, and Danielle Myrdal

Plus this updated and expanded edition gives you:

• The latest sail control and rig modifications
• Updated listings of major competition results
• New interviews with champion racers, including Olympian Mark Mendelblatt and Paige Railey on Radials

  "A fine-tuned guide to everything anyone could ever need or want to know about the Laser."—Sailing

  "This book will most certainly make you a better sailor and could help you become a champion."—Soundings

  "This book is a must."—The Little Ship

Editorial Reviews

Review

"This book will most certainly help make you a better sailor and could help you become a champion."

From the Back Cover

The definitive guide to the Laser.

The Complete Book of Laser Sailing is the most comprehensive book about successfully sailing and racing this popular and challenging high-performance dinghy. Dick Tillman tells you everything you need to know about the boat and how to set it up and sail it, including:

• Rigging and sailing the boat
• Trailering and cartopping
• Maintenance and storage
• Training and physical conditioning
• Upwind and offwind racing techniques
• Clothing and equipment
• Interviews with such champion racers as Hans Fogh, Ed Baird, Ed Adams, and Danielle Myrdal

Plus this updated and expanded edition gives you:

• The latest sail control and rig modifications
• Updated listings of major competition results
• New interviews with champion racers, including Olympian Mark Mendelblatt and Paige Railey on Radials

  "A fine-tuned guide to everything anyone could ever need or want to know about the Laser."—Sailing

  "This book will most certainly make you a better sailor and could help you become a champion."—Soundings

  "This book is a must."—The Little Ship

  Dick Tillman won the first three Laser North American Championships from 1971 to 1973 and was a member of the U.S. Olympic sailing team in 1976. He won the Laser North American Masters competition in 1981 and 1982 and was the 2002 Great Grand Master Laser World Champion. He is currently president of the International Sunfish Class Association and continues to race Lasers and other sailboats.

See all Editorial Reviews

Product Details

• Paperback: 160 pages
• Publisher: International Marine/Ragged Mountain Press; 2 edition (May 25, 2005)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0071452192
• ISBN-13: 978-0071452199
• Product Dimensions: 9.2 x 7.4 x 0.4 inches
• Shipping Weight: 13.6 ounces (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 3.8 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (9 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #567,289 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

More About the Author

Discover books, learn about writers, read author blogs, and more.

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

11 of 11 people found the following review helpful:

3.0 out of 5 stars Helpful to beginner, even better for improving sailor, July 20, 2001

By 

R. DECASTRO "intelligo" (Mid-Atlantic USA) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

Amazon Verified Purchase

This review is from: The Complete Book of Laser Sailing (Paperback)

After sailing other dinghies for a couple of years, I started sailing Lasers this summer, and picked this book to improve my technique. The book's guidance definitely improved my abilities and helped me to tame this fantastic boat, which I sail almost exclusively now. While acknowledging the benefits of the book, the authors should address the uneven quality of the diagrams and their relation to the text. In fact, after four editions it is high time for a redesign of the graphics.

For example, a basic skill for tacking and jibing is a "behind-the-back" maneuver that would best be explained with a series of pictures. There are several examples of this throughout the book, and when there is a relevant diagram or picture, the quality varies.

While I hope the authors address this criticism, there is nevertheless a wealth of information and advice that can be gleaned, espcially if one has a reasonably vivid imagination. I rate this book a worthwhile buy, especially because of the dearth of books on the Laser.

4 of 4 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Wonderful Book, February 6, 2003

By 

B. Peterson "garbon2535" (USA) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: The Complete Book of Laser Sailing (Paperback)

I am new into Laser sailing but not sailing in general. This book is great! It skips all the begginer stuff and dives right into the good stuff. This book explains it all. This book even has a large section of interviews with top laser sailers. They talk about the in's and out's of high performance laser sailing. This book is a must buy if you want to sail fast and have more fun with your laser!

3 of 3 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Great book!, April 29, 2007

By 

Fernando Parodi (Bahia Blanca, Argentina) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: The Complete Book of Laser Sailing (Paperback)

Excellent book, it covers all the aspects of the laser sailing, with a clear and in deep terms. One of the best parts are the interviews, that brings to me a wider vision through a lot points of view from many laser sailors.