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 Sailing

Tacking

Jibing

Capsizing

Docking and Landing

Rigging the Laser

Reefing

The Six Sail Controls

What to Wear3 Boat and Equipment

Mainsheet

Traveler

Tiller and Tiller Extension

Cunningham, Outhaul, and Vang

Hiking Strap

Spars

Centerboard and Rudder

Wind Indicators

Compasses

Bailer4 Advanced Sail Control Systems

Vang

Cunningham

Outhaul5 Around the Racecourse

Starting

Upwind

Offwind

Finishing

Racecourse Guidelines6 Advanced Upwind Techniques

Light Air

Medium Air

Heavy Air

Roll Tacking7 Advanced Offwind Techniques

Reaching

Running

Roll Jibing8 Practice and Physical Fitness

Boat against Boat

Practicing Alone

Physical Fitness9 Maintenance

Cleaning, Wet Sanding, and Polishing
Hull Repairs

Spars

Centerboards and Rudders

Sails10 Trailering, Cartopping, and Storage

Trailering

Cartopping

Storage11 Sportsmanship

Fair and Friendly Competition

Enjoy Yourself12 Interviews

Hans Fogh: The Story Behind the Laser Radial

Lainie Pardey: A Female Perspective

Paige Railey: Sailing the Laser Radial

Emily Billing: Starting to Race on the Laser 4.7

Mark Mendelblatt: Starting in a Laser Fleet

Danielle Myrdal and John Myrdal: Sailing and Training Together

Ed Baird: On-the-Water Practicing

Tom Lihan: A Heavyweight's Guide to Light Air Sailing

Terry Neilson: Changing with the Conditions--A World Champion's Perspective

John Bertrand: Preparing Physically to Win a Major Championship

Peter Commette: A Look at the Laser Past

Dave Olson and Peter Seidenberg: Masters Sailing; Dave Olson: Outdated but Still Good Rigging Techniques

Ed Adams: Zigzagging Downwind

Luther Carpenter: World-Class Downwind and Upwind TechniquesAppendix 1: Laser Championship RecordAppendix 2: International Laser Class AssociationIndex