The Complete Book of Laser Sailing

Rating:
Summary: Helpful to beginner, even better for improving sailor
Review: 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.

Rating:
Summary: Helpful to beginner, even better for improving sailor
Review: 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.

Rating:
Summary: Wonderful Book
Review: 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!

Rating:
Summary: Wonderful Book
Review: 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!

Rating:
Summary: Disappointing
Review: If you want a book to help you help you understand how to sail a laser, this isn't it!

As well as being very dated (it seems all the photos were taken in the 70's) subjects as vital as tacking is explained in four bullet points, with no photos.

Rating:
Summary: A "must have" for the Laser sailor
Review: This book tells about not only the basic, but also the advanced techniques on Laser sailing. So, it is indicated for all sailors, since the "novice" to the "pro".

The book is very well documented and written in a very acessible language. At the time I'm writing this, it is certainly the best choice for the ones who are looking for a "manual" on Laser sailing.

I've read it already but this book keeps being useful; there are questions that only appear when we're on the water... that wind... those waves... how should we sail in certain conditions? The answers are in "The Complete Book of Laser Sailing".

Rating:
Summary: A "must have" for the Laser sailor
Review: This book tells about not only the basic, but also the advanced techniques on Laser sailing. So, it is indicated for all sailors, since the "novice" to the "pro".

The book is very well documented and written in a very acessible language. At the time I'm writing this, it is certainly the best choice for the ones who are looking for a "manual" on Laser sailing.

I've read it already but this book keeps being useful; there are questions that only appear when we're on the water... that wind... those waves... how should we sail in certain conditions? The answers are in "The Complete Book of Laser Sailing".

Rating:
Summary: All the Basics and more
Review: This is a must read for all Laser sailors. Tillman reviews all the basics techniques a laser sailor must know to sail efficiently. He also touches upon some very advanced techniques employed by the world's best laser sailors. Tillman is an accomplished sailor who shares his own experiences as well as the experience of many other great Laser sailors throughout the chapters of this book. He doesn't give you one single answer on how to sail a laser, but instead will explain several methods depending on your sailing style and body size. The book is clear and concise. It can be knocked off in a few hours by most people. The one improvement I would like to see is that it doesn't have a whole lot of detail concerning how to handle the tiller. More emphasis should be given to how to switch hands during a tack or jibe depending on weather conditions, etc.

Rating:
Summary: All the Basics and more
Review: This is a must read for all Laser sailors. Tillman reviews all the basics techniques a laser sailor must know to sail efficiently. He also touches upon some very advanced techniques employed by the world's best laser sailors. Tillman is an accomplished sailor who shares his own experiences as well as the experience of many other great Laser sailors throughout the chapters of this book. He doesn't give you one single answer on how to sail a laser, but instead will explain several methods depending on your sailing style and body size. The book is clear and concise. It can be knocked off in a few hours by most people. The one improvement I would like to see is that it doesn't have a whole lot of detail concerning how to handle the tiller. More emphasis should be given to how to switch hands during a tack or jibe depending on weather conditions, etc.