Now that it’s light in the mornings, I can get out again before work. The wind and waves were perfect this morning, 14-17 kts, onshore from the east so I took a Laser out. (Nope, not calling it an ILCA, the sticker says Laser.)
I think solo launching and recovering in waves, is pretty much the only scenario where I prefer the Laser over an RS Aero. The Laser is tougher, and if I ding it I know it’s a cheaper, easier repair. Couple that with an old training sail and I have a good boat for onshore solo conditions.
I feel I’m still getting the hang of the Laser in moderate winds and up. Today, maxed at 17 knots felt like hard work at times, and it looks like you just have to brutalise the mast and sail to depower it. I need a more powerful downhaul (6-1 currently). In fact the Laser generally feels like a brute force boat.
The Aero 7 on the other hand feels super manageable at 17knts, like we’re entering the fun zone; all the controls are in the right place, they “just work” and I know nothing is going to break. No doubt there’s a skill and experience issue here. I’ve sailed an RS Aero for five plus years but I’m a very occasional Laser sailor.
Anyway, apart from all that, I had a great sail, and put into practice everything I’ve been learning in the 2025-2026 Winter, RS Aero training weekends, especially downwind, gybing and bearing away.
Great stuff. The boat was nicely under control, I was finding waves, doing s-turns and lots of by-the-lee sailing, and using the kicker well to control power and stability, and help bearing away.
Although, sailing a Laser just makes me miss the RS Aero even more.
Klaus Harris 