Michael Blackburn's Bass Strait Laser DVD has some great footage of downwind Laser sailing. There's a trailer below.

$A10.00

94 min/16:9

PAL only
(NTSC currently sold out*)

What they are saying about Bass Strait Laser.

This amazing insight into your psyche and your technique is a precious learning resource, I can’t recommend the DVD highly enough.  From now on we are going to see sailors from all over the globe sending their boats down waves they once thought they’d never be able to catch!

Mark, VIC

I like the stretches while on a screaming reach! It is a great DVD to watch. It must have been a great trip. You do make it look easy!

Jim, USA

It was wonderful, we were riveted!

Ali, NSW

Whow!, Thanks Dr. Blackburn for having the spectator part of your very special adventure. Really a great adventure and report also!

A German fan

The DVD extras are also of high quality, as Michael explains in fine detail many attributes of downwind sailing. Again the footage and his narration are excellent.

Chris, NSW

Just finished watching your DVD... Brilliant, loved it!

Donna, NSW

I have now had an opportunity to look at the DVD and it has just blown my mind!  The whole family has watched it...  It was an unbelievable effort, meticulously planned and brilliantly executed. 

I remain in awe!

Simon, VIC

In the extras I loved the way you explained not just what to do, but also why you do it.

Colin, NSW

Enjoyed the video, well done!

Steve, WA

The story of Michael Blackburn's record crossing of the most feared waterway on the planet in a 4.2m Olympic Laser dinghy.

They said he was crazy, but he raced across Bass Strait in a record 13:01 hours.

Watch the complete story - planning, training, waiting for the weather, launching in the dark, managing fatigue and sailing fast.

• DVD extras include:

• Extra sailing footage

• Mast cam in 30kts

• Training drills

• Improve your speed!

• Winning downwind sail set-up and Laser technique from the 2006 World Champion and Olympic Medallist

*At the moment, only the PAL version is available - for North American customers this PAL version will play on computers, but not on stand-alone DVD players.

There is no region coding on Bass Strait Laser.

Laser Sailing Tips

If I had to summarize the keys to sailing a Laser well these would be them:

Work to keep the boat flat or at least at a consistent angle of heel upwind

Look around regularly to see what's going on with the wind and other boats (but keep good trim & speed at the same time - not easy!)

Deliberately work on boat speed early in the season

Steer with the body and sail trim as much as possible downwind rather than the rudder

More About Bass Strait Laser

Located at roughly 40 degrees south latitude, the Strait (seperating Tasmana from mainland Australia) leaves sailors unprotected against the howling winds of the Roaring 40s.

The Strait itself is relatively shallow and captures and concentrates the weather patterns of higher latitudes.

In early March 2005, Olympic Medallist Michael Blackburn went on stand by for an attempt to sail a Laser dinghy across Australia's Bass Strait.

The Laser is the world’s most popular adult sailboat.  However, Lasers are only 4.2m long with a single sail and no substantial cockpit, no lifelines, no engine, sail with a crew of one and, of course, are not designed for such a feat.

The audacity to challenge a dangerous stretch of open water, in such a tiny and seemingly insufficient vessel, seemed insane to many outsiders.

Michael  travelled to Stanley in NW Tasmania and waited for a suitable South wind in order to surf on thousands of Bass Strait swells to Victoria.The DVD contains heaps of downwind Laser sailing tips.

Why? | Filming & Photos | Crossing Reports | Michael's Story

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