Laser VAGO Quick start guide

RIGGING MANUAL

Safety Afloat
This instruction manual is not a guide to sailing your craft and it
should not be considered suitable for the task of learning to sail a
boat. Please read the manual before rigging and sailing your Laser
Vago.
Before you go sailing:
o Check you are wearing suitable clothing and safety
equipment for the conditions and time of year.
o Always wear a buoyancy aid or life jacket
o Make sure a third party knows where you are sailing and
how many there are of you.
o Check the weather forecast
o Check the time of high and low tides if applicable.
o Seek advise of local conditions if sailing in a new area.
o Always check the condition of your craft before setting off.
o A sailor’s safety knife should be carried on board.
o Check for overhead cables when rigging, launching
and recovering.
On the water:
o Conform to the sailing rules of the road.
o Look out for changing weather conditions.
o Never sail beyond your ability or that of your crew. Ensure
that you and your crew can cope with any changes in the wind
conditions
o Understand and be competent in the sailing skills and righting
techniques.
2

Important information
There are three hatches and one transom drain bung on the Vago, these
must all be checked to ensure tightness and correct fitment prior to
every time you sail:
1. Under the gennaker sock on
the port side
2. On thestarboard foredeck
3. On the aft deck
NB: Also check that the
rear bung is hand tight.
Example of INCORRECT hatch
fitment:
3

Vago Rigging Instructions
The Vago rigging instructions are a guide to rigging your boat. Due
to production supplies certain parts may be different from those
shown in description, colour, and specification. Performance
Sailcraft Europe reserves the right to change specifications without
prior notification.
LASER CENTRE
Options, accessories and spares are available from Laser Direct +44
(0) 1327 841610
www.lasersailing.com
The Laser Centre
Station Works
Long Buckby
Northampton
NN6 7PF
UK
Contents
1. Glossary
2. Useful boat terminology
3. Maintenance and service
4. Sail number positioning
5. Rigging and raising the mast
6. Boom & GNAV
7. Sails:
a. Jib
b. Lower shroud tensioning
c. Gennaker
d. Mainsail
e. Single line reefing
8. Rudder
9. Launching & basic safety on the water
Customer Help Line: Please contact Customer Services on Tel: 00 44
(0) 1327 841608.
4

Glossary
Bow: Front of the boat
Stern: Back of the boat
Fore: Forward
Aft: Rearward
Clew: Back lower corner of a sail
Tack: Forward lower corner of sail
Head: Top corner of sail
Luff: Forward edge of the sail
Foot: Bottom edge of the sail
Leech: Rear edge of the sail
Burgee: Wind direction indicator (usually a small flag)
Batten: A thin stiffening strip in the sail to support the leech
Mast: Main vertical spar supporting the rig/sails
Boom: Spar at the Bottom of the mainsail
Gennaker pole: the Pole, which extends to fly the gennaker tack from.
Cleat: A fitting used for holding /securing ropes
Forestay: The wire supporting the mast at the bow of the boat
Shrouds: Wires that hold mast in boat and supporting the mast from ¾ up and
out to hull side. Attached with shroud adjuster to shroud anchor point
Lower shrouds: Wires that tie off ¼ up mast and shackle to shroud anchor
points
Jib: Front sail
Sheet: Rope for controlling the inward/outward position of the sail
Gennaker: Isometric sail hoisted when sailing downwind
Gunwale: The outermost edge of the boat
Gudgeon: Fitting on the transom and rudder used to hang rudder
Cunningham: Purchase system for tightening the forward edge/luff of the sail
Gnav: Purchase system for tightening the rear edge/leach of the sail
Vang: Otherwise known as the Kicking strap, Gnav
Outhaul: Purchase system for tightening the bottom edge/foot of the sail
Halyard: A rope or wire used to lower or hoist sails
Mast Heel: Fitting on the bottom edge/foot of the mast
Mast step: Fitting on the boat where the mast heel/foot of the mast is located
Spreaders: Metal struts placed in pairs to support the mast side ways and
control the bend in the mast
Stem fitting: Stainless fitting at the bow which the forestay attaches
Rudder: Blade and attachments used for steering the boat
5

Useful Boat Terminology
Head
Mast
Battens
Leech
Gennake
r
Spreaders
Boom
Clew
Foot
Gennaker
Pole
Tack of sail
6

Maintenance and Service
x Keep the equipment clean by frequently flushing with fresh water. In
corrosive atmospheres stainless parts may show discoloration/brown
staining around screw holes and rivets, this is not serious and can be
removed with a fine abrasive.
x Excess water should be removed from the hull.
x Ropes, rigging and fittings should be checked at regular intervals for wear
and tear.
x All moving parts should be lightly lubricated to avoid jamming, i.e.,
McLube, Dry Teflon or a dry silicone based spray. Do not use Oil.
x Inspect shackles, pins and fittings – tape up to stop snagging, coming
undone.
x When refastening screws do not re – use Nylock nuts more than three
times.
x Damaged or worn parts should be replaced.
x Sails should be thoroughly washed down with fresh water, dried and
stored in a dry place.
x Trailers should be rinsed with fresh water and checked at regular intervals.
It is recommended that the trailer be serviced annually.
x Repairs to the polyethylene hull should be undertaken by people with the
relevant equipment and skills. Contact Laser Centre for advice.
x UV light will cause fading to some components and fittings, a cover is
recommended to reduce the UV degradation.
x Do not leave the rig under tension when not sailing or during
storage.
x Your Vago should only be used in conjunction with the Vago
specific Performance Sailcraft gunwale hung launching trolley. The
use of any other launching trolley may damage the hull and
invalidate your warranty.
x The hull should not be left on a pebble beach, as the polyethylene
could dent.
x Care must be taken to support the hull adequately if storing on
racking or similar. Any sustained point loading could permanently
dent or distort the hull.
7

Sail Number Positioning
It is advised to apply the sail numbers in a dry, clean and wind free environment.
Standard Sail
1. Lay the sail on a flat surface
starboard side up.
2. The numbers on the starboard
side are always higher than the
port side.
3. Measure 60mm down, from the
seam directly below the logo.
4. Mark a line, parallel to the
seam.
5. Measure 100mm in from the
leech on this line.
6. The first number is positioned
100mm in from the leech and
with the top of the number on
the line parallel to the seam.
7. The numbers are 60mm apart.
8. Turn over the sail and position
the port numbers 60mm below
the top seam of the panel
below. The numbers are p
to the seam.
arallel
XD Race Sail
1. Lay the sail on a flat surface
starboard side up.
2. The numbers on the starboard side
are always higher than the port
side.
3. Measure 200mm down, from the
second batten pocket from the
bottom of the sail.
4. Mark a line parallel to the batten
pocket. Use tape
5. Measure 100mm in from the leech
on this line.
6. The first number is positioned
100mm in from the leech and with
the top of the number on this tape
line
7. The numbers are 60mm apart.
8. Turn over the sail and position the
port numbers 60mm below the
starboard numbers and parallel to
them.
8

Rigging And Raising The Mast
1. Unwrap the mast.
2. Ensure all the halyards are led to the
base of the mast and each halyard
rope end has a knot tied in it.
3. Insert blanking plugs, (tight fit to produce
seal) a medium size flat blade screwdriver
maybe required to fit.
4. If applicable, fit trapeze wires and
plugs in the top terminal positions on
the mast. (Note: Trapeze kit is an
option on the standard rig but is
included in the XD rig)
5. Fit spreaders (See next page for diagram)
6. Ensure that all the spreader pins and rings are taped up or serious
damage could occur to the sails.
9

Attachment of Spreader.
Primary Pin:
Fit down through the bracket’s Primary hole and the Forward spreader hole.
Adjuster Pin:
Fit down through bracket adjuster hole 3, and through spreader adjuster hole B.
Spreader Ends
Remove the clevis pin and slide out the spreader end hook.
Slide the hook over the shroud, and slide back into the spreader.
Refit the clevis pin and split ring.
Security
All clevis pins must be fitted with the flat head on top, and locked with a split ring.
Tape all split rings, pins and the outboard end of the spreader extrusion. This will
reduce chafe on the mainsail and prevent flailing sails/halyards becoming damaged.
Self-amalgamating tape is best, but PVC electrical tape is an adequate alternative.
Class Bracket Connection
Pin
Primary Adjuster
Laser Vago Fwd 3B
B
C
D
A
E
Aft
1
2
3
4
5
6
7
Primary
10

7. Raise the mast and position the mast heel
on the mast step. The mast heel
recess/slot should straddle the bolt in the
mast step. (Note - This is a two person
operation as someone will need to
hold the mast upright while shrouds
and forestay are connected - Ensure
that there are no overhead power
cables)
8. Attach the shrouds to the shroud anchor point with the adjuster pin
position in the 4th hole down on the back of the vernier adjuster.
9. Temporarily attach the forestay around the jib
tack bar. (Not the furling drum)
10. Shackle the lower
shrouds to the
shroud anchor point.
The shackle goes in
between the vernier
adjuster and ratchet
block. (The ratchet
block should always
be at the front.)
11. Loosely tie the other end of the
lower shrouds to front of mast.
(Note: The lower shroud
tension is adjusted after the
jib halyard has been
tensioned.)
11

12. Attach the trapeze rings to hull mounted
shock cords by feeding the elastic loop
through the ring at the bottom of the
pulley. (Note: Trapeze kit is an option on
the standard rig but is included in the XD
rig)
13. Place the Loop of elastic shock cord over the
metal trapeze ring and pull tight.
14. Tip - Best seaman like practise would be to tie
two double half hitch stopper knots in the adjuster
line (a hand width apart).
Boom and Gnav
1. Unpack the boom and
Gnav tackle.
2. Attach the boom to the mast
using the drop nose pin.
(Articulating toggle at the
bottom)
3. Tie the Gnav control line from
the boom to the double block a
becket at the base of the mast
the boat.
nd
in
(Tip - Best seaman like practise
would be to use a bowline)
12

4. Attach the gnav strut to the gnav anchor
point using the drop nose pin. (Articulating
toggle at the bottom with joint orientation as
shown)
5. Thread the mainsheet through the centre of the
block attached to the bridle rope and tie a half
hitch stopper knot.
6. Feed the mainsheet through the blocks and
to the mainsheet jammer as shown.
Tip - double check the mainsheet
passes through the switch-able ratchet
in the correct direction
Tip - Best seaman like practise would be
to tie the loose end of the mainsheet to
one of the rear toe straps to prevent
flailing and sheet falling overboard.
Sails
Jib
1. Ensure furling drum line is fully wound completely
onto furling drum before you attach the jib.
2. Unroll the jib and attach jib tack to furling
drum. Tape up pins on jib tack.
13

3. Attach the head of the jib to the jib
halyard furling swivel and tape up prior
to hoisting.
4. Hoist jib by pulling
the white halyard
out of aft face of
the mast then hook
the jib halyard
purchase system
onto jib Halyard
wire. (Ensure hook
is facing aft.)
5. Tension the jib halyard purchase
system until the jib luff wire is taught.
Cleat and tidy the rope end in the
pocket on the underside of the
gennaker sock. (If a loose gauge is
used to measure the rig tension do
NOT exceed 15 units or 70Kg’s -
measured on the shroud 0.75 metres
above the vernier adjuster)
6. Attach the centre of the jib sheet to
the jib clew.
7. Thread the free ends of the jib sheet
through the swivel jib fairlead cleats on
the outer ends of the front beam.
Tip – Best seaman like practise would be to tie
the sheet ends together to prevent flailing and
inhibit sheets falling overboard.
8. Remove the forestay from the jib tack b
and tie to the P clip at the bottom of the
mast on the starboard side.
ar
14

9. Furl the jib by pulling the furling line. The
furling line cleat is positioned on the front
beam port/left hand side.
Lower shroud tensioning
x After tensioning the jib halyard re-adjust the lower shrouds so that they
are just tight. It is essential that the mast is straight before the
mainsail is hoisted (Fore and aft and side to side to side). Lower shroud
tension should be adjusted accordingly.
Gennaker
1. Temporarily tie the gennaker halyard to one of the lower shrouds. (Blue
halyard exiting from ¾ height up mast, just above the jib halyard sheave
box)
2. Ensure the end of the gennaker halyard taken from the
base of the mast is free of knots and tangles.
3. Take the gennaker halyard
from the base of the mast
and pass forward, under the
gennaker sock and round the
gennaker pole outhaul block.
(The gennaker pole outhaul
block is attached to the blue
rope led from the pole as
shown in the picture)
15

4. Thread the halyard aft and through the
gennaker halyard cleat on the starboard
/right hand side of the front beam.
5. Pass the halyard to the port side of the
boat and thread it through the block at the
aft end of the gennaker sock.
6. Tie the end of the halyard to something such
as a batten or tiller extension and carefully
pass the end of the halyard up the sock until
you can grasp it from the front end of the
gennaker sock opening.
7. Tie this end of the halyard temporally around
the jib tack bar and remove the
batten/extension from the sock.
8. Unfold the gennaker:
a. Identify the Tack.
(Written on the sail)
b. Secure to the gennaker pole tack
line to the sail using a bowline. (The
tack line comes out of the front of
the Gennaker pole.)
c. The plastic bobble should be
between the sail and the pole end.
9. Untie the gennaker halyard from the lower shroud a
secure to the Head of the gennaker using a bowline.
nd
10. Untie the downhaul end of the gennaker halyard
from the jib tack bar. (You previously passed through
the sock)
a. Pass the downhaul end of the gennaker
halyard through the lower downhaul patch ring
on the port side of the sail.
16

c. Secure to the upper downhaul patch using a
bowline.
10. Attach the centre of the gennaker sheet
to the clew of the gennaker.
11. Pass the free ends of the gennaker sheets
aft (One sheet either side of the jib luff) and
through the gennaker sheet ratchet blocks
attached to the shroud anchor points. There
are arrows on the ratchet block to indicate
which way the rope should pass. When under
load, the ratchet will engage.
(Note – The sheets must pass forward of the
shrouds at all times.
12. Tie the free ends of the gennaker sheet
together.
13. Ensure the boat is pointing directly into
the wind and hoist the gennaker. Take
great care to ensure that the gennaker
does not get snagged around the trolley;
a second person should help with this to
ensure it does not snag anywhere. Check
the gennaker is not twisted and the
Sheets are not tangled with the halyard.
ALWAYS TAKE GREAT CARE TO PULL
UP THE GENNAKER SLOWLY AND DO
NOT KEEP PULLING IF IT BECOMES
TANGLED OR TIGHT.
14. Uncleat the halyard and gently pull the gennaker into the sock by pulling
the halyard through the block at the aft end of the sock. A second person
should help with this and be positioned at the front of the boat to ensure
the gennaker does not get snagged anywhere.
17

Mainsail – XD and Standard sail
1. Remove the mainsail from the bag
and unroll.
2. Ensure all battens are tight in their
pockets and the Velcro locking
mechanisms are positively
engaged:
Retrieval Line
Prodder
a. To release the tension from a batten,
slide the batten prodder (supplied)
carefully between the two halves of the
velcro locking mechanism and pull the
retrieval line slowly.
Location Point
b. To re-tension the batten locate the tip of
the prodder in to the location point at the
end of the velcro strip then insert between
the batten and the batten pocket inner side.
Push the prodder until the desired batten
tension is attained then withdraw the
prodder gently while pressing both sides of
the batten pocket together to re-engage the
velcro locking mechanism.
3. Position the boat so that it is head to wind – bow into the wind.
4. Place the mainsail in the cockpit of the hull with the luff closest the bow
(front) and the leach closest the stern (back).
5. Take the main halyard:
a. Ensure there is no twists in
the halyard and it is clear of
the spreaders.
b. Form a loop in the end of the
halyard; pass the loop
through the eye in the head
of the mainsail. (Pass loop
from starboard/right to
port/left side)
c. Pass the bobble through this
loop and pull tight to secure.
(Ensure the bobble is
positioned on port/left side as
shown – This ensures the
bobble will not get caught in
18

the “V” between the Gnav bar and the mast during hoisting)
6. Locate the head of the mainsail into the
mast track. The GNAV bar must be on the
starboard side of the sail with sail and
halyard to the port side of the GNAV bar.
7. Hoist the mainsail using the main h
which exits the mast on the lower por
side. Note - Hoisting the mainsail is a
two person operation as assistance wil
required to feed the mainsail in to the
mast track while the other hoists using
the halyard (This will prevent the sail
pulling out of the track and jamming
which could cause luff rope damage.)
track while the other hoists using
the halyard (This will prevent the sail
pulling out of the track and jamming
which could cause luff rope damage.)
alyard,
t
l be
8. When the mainsail is fully hoisted, coil the
k.
8. When the mainsail is fully hoisted, coil the
k.
halyard and store in the halyard bag on
the underside of the gennaker soc
halyard and store in the halyard bag on
the underside of the gennaker soc
strap
OuthaulOuthaul
1. Secure the Velcro tack
. Feed the plastic slug slide on the clew outhaul
to the cut out on the top of the boom.
en passed through the eye in the sail (From
ort/left to starboard/right side) and anchored on the starboard/right side with a
around the mast.
2
3. The outhaul line (blue) is th
in
p
simple knot located in the slot formed in the boom end casting.
19

4. Outhaul tension is controlled using the
lue rope, cleat and fairlead at the forward
unningham
b
end of the boom.
C
1. Pass the rope at the end of the cunningham
purchase system through the eye at the
e).
2.
purchase system by sliding a half hitch knot
led using the
lue rope cleat and fairlead block on the top of
3. Cunningham tension is control
bottom of the mainsail luff (from
starboard/right hand to port/left hand sid
Anchor the end of the cunningham
in to mast track just below the gooseneck.
b
the centreboard case on the starboard/right ha
side of the boat.
nd
Single Line Reefing
1. Rig the single line reefing.
(See next page for diagram)
. Although single line reefing is only applicable
will find a pocket at
3. Single li e reef
the white rope, cleat and fairlead at the forward
2
to the standard Vago, you
ing tension is controlled using
the forward end of the foot of both Std & XD
mainsails (port side) to tidy the loose end of the
single line reefing system.
n
end of the boom.
20