Review: Ben Ainslie - the Laser Campaign Manual

The Gold Medallist definitive guide to winning in a Laser

Ben Ainslie - the Laser campaign manual (winning secrets from the Olympic Gold medallist) - is essential reading for not only Laser sailors, but anyone who races a dinghy competitively.

Alongside Robert Scheidt, Ben Ainslie has been a titan within the Laser class, famously winning over his Brazilian opponent to take the Gold at the Sydney Olympics.

The Laser Campaign Manual covers all aspects of getting the best out of a Laser. There is a section dedicated to setting the boat up right and includes some fascinating technical details about Ainslie's own Laser, from replacing the bolt in the rudder to the type of rope to use for the main sheet to choices of carbon tiller.

This is followed by a lengthy section on how to get the best from the Laser in different wind strengths and Ainslie's tips for how to tack and gybe. In each of these sections he describes not only how to set the sail and what to do with the control lines, but also the aim of what you are trying to achieve. There are also useful 'common mistakes' boxes and prompts throughout this section encouraging you to refer to video clips on the CD-ROM that comes with the book when you purchase it.

The most interesting parts of the book were part 3 and 4, 'Let's Get Personal' and 'How to Win a Championship' which apply to anyone racing dinghies. The former section delves into Ainslie's views on variety of subjects from fitness to diet to training, while the latter covers Ainslie's advice on how to sail a yacht race including many different aspects such as psychology and what to look for if you race to an unfamiliar venue.

I found that the book was easy to read, written in Ainslie's straightforward, no nonsense style and the sections made it simple to dive in and out of. It was also illustrated in a helpful way to compliment the text. All the time you realise that these are the words of one Britain's greatest racing yachtsmen.

The book will be on sale at the Dinghy and Sailboat show at Alexandra Palace next weekend, where Ben will be signing copies. The book is published by Fernhurst and costs £19.95.