Laser 3000 Sailing Dinghy

Laser 3000 sailing dinghy

Laser 3000 sailing dinghy The Laser 3000 was developed from the Laser 2, using the original Frank Bethwaite designed hull combined with a brand new self-draining deck designed by Derek Clark. Clark also re-designed the rig, using spars and sails from premium proprietary sources and replacing the symmetric spinnaker of the Laser 2 by a larger asymmetric spinnaker (gennaker) set on a retractable bowsprit. A mast with conventional spreaders replaced the unusual diamond arrangement of the Laser 2.

The 3000 offers fast, exciting yet easy sailing, particularly for lighter sailors – couples, parent-child and teenage combinations are common at 3000 events. A modest rig size and forgiving nature means that if other classes are sailing on a windy day, any reasonably competently crewed 3000 will be able to join them and enjoy a sparkling sail.

Originally built by Laser, current boats from VanderCraft are constructed from woven glass and epoxy resin using vacuum-bagging to produce a boat which is very stiff and light yet durable. Again, while the original Hyde sails are still competitive, North Sails available through VanderCraft now offer a cheaper alternative using the latest cloth technology. The centre-sheeting optionally via a deck-mounted jammer or directly ‘off-the-boom’ may include a centre or an aft bridle, and a strut kicker (‘Gnav’) is allowed which gives the crew much more space than the conventional kicking strap.

The boat is easy to sail singlehanded, optionally using the jib, gennaker and/or trapeze, the latter being easy to use thanks to the deck layout and lack of racks. Most boats are sailed two-up, however, and class events presently cater for this crew format. The class association organises open meetings, including a national championships and, recently, coaching days. The atmosphere at all these events is friendly, with lots of advice available for newcomers.