The Laser fleet is the largest of all the fleets raced at Frensham so you can be
guaranteed some good competition whenever you choose to sail, be it Saturdays, Sundays or Wednesday evenings in the summer. The class organises race training, normally on Saturdays. Fleet members often take their boats on the open meeting circuit while others are content with a quiet potter just for fun. The club has a couple of Lasers for hire by members.
Everybody knows the Laser - by far the largest of all the dinghy classes with over 170,000 boats registered world-wide. Designed, literally on the back of an envelope, by Bruce Kirby in 1971 the Laser is incredibly simple - but very difficult to sail well so you'll need to be fit! The unstayed mast is made from two sections which slot into each other for ease of storage. Of all GRP construction the Laser is easy to maintain and its mass-produced, strict one-design formula makes it relatively inexpensive to buy. The flat 'surfboard' style hull planes easily and offers sparking performance yet easily rights dry after a capsize.
- Length: 4.23m
- Beam: 1.37m
- Weight 60kg
The design offers three variants - just buy a new lower mast section and sail to convert from one to the other:
- Laser Full Rig: 7.06m2, PN 1078 - suitable for sailors over 76kg
- Laser Radial: 5.76m2, PN 1101 - ideal for youths and smaller adults
- Laser 4.7: 4.7m2, PN 1175 - suitable for youngsters aged 12 and over
The Rooster 8.1 rig is also sailed by heavier (90kg) sailors in handicap races in light winds. Sailors may 'change down' to a smaller rig in high winds in normal class racing (without any handicap benefit) - the intention is to get people sailing!
Read Clive's tips on sailing a Laser in our Laser Hints and Tips
Laser website: www.laserperformance.com
Laser class website: www.laser.org.uk
Laser Forum website: www.laserforum.org
Frensham Pond Laser Fleet Captain
Chris Brown
Mobile: 07973 431510
E-mail: This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.