[Laser open meeting results]

External links:-

[UK Laser Class Association]
[International Laser Class Association]
[Dr Laser]

The Laser Fleet
Laser fleet captain:

The Laser is a singlehanded plastic boat that is sailed worldwide and can even be seen in action at the Olympic Games - stars such as Ben Ainsley have brought Gold medals back to Blighty using these boats! The main attraction is that they are all exactly the same design and they're so simple that you don't have to worry about the boat set-up. For so much fun, they are inexpensive to sail - secondhand prices are from £500 and new boats are around £3500.

There are three different sail sizes that can be used on the boat to cater for varying wind strengths and crew weights. The Laser 4.7 is designed for youth racing and the radial rig is normally used when it's too windy to hoist the full size sail:-

This variation means that the Laser can be shared with the family and you can buy the larger sails as you grow, without having to part with the boat. At just under 14' overall and 59kg, they can also be put on your roofrack to travel to open meetings, or on your holidays. The class association holds events all around the country for both older and younger sailors so you'll have plenty of fun sailing against your own age group! If you're not as young as you used to be, age groups start with 'Apprentice Masters' at 35 going up in stages to the 'Great Grand Masters' at 65+.

The fleet at Blithfield is one of the clubs most active, often having the largest class start for Sunday racing. The standard is extremely high, with regulars including Bill Watson, who also travels to the world events and recently won every race in the European Great Grand Masters at Largs, Scotland! At the other end of the scale, young Luke Bayliss travels the circuit and won the Midlands Grand Prix in his Laser Radial, and has a good National ranking. Don't let this high standard put you off though - there's always somebody else starting out at Blithfield and the help and advice will happily be dispensed, even if you don't want it!, which leads to interesting and competitive sailing at all levels.

Remember that the more you sail the better you will get and the better you get the more you are likely to sail, so do try and join us! If you need any help don't hesitate to let me know so that I can arrange for someone to give you some advice and help. I would also be happy to run race training days for anyone who feels they would like to learn some of the secrets of non-contact sailing before they venture on the water.

What better way is there of spending a Sunday afternoon, than out in the fresh air?

John Lees
Laser 168722