Laser 3000 - New Class Legal Sails

Here's a couple of photo's from last weekend's 3000 Nationals at Draycote Water showing the new North sails for the Laser 3000/V3000 dinghy:

(the yellow boat's me, third overall ... "Medway Maniac" won the Nats scoring 4 bullets from 5 races in a pretty much standard Laser 3000 with Hyde sails)

Having sailed a series of races against boats shod with the original Laser UK/Hyde sails, the new main and jib give only a very marginal speed advantage, the main difference is in the progressive control between going high and slower, or footing off for speed. Best VMG seemed to be when sailing freed off a little. But the ability to point high helped in gaining ground to windward of the standard Laser 3000s out of the start. The new genny didn't make a nticable difference sailing deep on a windward/leeward course, but does perform better on tight reaches. This is just my opinion. Out of interst, about a third of the fleet had converted to new class legal aft bridle with off-the-boom sheeting arrangement.

The North sails are available through the new class approved builder, Vandercraft, see www.vandercraft.co.uk for contact details. Minor adjustments are needed to fit them, but I think it's well worth the effort!

PS Photo's were sent to the class by Mike Shaw of Fotoboat who covered the event ... no copyright laws broken!

Edited by yellowhammer

It was, of course, never the intention for the new gennaker to improve the leeward Vmg.

But giving it a longer luff and shorter foot (= higher aspect ratio > more thrust/sideforce) and setting it on a shorter pole was intended to make the boat a faster and better-balanced three-sail reacher on 'real world' courses that most people race on week in, week out. Talking to people, I gather that we've been successful in that. Being on the development team, I am, of course, getting my new boat after everyone else, so will have to wait to race it against other 3k's and confirm that for myself  

Where did you get the figure of 8.2sqm for the old main, Nick? I've only seen 8.6 quoted. But the new one must be bigger...

has the v3000 got a better deck layout? cous the original layout was really poor.

The lack of pulley and tack up system for the kite halayard meaning its a pain in the arse to do a proper hoist and drop.  The kicker and downhaul being lead to the bottom of the mast where its a pain in the arse for anyone to adjust!
I reckon there's a good basis to start with for a poor deck layout......??
On the other hand, it doesnt have a self tacking jib which definately gives it some brownie points with me.

Doug