V3000

Spoke with Jeff at Vandercraft a couple of days ago ... he's built three 'production' hulls now, to order, and has orders for two more (Nick being one)

Two are going to Wilsonian (on the Medway) where the trials took place ... everywhere the boat appears it gets interest which will hopefully lead to more orders ... one to Torbay, one to Carsington, and one is Jeff's (Bristol C?)

Jeff says the Phantom class had just 30 members when he started build, they're now up to 230+ ... here's hoping!!!

with the gnav on the V3000, the lowers have been raised to the top of the strut so it's not such a squeeze, but crew on foredeck is faster in the very light stuff ... it's comfy once you get there

the 'underpowered' sail plan means sail control is not much of an issue for the 3000 compared with higher performance boats ... average settings for the conditions works, possibly playing the kicker occasionally

the kicker can be fed back to the helm within the new rules ... with boom sheeting and no mainsheet turret on the V3000 (or converted Laser 3000s) this will be easier to arrange

the narrow beam and small rudder mean you have to react to gusts before they hit ... good prep for higher performance boats (and adds to the fun)

the hull/rig combination suits the "KISS" approach to controls, letting crews concentrate on conditions and tactics, with their heads out of the boat

All laser 2 and 3k foils have shark bites don't they (yellowhammer?). I think it's part of the design .   But they certainly go better if you fill them in - and it's class legal too.

Trailing edge is too fragile by half and not at all trap hook proof.   Roll on 29er stylee ally foils I say!

PS: I'm told the V3000 rudder is a laser EPS one - thinner.

huh?

i just padded out a 'surplus' 20mm EPS blade to fit a 25mm Sea Sure stock I picked up from Jeff to replace my stolen one. The production rudder was the standard 25mm version last I knew.

won't an ally daggerboard chop the boat in two if you get it caught between a rock and a hard place? (or maybe it's the shark's teeth that do that)