SMODwatch from Racing Classes Review

Originally posted by combat wombat And the reason so many Fireflies were sold is because they are back in style for team racing - so the Uni's are buying them in batches of 6 (which I did for my Uni before graduating).  You won't see any of those boats at the Nationals however.

Rubbish, there were at least 20 or so university or club owned boats at the nationals and doing well.I'll see if I can dig out the stats off a mate as they're not online.

cheers

Originally posted by laser4000 Rubbish

People can really take things to heart on here!  Don't worry mate, I'll stand heavily corrected if I am wrong.  All I know is that there are loads of Uni's with Fireflies and not many went to the Nationals.  The vast majority (including ours) stayed at Club.  Our's were out of class anyway due to having cheap team racing sails rather than proper Firefly cut rags, plus weren't rigged for fleet racing. 

Originally posted by GK.LaserII From a UK Laser 2 Class Association press release dated 1 March 2006: New Laser 2's available again in  UK Following discussions between the UK Laser 2 Class Association (UKLCA) and Performance Sailcraft Europe (PSE), the latter have decided to outsource the manufacture of the Laser 2 Regatta. The boats will originate from Vanguard Sailboats in the USA.  The initial batch of boats will arrive this spring / early summer (date TBC) for sale at the UK Laser Centre (www.lasersailing.com) for £4995 inc. VAT. From Laser 2 e-group 6th June 2006 Hi Ian, In response to your mail regarding new and secondhand Laser 2's, in no specific order. Firstly new boats. New boats are still available from the laser centre, I phoned them today, and they have recently had a batch of 5 made, of which 2 have been sold in the last few days leaving three left at the moment should you want one for £4995 !!! ***** ******* Chairman uk Laser 2 Assoc.   As novice sailors my Wife and I have had a fantastic time sailing the laser 2 but if we want some serious competition at opens and nationals (next year maybe) we are going to have to move on. Looking through the Y&Y class listings mag there aren't many boats that fit the bill. Our criteria:-  We can't spend a fortune, we want symetric, we weigh 120 kg together, not youngters anymore so trapeze....It's a shame this boat is "on the perch", but there you go, things change. Fireball, 470 or go assymetric I suppose.

I reckon Meatball at that weight, nice boats, quicker than L2, symmetric and good second hand market.


Edited by Hobbo

Originally posted by NickA Mark Giles of lightning 368 and sujpernova fame?

my thoughts exactly

Originally posted by combat wombat Originally posted by laser4000 Rubbish People can really take things to heart on here!  Don't worry mate, I'll stand heavily corrected if I am wrong.  All I know is that there are loads of Uni's with Fireflies and not many went to the Nationals.  The vast majority (including ours) stayed at Club.  Our's were out of class anyway due to having cheap team racing sails rather than proper Firefly cut rags, plus weren't rigged for fleet racing.

Hey combat... I wasn't taking it to heart, I just get a bit annoyed when people post stuff thats factually in-accurate. you said "you wont see any of those boats at the nationals however"...

well the sats are that there were 107 boats at this years firefly champs of which 27 were university or club owned boats. universities there included oxford, sheffield, birmingham and edinburgh, and they all had lots of fun particular on "sponsor a student night" when the workers of the class put their hands in their pockets to buy beers all night for the students...you should have been there!!

Whilst I'm on this thread I'd like to post a couple of comments about the 4K as it seems to be getting some stick on here..

1) Yes it is still being built by the laser centre

2) Yes it is still very actively raced - over 75 entries in the UK series events, over 40 boats at the nationals (and a rolling average of 53) - admitttedly not a massive club racing scene but thats because we all tend to do events..

3) Yes you could  build a lighter version and stick a carbon stick on it, but it was designed as a strict one design 10 years+ ago, and it still is.. 4015 (one of the first ones built) has been very competitive on the circuit for the last few years including 2nd at last years

4) There's been phenominal growth in Italy over the last couple of years, and whilst there might not have been many (any) sales in the last year in the UK there's been loads in Italy where the class has really taken off.

5) In the UK you can buy a good s/hand boat for 2K which will be quick enough to get you in the top 5 in the nationals. And with the boats getting so much cheaper then the average age of the class has plumetted - no longer the 30 somethings, its more like 26...

6) Weight equalisation rocks - you can get 60kg helms racing equally against 105Kg helms. Not many other boats you can do that in!!

6) the fleet is frirendly but really competitive - Peter Barton & Roz Allen (RS800 Eurocup Champ won the nationals), Wilson/Barker (49er squad sailors) won the Europeans, and it was only a couple of years ago that Penny Mountford and Helena Lucas were racing at our nats as an aside from their olympic stuff. last year Andy PF came 2nd at the endeavour!!!

2007 we're going to Sardinia for the Europeans and our nats are in Abersoch. 2 of the prettiest venues in the World to sail in!!

Why not vist our new-look website and come and have a go if you think you are good enough!!