Thoughts on the Laser Vago

Originally posted by yellowhammer check this out, from the Vago forum (pump up the volume) http://video.google.co.uk/videoplay?docid=-20132458682747327 10 you have to admit the Italians (?)

Yep.. It's on Centro Velico Caprera (north Sardinia) skiff teaching course.
A couple of years ago they replaced their Laser 3000 with the Vagos. I still don't get why they didn't go for a decent skiff.. I suppose they have something like an agreement with Laser..

Anyway In Caprera it's quite windy so at least the boats should move .. but c'mon.. at least they should have bought the XD..
They have been quite kidded by the guys of the other sailing schools since they bought the Vagos, and a friend of mine told me that they also have some problems with some smashed in hulls..

Moreover VAGO in italian means vague, indefinite, so it's not a great name for a boat here


Edited by 17mika

Originally posted by 17mika Yep.. It's on Centro Velico Caprera (north Sardinia) skiff teaching course. A couple of years ago they replaced their Laser 3000 with the Vagos. I still don't get why they didn't go for a decent skiff.. I suppose they have something like an agreement with Laser..

How can anyone possibly even entertain the idea of teaching "skiff" sailing in boats like a 3000 or a vago?  Thats rediculous!  They're not even high performance.  Does italy not have 29ers??

Originally posted by 17mika Anyway In Caprera it's quite windy so at least the boats should move

.........should, but didn't.

Interesting that laser made it out of that shoddy flexy plastic to reduce cost yet the price seems relatively similar to that of the RS500 which is stronger and lighter yet still built to reduce cost.  Either laser are missing a trick, or their mark up is somewhat more than LDC. 


Doug
p.s 17mika, my comments aren't aimed at you.  They're at the vago. 

Originally posted by Doug.H Originally posted by 17mika Yep.. It's on Centro Velico Caprera (north Sardinia) skiff teaching course. A couple of years ago they replaced their Laser 3000 with the Vagos. I still don't get why they didn't go for a decent skiff.. I suppose they have something like an agreement with Laser.. How can anyone possibly even entertain the idea of teaching "skiff" sailing in boats like a 3000 or a vago?  Thats rediculous!  They're not even high performance.  Does italy not have 29ers?? Originally posted by 17mika Anyway In Caprera it's quite windy so at least the boats should move .........should, but didn't. Interesting that laser made it out of that shoddy flexy plastic to reduce cost yet the price seems relatively similar to that of the RS500 which is stronger and lighter yet still built to reduce cost.  Either laser are missing a trick, or their mark up is somewhat more than LDC.  Doug p.s 17mika, my comments aren't aimed at you.  They're at the vago.

Sorry for being a bit OT :)
I just make a couple of clarifications..the "2D" course in Caprera is not advertised as a "skiff course", i'ts just their highest level dinghy course.
But the thing that makes me laugh is that Caprera is the most known and most of all prestigious sailing school in Italy, and in order to be able to book for the 2D course, you have (it's mandatory) to have attended the previous (1B) course there... and all that to sail a Vago .
I mean.. Caprera is propbably the best school in Italy for keelboats (I've attended there a very good second level keelboat course, and also the atmosphere and the location is unique, since the whole island is a natural reserve), but the dinghy part is really a laugh.


At least we have other schools that have good boats.. in the "Velamare" skiff course (they are next to Caprera.. imagine the rivalry ) they use 29ers, Buzzs and 4000s.. and at Dongo (Como lake), I think they have also 49ers.


Edited by 17mika

Originally posted by yellowhammer Hayling Island have set the VAGO PY at 1050 for any sail configuration, down from 1000 ... that's half way between the original Laser 3000 and Laser 2000!

Down from 980 originally; quite a jump.