Rs500

I've sailed a 500 a few times and very much like the boat. I doubt though that they warrant a PY of 960 - that would make it as fast as a Vortex (without asymmetric) and it simply isn't.

I heard that at Draycote the 500(s) appear to be around the same speed as a Fireball upwind and faster downwind (as long as there are no very light runs to do). I sailed Fireballs for years and can't see how the 500 would be much faster over a range of conditions. My only sail against a Fireball was a pursuit and neither 500 caught the Fireball at all (I admit he was very good).

That would suggest a PY over 970 so maybe Medwaty Maniac isn't far wrong in his calcs.

Well I got whipped by one at the weekend - I was sailing like a plonker but when I was upright I think I had good boat speed and only got near them when they were concentrating on a hoist - the sailors are not a regular team but the helm was a reasonable RS200 helm.

It also looked spectacular with the kite up in 15-20mph breeze, much more skiff-like than I expected!

From the Laser 3000 viewpoint, the original SMOD standard boat will be easier than a 500 or a V3000, as the more powerful North sails and taking weight out of the 3000 hull has made it a friskier, more skiff like ride as the wind gets up, particularly for light/young sailors. Lets face it, if you're moving into trapezing, then you want to be able to handle the boat in trapezing/planing conditions. The furling jib on the L3000 rather than a bettened jib is also an advantage for newcomers.

Tall sailors / heavier combined crew weight could be better off in the 500, although recent class legal mods have freed up space in the 3000 cockpit. There are now L3000s around for sub-£2000, see the class boat list:

http://www.3000class.org.uk/forum/forum.asp?FORUM_ID=81

Since its independence from SMOD ties, the L3K can grow with you ... Tony Hunt's 2006 Nationals winning boat No. 3448 is great value at £1950, a late boat with the recent upgrades already fitted (the last L3K built was No. 3534). Learning single wire asymmetric in somthing like this, then upgrading to the new New North sails as you're getting more confident, then maybe laying out for the RS500 or V3000 could be a sensible route. The L3K shouldn't depreciate while you find out if STA is the thing for you.

That is unless you've got money burning a hole in your pocket and a yearning for a brand spanker, fresh from the box ... sensible doesn't always make sence! If you do fancy a new boat then be sure to try both the RS500 and V3000 before you buy, it's probably more a matter of personal taste than differences in difficulty.