Views on the Vago

Have they got a Vago demonstrator at Rutland? ... be interesting if it's out when we're there for the V3000/L3000 trial!

Seriouisly though, the Vago is a very good concept and will suit many people ... the market is probably similar to the L2000 when it was launched

Yup.  The V3000 is supposed to be just as the Laser 3k.  But with the relaxation to the CA rules, both boats should be easier to single hand.  Eg: you could have direct off the boom sheeting so as to get an extended tiller through the boat when tacking & gybing without passing it round the back (cat style) - but you'll have to hold the main in your tiller hand (and forget all about the jib) when playing the asymetric.  Not perfect, but at least there's the flexibility.

The Vago is also adapted to single handing to a degree - not obvious from the brochure (which has a bloke single handing with a short tiller extension furgodsake!!) but there's a little step in the deck moulding that you can push off from and the kicker controls are lead back to either side of the cross thwart so with a bit of a reach (or an extra bit of rope) you could control the kicker from the wire too - useful when you've forgotten to let it off rounding a bouy!  Also it has a short mast and is wide from gunnel to gunnel (sort of moulded in wings) so righting moment should be high.   The plastic is a very pretty pale blue too .

Took delivery of mine in late August and I have to say the jury is still out particularly in view of the V3000.  It seems to feel faster than it actually is and is definitely not as fast as a 4000 despite Laser's claim.  Extreme weather helm with the xd rig which might just be a tuning issue but no tuning guide from laser yet so hopefully trial and error will sort this out.  And no sign of the vago meet that laser were sure they would organise for October to get some racing in and get the class association off the ground. Come on, get it sorted Laser!

On the batten popping front, no amount of kicker gets the top one to pop in light winds - you just have to pull hard on the boom. 

It's totally different to a 2000, at least with the xd rig.  Miles more lively and entertaining and the slightly patronising comments about owners only sailing when they "can be bothered" are probably misplaced - it's going to attract a mix of owners like most lasers do and some will be hardcore sailors.  Its versatility is its big advantage and hopefully it will do all that laser claim.

My conclusion so far though is that it will probably be fun to sail for a while particularly when there's some class racing but I think it will be replaced by a 29er before long.  Now they are brilliant.

I'm not too sure about the Vago, visited a sailing school recently which are using Topper Omegas and the boats have already showed stress points near the shroud plates. The material flexes at these points and the boats which I saw were showing denting inwards near the shroud plates. Maybe it's just initial problems with the Topper boats and being fair these boats were early boats from the production line. The indication though was that the materials used for the boats flex substantially when put under any rig tension over a period of time. If this is the case, hopefully Laser, Topper and RS have worked this out and reinforced all the points which may be suceptible to flexing. It might be interesting to see how the "new" plactic boats look in a few seasons........