NEWS ARCHIVE
2011
Laser 16s in Ireland
July 2011
A Facebook page has been set up to organise group events for Laser 16 sailors in Ireland.
The man behind it, David Doherty, says: "I've recently purchased a Laser 16 and I'm trying to ascertain the number and location of boats in Ireland.
"I've set up the following page and hope to try and organise one cruise in company event a year."
It's Laser 16 Cruising Ireland.
David also asks if I have tuning and performance information for the Laser 16. I don't - but maybe someone else does?
Please let me know if you can provide a rig tuning guide for sidestay angles and forestay tension for different weather conditions, as well as performance polars for the boat - speed on wind angle / strength. I will add these to the FAQ page.
New Owners
June 2011
It must be the time of year and the brilliant sailing weather but there has been a flurry of buying and selling in the past few weeks through the For Sale/Wanted page. Welcome to all the new owners of Laser 13s and 16s.
Some of these very-sought-after dinghies came and went so fast, while I was busy doing other things, that they were bought/sold before I could respond to people's requests to advertise them!
To sunnier days
April 2011
Dusted off the spiders for the new season yet? As I dust off the website, an e-mail arrives from Stephen Blake just to remind us what Laser cruising is all about.
He says: "I thought I would just send you a couple of pictures of my Laser 13 cruising of the west coast of Scotland, based on the Campsite at Fidden Farm at the south end of Mull.
"We did some amazing days just cruising around with the Laser 13 and two kayaks: deserted beaches, secretive coves and amazing wildlife - with basking sharks, sea otters, more seals than you can believe enjoying the surroundings with us. You tend to see a lot more when there are fewer people and this was certainly the case, apart from seeing the odd yacht. Fantastic."
And doesn't it just look it?
More photos here [link to Flickr].
Stephen tells me he has had the 13 for two years. His usual boat at Carsington Sailing Club in Derbyshire is an RS K6, but the Laser 13 gets used on sunny, light-wind Saturdays teaching his daughter (now 6).
"It was green and mouldy in the corner of the boat park and had had no cover for four years. Fortunately the sails, rudder, spinnaker, boom and pole had been kept in a garage, so a couple of days' clean-up and a few new bits of rope got my daughter and me a great little boat that we could sail together (for not too much money), especially on holiday, as I could be a little less precious about it.
"We took the Laser 13 last year on the back of our motor home to Brancaster Staithe in Norfolk, the Isle of Mull in Scotland, Oban in Scotland and Ullswater in the Lakes. We have a trip planned in May at a campsite just opposite Fowey, to sail around the estuary."
2010
Spare parts and sail numbers
October 2010
Interesting news for owners who are not sure about when their boats were made - and, in particular, those who are looking for a source of spare parts.
Dan Slater got in touch to say, "Here at Purple Marine we still are producing spares for these boats that Laser have let go. I am collecting as much info on them as possible to help the owners if they need it."
He also had a list of the years of manufacture for the various Laser 13 and 16 sail numbers. He has kindly made these available and you can now find them on the Laser 13 and 16 FAQ technical page here.
I told him that people can have a problem knowing what part number to ask for when they are trying to find spares.
He said: "As far as part numbers go, Laser has destroyed everything. The only guide I have is the same as what's on your website linked to LaserPerformance [the rigging manuals]. If we use this guide, then Laser sailors and our staff will know exactly what part is being sought after and we will be halfway there.
"We don't and can't stock all the spares for the boats but we can source them or make them as long as the sailors don't mind to wait."
He added: "We are also running an offer for all the Laser classes that aren't in production any more, of 10% off all sails. It's not much but it might help one or two people as it has done for the Laser 3000, 4000 and 5000.
"If I can help any further or if you would like to refer any Laser sailors to me with questions, I am more than willing to help."
Purple Marine's website is at www.purplemarine.com and Dan's e-mail address is dan@purplemarine.com, or telephone +44 (0)845 643 5510.
Laser website makeover
The official Laser Performance website has had one of its periodic rebuilds so you might find any bookmarks you had made are now broken.
The good news is, they have - for the first time, I think - set up an Archives section under the Boats pages, containing rigging manuals and in some cases other material for legacy models.
There is information on the Laser 13 and 16 as well as the Laser 2, Dart 18, Bahia Race and Stratos.
In the circumstances I hesitate to provide a link but as I write the main version is here. I have updated the relevant links on this website; thanks to Nicky for alerting me to the changes.
Obviously LaserPerformance's main focus is selling new models but it is great to see this acknowledgement that the build quality is such that the boats continue to give people pleasure years after they were made.
Alternative Laser 13 outboard bracket
An apparently neat solution to the problem of an outboard motor on the Laser 13 transom tangling with the mainsheet traveller.
The alternative bracket pictured here was designed by Jan Rusin for his boat.
You can read more more about it and download the plans here.
The idea came up during an exchange on the ever-useful Laser Cruising forum.
January 2010: Appeal from Cyprus
Well, it is winter, even in the Med: Kyriacos Shiali writes from Larnaca, Cyprus, about the damage caused to a couple of Laser dinghies, Blue and Baby Blue (among others) by high winds and waves. You can read more about this here on the Wayfarer Cyprus blog.
Kyriacos says: "A month ago a strong wind damaged our boats and now we are trying to find some parts to fix them, mainly we are looking for the mast. One for the 13 and one for the 16 complete with the stay wire, the spreader etc. Unfortunately I do not have a part locator for the Lasers.
"Attached are some pictures from the disaster. We would much appreciate your support."
Kyriacos can be reached at kyriacos@papaetis.com or of course you can contact me and I'll pass on the message.
2009
Christmas 2009
England had snow, as you can see on the Broadwater Sailing Club webcam image (left) from the afternoon of 23 December.
After which it began pouring down - which would at least clear the ground and top up the lake for the annual Boxing Day race, in aid of the RNLI (for non-UK visitors that's the day after Christmas Day, and the national lifeboat service - remarkably, a charity staffed by volunteers).
Wishing everyone a very Merry Christmas, and here's to fine sailing in 2010.
To put us in the cruising spirit here's a link to a blog featuring the lovely Gull dinghy.
Cheers!
November 2009
Horrible weather! Anyone been out?
I spent a morning along with dozens of others clearing up the boat park at Broadwater Sailing Club, removing old trailers and building up the annual bonfire of former vanities....
We also had our annual South Coast rally - in yachts. Do other dinghy clubs do this? As some members of the club also own and/or sail bigger boats we have annual get-togethers on the South Coast in the autumn and East Coast in the spring.
There were six yachts, the highlight being Hallowe'en night with a fancy dress dinner up at The Folly Inn on the Isle of Wight. Enough said, for those who know it; for those who do not, well, let's just say the tables are for dancing on as well as eating off.
The following morning brought pouring rain and a southerly 47 knots straight down the Medina River. And it feels as though it has been like that ever since!
So, hands up all those who reckon that's probably it for the winter. Does anyone race their Laser 13 or 16 in winter series, or carry on cruising all year round in the UK? Let me know. It would be interesting to feature your experiences. Luckier souls in warmer climes are probably feeling smug.
Map additions, September 2009
Welcome to the latest owners, both in Spain as it happens. Javier Prieto writes to say he has a Laser 16 in Santander, in the Real Club Maritimo de Santander. Sailing regularly (see photo).
I see the boat is called El Paseante, which I think in English is something like The Walker or more poetically perhaps The Voyager.
And over in the Med, Jose Miguel Del Rio keeps his at Cabo de Palos, Cartagena, near Murcia. He says: "It's a very old one (at least it looks as very old) and have been able to recuperate part of her story that is very interesting - for example: it has been used to make the hull of another boat in Spain."
He adds: "Effectively the shape has been used as a male mould for a new boat that was sold in Spain many years ago. It was called Serviola 17. If I'm not wrong it was a small shipyard that closed their doors some years ago." Anyone know anything more?
Jose also asks where best to buy good secondhand spars and sails. Any tips? I have suggested this site, the Forum and Super Spars.
Anyway, those locations are now on our 'where are the boats?' world map.
Nippy
I spent some time in August '09 at a little island in Minnesota in the US. It was a bit too far to trail my 13, but my hosts there did have an old Sunfish dinghy (see photo).
Tagged "the most popular recreational sailboat in history" by the manufacturer - which is the very same Laser Performance - this "board boat" design is about the same length as the Laser 13 but much narrower and shallower - yet can still carry a remarkable number of people.
Nippy, albeit with pronounced weather helm when single-handed, in my experience. But a really simple lateen rig and fun to sail.
It is a derivative of the even more slender Sailfish, which in 1945 was one of the early attempts to answer the question: "How to put a sail on a surfboard?"
There is a very active class association.
Ouch!
How unlucky can you get? Colin Buick got in touch to say would I advertise his Laser 16 for sale. The brief details included, "Hull damaged in fire may be repairable."
I asked him how bad it was. You can read about what happened, with photos, here. It is not a pretty sight. It's also a warning to us all....
Sail numbers
I have posted some new information on the Technical page (Laser 13 & 16 FAQ) about sail numbers - but don't get too excited.
Away to play
Fuzzy Duck went to Essex for the 2009 Spring bank holiday weekend.
We sailed out of the very friendly and helpful Wivenhoe Sailing Club on the Colne [link to Google aerial image/map].My thanks to Grahame Hill in particular.
So we did get stuck in the mud in Alresford Creek - apparently everyone does!
But Fuzzy finally floated off and we had a great time camping along the shore and introducing some friends and their children to sailing.
Good fun. Just what Laser cruising is all about.
Mobile
Tips on fitting a Laser 16 homebuilt jockey wheel, with the owner's photos.
2008
Winding up the Laser Cruising Association
At an EGM held after the AGM at Ullswater Yacht Club on 5 May 2008 members agreed to dissolve the Laser Cruising Association.
I intend to continue the site as a focus for information about the Laser 16 and Laser 13 cruising dinghies in particular, and to provide a forum for wanted/for sale items. It will gradually be rebuilt.
And the forum remains active as a terrific source of help and information.