Laser.htm

The Laser is by far the most popular and numerous single-handed boat in the world. At 4.23 metres (13 feet 10 1/2 inches) in length, with a sail area of 7.06 sq metres (76 square feet) and a weight of only 59kg (130 lbs), it is suitable for men and women to race competitively and to handle ashore. There are smaller sail versions for lighter sailors to use in stronger winds. Boats are readily available across the country at a wide range of ages and prices and the popularity of the class means that they can always be sold quickly and with very little depreciation. The class at Tamesis provides a warm welcome to new owners and coaching (if required) to ensure that they are able to become competitive as soon as possible. A busy social programme ensures that newcomers are rapidly integrated into the club.

The Laser is an Olympic singled-handed dinghy that was designed by Bruce Kirby in 1970 and first introduced in Canada in 1971. There are now more than 196,000 Lasers throughout the world. It is a strict one-design although the rules permit certain variations in the rigging of the kicker and boom outhaul, and the tiller. The Laser Radial, which has a smaller sail area of 5.76 square metres, was chosen as the women's single-handed class for the 2008 Olympics.

There are 31 Lasers at Tamesis. Current turnouts range from five to 10, with 16 for the annual open meeting in October 2004, 14 in 2005 and 2006, 18 in 2007, 15 in 2008 and 18 in 2009.

1st        143088       Jacana                Steve Bartlett           13 points
2nd       178209         Phew                 Henry Defries             17
3rd        160428                                     Mike Goldsmith          38
4th        132359        Petnic            Peter Johnson              41

Report by Peter Johnson, Laser Class Captain, on Sunday 4 July: "Great turn out in very gusty but sunny conditions. Course L took us down past the island with the wind changing direction unpredictably and then once near Kingston blowing a hooley where several of us turned turtle! Results: 1 Matthew Peregrine Jones, 2 Steve Bartlett, 3 Donald Forbes (even after a capsize), 4 Henry Defries, 5 Kaan Yargici, 6 Daniel Gerber, 7 Jodok Gerber (after spectacular capsize on the run back, 8 Peter Johnson (radial rig, even that didn't stop two capsizes). John Dunkley and Mike Goldsmith sensibly retired after the first lap, and Carolyne Vines who was doing famously until she got knocked down and was unable to get upright again and took up the rescue boat's offer of a tow! "

Matthew Peregrine Jones adds the following comment:" I actually capsized too! In conditions like last Sunday, if you don't capsize you're clearly not pushing hard enough. Capsizing a Laser is nothing to be afraid of (especially compared to some other boats like Merlin Rockets where capsize = race over!)".

On Sunday 11 July: 1 Steve Bartlett, 2 Matthew Peregrine Jones, 3 Henry Defries, 4 Mike Goldsmith, 5 John Dunkley.

On Sunday 18 July: Course X with light gusts WSW 1 Steve Bartlett, 2 Peter Johnson, 3 Stewart Colley, 4 Henry Defries, 5 Emilie Hall. Rtd Mike Goldsmith.

On Sunday 25 July: Light winds and a double dogleg gave everybody a chance to change places. Matt and Steve had a very close race on all four laps swapping positions on nearly every lap with only two seconds between them at the line. 1 Steve Bartlett, 2 Matthew Peregrine Jones, 3 Henry Defries, 4 Carolyne Vines, 5 Mike Goldsmith, 6 Kaan Yargici, 7 Peter Johnson.

On Sunday 1 August, light winds and hence only three rounds: 1 Steve Bartlett, 2 Henry Defries, 3 John Dunkley (back on form!), 4 Carolyne Vines, 5 Kaan Yargici, 6 Emilie Hall, 7 Mike Goldsmith, 8 Paul Jamieson.

On 8 August, Course K to Lensbury with light northerly wind and several flat spots gave the usual challenges: 1 Henry Defries, 2 Marcus Chavasse, 3 Paul Jamieson, 4 Peter Johnson, 5 John Dunkley, 6 Carolyne Vines (after unwinding at the distance mark !).

We are now 13 races through with eight more to go. You need 10 to qualify for the summer season, which means the following people still need to complete the number of races shown: Jeremy Evans 8, John Dunkley 7, Kaan Yargici 5, Emilie Hall 7, Peter Johnson 1, Carolyne Vines 6, Nicole Szabason 8, Marcus Chavasse 8, Mike Goldsmith 3, Graham King 6, Paul Jamieson 7, Stewart Colley 6, Pete Simmonds 8, Donald Forbes 5, Matthew Peregrine Jones 7, Jodok Gerber 5, Noah Gerber 5. Henry Defries and Steve Bartlett have already completed over 10 races but could improve their points total with even better results in the remaining races!

Good racing for the rest of the season

On Sunday 15 August: Four rounds of course K past the island in a force 2/3 with some good gusts with a N/W direction, giving a good sail with a few bright spells. Only five participants, (must be holidays!) and of course John D was OOD. 1 Matthew Peregrine Jones (close tussle with Paul J), 2 Paul Jamieson, 3 Carolyne Vines, 4 Henry Defries, 5 Mike Goldsmith.

On Sunday 22 August: Great turnout today despite light winds/holidays . Short course but with two dog legs to give us some challenges and many position changes, plus being faced with Merlins and 18s ‘blocking’ our wind at crucial points in the race! 1 Steve Bartlett, 2 Jodok Gerber, 3 Noah Gerber, 4 Carolyne Vines, 5 Mike Goldsmith, 6 John Dunkley, 7 Henry Defries, 8 Peter Johnson, 9 Kaan Yargici.

On Sunday 29 August: Gusty I gather. David Jerram appeared but had to retire!

On Monday 30 August: Great wind but only six boats in total and four of those were Lasers!

Tamesis Lasers celebrate the end of the 2007 summer season after a wet and windy race (Photo: Stewart Colley)

Lasers crossing the dogleg in light winds in April 2008 (Photo: Stewart Colley)

For more details please contact Tamesis Laser Class Captain: Peter Johnson (020 8546 4295)