The 3000 is a racing sailing dinghy crewed by two persons with a trapeze for the crew. Launched in 1996 as the Laser 3000, the 3000 was developed from the Laser 2, using the original Frank Bethwaite-designed planing hull combined with a new designed self-draining deck by Derek Clark. Clark also re-designed the rig, using spars and sails from premium proprietary sources and replacing the symmetric spinnaker of the Laser 2 by a larger asymmetric spinnaker (gennaker). The gennaker is chute-launched and retrieved using a single halyard line, and is set on a retractable bowsprit. Helm balance and handling were improved using a shorter-footed mainsail with two full-width battens giving a larger roach. A mast with conventional spreaders replaced the now-unusual diamond arrangement of the Laser 2.

3000
A V3000 dinghy using both gennaker and trapeze
Development
DesignerDerek Clark
Year1996
Name3000
Boat
Crew2
Hull
TypeMonohull
ConstructionGRP
LOA4.40 metres (14.4 ft)
Beam1.46 metres (4.8 ft)
Rig
Mast length6.02 metres (19.8 ft)
Sails
Mainsail area8.60 square metres (92.6 sq ft)
Jib/genoa area3.20 square metres (34.4 sq ft)
Spinnaker area12.80 square metres (137.8 sq ft)
Racing
RYA PN1085[1]

The 3000 offers fast, exciting yet easy sailing, particularly for lighter sailors - couples, parent-child and teenage combinations are common at 3000 events. A modest rig size and forgiving nature means that if other classes are sailing on a windy day, any reasonably competently crewed 3000 will be able to join them and enjoy a sparkling sail.

Pointing high with the gennaker

The 3000 class organises racing for both the original boats built by Laser alongside boats sometimes tagged 'V3000' and currently built to the same design by VanderCraft. The latter are constructed from woven glass and epoxy resin using vacuum-bagging to produce a boat which is very stiff and light yet durable.

The mast on current boats uses externally run rigging to enable their being sealed and thus buoyant, reducing any tendency for the boat to invert in a capsize. Other innovations introduced with the boats included a centrally mounted bowsprit, a compression-strut kicker or 'Gnav' in place of the conventional kicking strap or boom vang, and ‘off-the-boom’ sheeting with a take-off block at mid-boom fed from an aft bridle. The latter two rigging variations give considerably more room in the boat for the crew members, and remove any objections levelled at the original boats of being cramped due to their centre-bridle and conventional kicker. The class rules permit all variations introduced since the original Laser 3000 to be retro-fitted to existing boats, which can generally be done with minimal trouble or expense.

While the original Hyde sails from Laser have proved to be still competitive, North Sails now offer an alternative using the latest cloth technology. North jibs are somewhat larger and require mounting right at the bow; a furlable Dacron jib is offered, as well as a Mylar jib which is battened and a little larger still.

The boat is easy to sail singlehanded, optionally using the jib, gennaker and/or trapeze, the latter being easy to use thanks to the deck layout and lack of racks. Most boats are sailed two-up, however, and class events presently cater for this crew format. The class association organises open meetings, including a national championships and, recently, coaching days. The atmosphere at all these events is friendly, with advice available for newcomers.

The optional Dacron jib with furler

Vital statistics

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Dimensions
  • Length 4.40m
  • Beam 1.46m
  • Mast Height 6.02m
Sail areas
  • Mainsail 8.60 m2
  • Jib 3.2 m2
  • Gennaker 12.80 m2
Weights
  • Hull 54 kg
  • Trolley 28 kg
  • Trailer 45 kg

Portsmouth Yardstick Number: 1085 for Laser 3000; Class recommended 1007 for Vandercraft

National Champions

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Year Venue Type Sail Helm Crew Club Comments
2019 Carsington Water SC L3000 3464 Max Buswell Will Farrant South Cerney SC L3000 (unmodified) wins against V3000s for the first time
2018 Rutland SC V3000 3602 Matthew Wolstenholme Peter Wolstenholme Bough Beech SC In their own boat
2017 Rutland Water SC V3000 3604 Nick Arran Myles Ripley Carsington Water SC / Sedbergh School
2016 Rutland SC V3000 3604 Nick Arran Alli Williams Carsington Water SC
2015 Rutland SC V3000 3603 Matthew Wolstenholme Peter Wolstenholme Bough Beech SC Borrowed Tony Hunts V3000
2014 Grafham Water SC L3000 3113 Michael Carver Henry Hutchinson Hunts SC No V3000 entries.
2013 Grafham Water SC V3000 3602 Peter Heyes Amy Adams Wilsonian SC
2012 Grafham Water SC V3000 3602 Peter Heyes Amy Adams Wilsonian SC
2011 Grafham Water SC V3000 3601 Joe Pester Paul ‘Murph’ Murphy Ullswater SC Very windy, several sails in tatters and a broken rudder
2010 Grafham Water SC V3000 3601 Joe Pester Paul ‘Murph’ Murphy Ullswater SC
2009 Grafham Water SC V3000 3603 Tony Hunt Suzanne Hall Wilsonian SC The five V3000s took the top five places
2008 Rutland Water SC V3000 3603 Tony Hunt Suzanne Hall Wilsonian SC
2007 Draycote Water SC V3000 3603 Tony Hunt Suzanne Hall Wilsonian SC
2006 Draycote Water SC L3000 3448 Tony Hunt Suzanne Hall Wilsonian SC First Appearance in Nationals for V3000
2005 Royal Torbay Yacht Club L3000 3144 Jim Hill Jones Laura Jack Devon Schools SA
2004 Rutland Water SC L3000 3538 Alice Brotchie Jamie Mayhew Royal Hospital School
2002 Rutland Water SC L3000 3462 James Hamerton Guy Draper Royal Hospital School

[2]

Youth Champions

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The following are the Youth Champions (U18) for the 3000 Class who compete in the same event

Year Helm Crew Club/School
2019 S Gunning S Sancar Sedbergh School
2018 Jac Bailey Jacob Knock PDSC
2017 R Copley G Thomas Sedbergh School
2016 J Thomas G Thomas Sedbergh School
2015 E Barnes I Van Ruiten Pennine
2014 E Barnes I Van Ruiten Pennine
2013 K Fleck C Turner-Richard Sedbergh School
2012 K Fleck C Turner-Richard Sedbergh School
2011 P Shellcock R Shellcock Sedbergh School
2010 P Shellcock L Collins Sedbergh School
2009 B Blake G Blake Queen Mary
2008 G McAulay B Blake Queen Mary
2007 A Manouchehri L Howson Sedbergh School
2006 I Westropp A Manouchehri Sedbergh School
2005 A Jack L Hands Devon Schools Sailing Association?
2004 H Sharpe G Butler Royal Hospital School
2003 J Hamerton G Draper Royal Hospital School
2002 J Hamerton G Draper Royal Hospital School
2001 C Prosser G Draper Royal Hospital School
2000 T Houghton J Brookes Devon Schools Sailing Association?

References

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  1. ^ "Limited Data PY List 2019" (PDF). Royal Yachting Association. Retrieved 26 May 2020.
  2. ^ ":::: 3000 Class Association Powered by: Monkeyit.co.uk ::::". www.3000class.org.uk. Retrieved 2020-06-01.
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