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Laser Fleet
The Laser is a 14-foot, one-sail, single-person boat. More Lasers have been built and sailed than any other type of sailboat in the world (close to 200,000.) The Laser is a strict one-design boat, which means that all races are tests of skill and not expensive equipment. Many of the world’s top sailors h
oned their skills Laser racing.
A Laser can carry one of three sails, a "Standard" rig, a "Radial" (an alternative for Master sailors [over 35], lighter woman and some adolescents), and a "4.7" youth sail. It is an Olympic boat for men and woman. The QYC Laser fleet is a mix of standard and radial rigs; sailors from 18 to 61; women and men; beginners and experienced racers. The club owns four Lasers available for use by club members.
Lake Quannapowitt is a great place to learn the basics of Laser sailing and to develop your advanced boat handling and tactical sailing skills. The boat moves well in the moderate breezes of mid-summer and is thrilling on windy days. The local wind shifts and sea breeze help fine tune a total awareness of the racing environment.
And fellow Laser sailors are full of ideas and support.
The New England area (Laser District-7) has more registered Laser racers than any other in the US and offers many regattas during the summer months and "frostbite" sailing all winter. QYC Laser sailors compete in lake and ocean regattas from VT and NH, to RI and CT. The club hosts two regattas each year.
Members of the QYC Laser fleet are available to discuss Laser sailing with prospective sailors, and offer test sails to genuinely interested individuals.
Fall Sailing at QYC
Mon, 10/05/2009 - 09:10 — JaylivingOn a gray fall day with the breeze appearing only as patches of ripples that meandered down the lake scooting individual boats around like leaves on a parking lot, we race.
This is fall in New England; not too many more times to get the club’s fleets out and stay warm and dry, so we use what we have. I call over to John, on the race committee boat, that I’m glad I have my job (to keep my Laser moving) and not his (to divine the steadiest direction of the wind and consequently to set a fair course.) John dryly observes that, “You just do the best you can,” and John does.
The first race he starts the three fleets three minutes apart, but ends up with the first two fleets just a mixed clump of boats sitting on the starting line causing what wind there is to lift right up over the shapeless sails. The mess just barely sorts itself out in time for the Lasers to start with enough open water to get across the line.
QYC at its Finest
Mon, 07/20/2009 - 09:13 — JaylivingFrom the beach area, the wind ripples on the lake gave the water a deep green/gray hue. The monotone surface suggested no puffs and no lulls, just a steady consistent 8 to 10 knot breeze that should place a premium on sail trim and boat handling in the upcoming club races. This eyeball assessment didn’t come close to forecasting the squirrelly shifting breeze that played games all across the race course a half hour later with gusts that flogged the Laser’s sail and lulls that had me crowded up against the centerboard.
Sailing Season is Here
Thu, 07/09/2009 - 10:37 — JaylivingWet from a dump in the lake or wet from some rain, does it really make a difference? QYC Lasers have been out most Sundays and Wednesdays and it hasn’t been all that wet from above or below.
7 Lasers Racing the First Day of Season
Mon, 06/08/2009 - 09:15 — JaylivingYesterday nine Lasers rigged for sailing and seven of us went racing – a great show for the first Sunday race. The conditions were fine for those with experience, but challenging for those who either haven’t sailed a Laser ever or for years. What was impressive was the limited number of flips that occurred.
Come Try a Laser
Sun, 05/17/2009 - 19:01 — JaylivingThe Laser fleet is active and ready to help QYC members and prospective members see what Laser sailing is all about. Our yellow club Laser lost its mast step during the May Madness Laser Regatta, but we are just about done prepping our next best boat, the white Laser, for duty as an adult race boat, test sail boat and back up boat.
May Madness Regatta a Big Success
Sun, 05/10/2009 - 10:02 — JaylivingQYC's May Madness Laser regatta was held Saturday in variable winds and mostly sunny skies. 20 sailors from Mass, New Hampshire and Maine showed up for the season opener. The morning didn"t look very promising, but after a minor delay the winds became steady and never left us for the rest of the eight race series. As if choreographed for a bunch of sailors coming out of hibernation, the breeze let us get our boat-handling skills warmed up and our sailing instincts refocused and then it slowly built to keep our attention sharp.
Set Up a Time to Try a Laser
Thu, 04/16/2009 - 21:08 — Jayliving
The QYC Laser fleet will soon have the club Lasers ready for the sailing season. QYC has four club owned Laser for use by the members.
NOR for May Madness Laser Regatta
Sun, 04/05/2009 - 08:45 — JaylivingQYC's May Madness Laser Regatta is open to all Laser Sailors in the area. This is one of the club's best attended regattas and always full of great sailors and good sailing. If you are a new Laser racer, come join us! There is plenty of room and welcome for rusty and inexperienced racers to get their sea legs back, and lake sailing is a perfect place to build up your boat handling technique.
Laser Fleet Report
Thu, 12/18/2008 - 02:00 — JaylivingThe QYC Laser fleet added a number of new members this past year and we are planning activities for this winter and spring to draw additional attention to QYC and what a great venue it is for Laser sailing.
Participants at both our May Madness Regatta and the Last Blast Regatta in October have raved about our club and our lake, and each year we have attracted new members from the 15 to 20 entrants per regatta. The QYC Laser fleet is the only greater Boston summer Laser fleet (There is a frostbite fleet in Winthrop.), so we are in a great position to build a more robust fleet.
