Laser 2000 Fleet

Welcome to the Laser 2000 Fleet pages of Shustoke Sailing Club. This short introduction and the information below will give you a flavour of the Laser 2000 fleet, our main activities and what is currently going on.

The Laser 2000 is both a club racer and a family cruiser. It is a lovely and forgiving boat that provides exhilarating gennaker sailing for both novice and advanced sailors.

The Boat

The Laser 2000 is a two-handed 4.3m boat which combining a GRP hull and foam sandwich deck moulding with a modern asymmetric rig including a furling jib, reefing battened mainsail and an asymmetric spinnaker (gennaker) which is  simply hoisted from a sock and retrieved with a single line.

A high boom provides plenty of headroom whilst the self-draining cockpit keeps the crew dry and drains quickly should the boat capsize.

The 2000 has established an enviable record as a resilient and versatile design. Since its introduction in 1998 more than 2,200 boats have been built.

The Laser 2000 is virtually maintenance-free meaning that precious sailing time is spent doing just that – sailing. The boat is large enough to accommodate up to three adults or two adults plus two little ones or can be sailed single-handed in light winds, although class rules specify that racing is done with two.

Trapeze

The Laser 2000 is capable of taking a trapeze for the crew and this feature is currently in its infancy at Shustoke.  Although not standard equipment, it is available as a manufacturer’s optional extra.  We hope that this will add another dimension to the fun and experience of sailing a Laser 2000 at Shustoke.

Our Fleet

We are an expanding fleet currently consisting of 10 boats and the fleet enjoys a broad  range of experience from newcomers right up to experienced helms/crew, all of whom contend for honours against the other classes at  Shustoke. However, we are a friendly bunch who are looking for fun and  excitement in sailing. Shustoke SC has just bought three Laser 2000s as  training boats which are being put to good use in our lively and comprehensive training programme.

When We Sail

Most Laser 2000s currently tend to sail on Saturdays when we have the most 2000s turn up to sail and race.  More of the other Shustoke sailors also tend to sail on Saturdays and the emphasis is on light-hearted competition.

Some of us go in for Laser 2000 competitions further afield and there is a strong series of events organised each year by the Class Association http://www.laser2000.org.uk/. You are recommended to join the Class Association where, for just £15, there is an abundance of information about the boat, the class and its activities including open meetings, training and technical advice as well as advertising boats and equipment for sale. You will also receive regular copies of the Association magazine Millenium Mutterings.

What We Do

Our main activity is racing in the Club seasonal series but we also hold training sessions specifically for our class from time to time.  Being a sociable bunch, we often extend the invitation to recently qualified sailors and other relevant classes to join in our activities too.  

A Laser 2000 Training Session

We have an expanding range of competitions for our fleet through the year, based on taking the results from the normal club racing put on by the Club.  

One of the attractions of our own competitions has been the introduction of “personal handicaps” which aims to put less experienced, less competent helms/crews on a par with the more experienced.  This has proved to be extremely popular with our fleet and a further source of fun for all of us, much to the amusement of the non-Laser 2000 sailors.

A Recent Prize Presentation
for our own Jinks Trophy

Fleet Captain

If you need information about hiring the club’s Laser 2000s, buying a Laser 2000, Laser 2000 sailing, advice with rigging / tuning or require a space in the Laser 2000 boat park area, please contact the Laser 2000 Fleet Captain, Lawrence Dooley. Call/text 07860 847095 or send an e-mail to: This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it