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Was it worth the wait? In a word, yes. Why did it take so long? The SB3 is a “legs in” (no hiking allowed) 20-foot dinghy that delivers exhilarating performance for the hard-core sailors, but plenty of stability for those wishing just to have a playful daysailer. Winds were about 7 knots, gusting to 12 as we headed upwind, and easily settled into a comfortable groove. With the traveler the full width of the cockpit, you can easily put as little or as much twist as you want, then play the traveler from the rail. With the name “Laser” in mind, we expected the boat to be much more tender, but it really feels good, with little to no pull on the helm. The 770 pound lead bulb keel (on a stainless steel main member with epoxy foam core and a carbon epoxy skin) keeps it pretty stiff. Again, it’s legs in, so we were quite comfortable. The hull shape by Tony Castro, is not only fast but dry and we were consistently over 6 knots to windward. Yes, upwind is fun but off the wind is what’s going to bring the grins. After extending the carbon fiber sprit, the gennaker is easily launched from a large bag in the front of the cockpit. Get ready because you’ve just stepped on the gas pedal. The apparent wind quickly comes forward as you accelerate and you’re off.  We easily reached over 8 knots. We rounded the boat up in a big puff to see what would happen and, even with the end of the boom in the water, the boat never felt out of control. This is excellent for those looking at this just as daysailer. Bearing off, we were quickly planing along again, and actually got a bit blasé about being over 8 knots in 8 knots of wind.
Jibing was extremely easy, letting the sail come around the forestay, then heading up and taking off. Very fun. When anyone sails a boat, there’s always something they think could be better. It’s hard to find something wrong on the SB3. The only thing I’d suggest would be larger traveler line control blocks. Big deal right? It’s all good. The SB3 is raced as a tight one-design class in Europe and no doubt will do the same once more boats begin appearing here in the U.S. Three people can easily sail the boat to the max, but four is just as good with lots of wind. Racers will like the performance and tight rules. For traveling, you should go from trailer to sailing in under an hour. Daysailors will like the performance and the stability. Both will appreciate the boat coming complete, no need for add-ons. Although this boat is no doubt going to be popular with the young lions out there, the nice thing is that you don’t have to be a gymnast to get around in the boat. The high boom and legs in seating will allow us “seasoned” sailors to win races with skill and cunning. So, whether you’re looking for a family boat to sit out in front of your house for the summer, or just high-performance planing, the SB3 will have you grinning ear to ear. For more info go to: www.lasersailing.com/disp/uk/sb3/introduction ... continue to page two ...back to 48° North home page |