Laser SB3 Match unveiled

Conversion kit for sportsboat to conventional spinnaker

On a damp a dreary day at the Royal Southern Yacht Club, Hamble, Laser Performance have unveiled their conversion kit for the Laser SB3 – transforming the asymmetric sportsboat into a conventionally rigged symmetrical racer, called the Laser SB3 Match.

The kit includes all the blocks, running rigging, fittings, spinnaker pole and spinnaker and costs £1850.

The swap takes around two hours to complete and importantly does not require a drill or any new holes, everything retro fits on to the boat (and off again). The significant change is that the lowers are moved, and fitted onto the gooseneck, and the spinnaker pole mast ring fits on the original lowers fitting. The Gnav is removed also and is replaced with a conventional kicker – the reason for this is the new lower mast geometry and enables the spinnaker pole to be easily accessed from the cockpit.

The conventional spinnaker set up is suited to match racing and those boats that perhaps sail in rivers or estuaries where tide cheating, not sailing VMG is the tactic of choice.

Interest so far has been from Member National Authorities (as a trainer for match racing), sailing schools, yacht clubs and charter organisations who may have a fleet of SB3s and this offers a new dimension. Enquiries have also been fed through dealers in particular local markets where a conventional spinnaker is attractive to existing owners.