MCSC Boats

At Marsh Creek, we race the following types of boats that make up our three fleets:

Laser sailboats are an Olympic class, one-design, single-handed, cat-rigged, racing dinghy. But don't let any of that scare you - these boats are a blast. At 13 feet 10.5 inches long with a 12.5 foot waterline and 76 square feet of sail, the Laser has enough power to glide in extremely light air and blast along in a stiff breeze. A hull weight of 130 lbs allows for simple car-topping and easy handling on shore by women and junior sailors. The boat ships very little water, and comes up completely dry when righted after a capsize. The Laser’s two-piece mast and sleeved sail are in keeping with the goal of simplicity, and also help to make car topping simple.

Laser racing is arguably the most competitive and close sailboat racing in the world. The laser fleet at Marsh Creek is just as loose as they are competitive. Still, the real beauty of a Laser lies in its invitation to go sailing for the pure joy of it. With no standing rigging to bother with, no obstacle course of fittings to bruise and cut, no cockpit full of water, the bare essentials of tiller, mainsheet, and sailor can come together to feel the magic of the wind and water cast its spell. When the wind picks up, these boats become extreme machines.

The Laser Radial Rig was developed in 1988 and was sailed in the Laser Women’s World Championship for the first time that year. The Radial mast uses the same top section as the "full rig", and a shorter and more bendy bottom section. The sail is 18% smaller (62 sq. feet) than the full rig, but the center of effort of the sailplan is much lower. This means the Radial rig generates more power relative to heeling force than the full rig and so for lighter sailors allows performance and handling far better than they can achieve with the full rig. When it is quite windy, the Radial rig is faster upwind!

The Radial Rig uses the same hull as a full-rigged laser, but with a smaller lower mast section and smaller sail. At Marsh Creek, some of our lighter sailors will use either a Full rig or a Radial rig, depending on the wind conditions.

The Sunfish is the most popular boat ever produced. Millions of people have learned to sail and enjoy the water on the Sunfish. The sailplan requires just 2 lines to control and the boat can be set up in less than 5 minutes. The kick-up rudder system allows full beach landings with no problems. The hard-chined hull and low sail plan provide unmatched stability and a forgiving feel. The Sunfish hull is light enough to throw on top of your car with ease.