&sq=Qlik&lang=&file=File:Sailing_laser.svg) Class symbol | |
&sq=Qlik&lang=&file=File:Laser_Standard_160588_01.jpg) Laser Standard | |
| Development | |
|---|---|
| Designer | Bruce Kirby, Ian Bruce  |
| Year | 1969 |
| Builder(s) | LaserPerformance |
| Boat | |
| Crew | 1 |
| Draft | 0.787 m (2 ft 7.0 in) |
| Hull | |
| Hull weight | 58.97 kg (130.0 lb) |
| LOA | 4.2 m (13 ft 9 in) |
| LWL | 3.81 m (12 ft 6 in) |
| Beam | 1.39 m (4 ft 7 in) |
| Rig | |
| Sails | |
| Mainsail area | 7.06 m2 (76.0 sq ft) |
| Racing | |
| D-PN | 91.1 |
| RYA PN | 1088 |
| PHRF | 217 |
| Current Olympic equipment | |
The Laser is a class of single-handed, one-design sailing dinghies using a common hull design with three interchangeable rigs of different sail areas, appropriate to a given combination of wind strength and crew weight. Ian Bruce and Bruce Kirby designed the Laser in 1970 with an emphasis on simplicity and performance.
The Laser is a widely produced class of dinghies. As of 2018, there were more than 215,000 boats worldwide. It is an international class with sailors in 120 countries, and an Olympic class since 1996. Its wide acceptance is attributable to its robust construction, simple rig and ease of sailing that offer competitive racing due to tight class association controls which eliminate differences in hull, sails, and equipment.
The International Laser Class Association (ILCA) defines the specifications and competition rules for the boat, which is officially referred to as the ILCA Dinghy, due to a trademark dispute.