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Guide to Laser Sail and Rig Sizes

Over 200,000 Laser sailboats have been built over the last 40 years, more than most other small dinghy sailboats. In this article we are going to answer one of the most common questions we get: What size rig do I have?  This will help answer what size sail and/or rig you already have and what size sail and/or rig you need to purchase to update your Laser. 

What size rig / sail do I have? Standard vs. Radial vs 4.7 Explained

The Laser sailboat has had a number of different rig sizes, with the intention of making the boat sailable by a wide range of sailors (and different sailor weights) by simply swapping out the lower mast section and sail while keeping all other components the same. There are currently three different rig sizes and they are commonly referred to as 'Standard', 'Radial' and '4.7'. Below you will find an image that shows the three rigs side by side, and in the following section we'll explain each one.

Laser Standard / MK2 / ILCA 7

This is the most common Laser rig size, and the original rig on the boat when it was designed. It features a 7.06 square meter sail (about 76 square feet). In 2018, the Laser Class approved a new 'Standard' sail, which is referred to as the 'MKII' or 'Mark 2' to distinguish it from the first version. The difference, among other things, is in the panels. The original 'Standard' sail featured horizontal cut panels. The new MkII sail has radial cut panels. There is no difference in size between these two versions, and as of 2020 all new Laser Standard sails are available in this updated cut.  

How to tell if you have a 'Standard' sail:  The first and most obvious way to tell if you have a 'Standard' sail is to look at the panels. If they are horizontal, it is most likely a standard sail. Next, you can measure the luff (the front edge of the sail along the mast sleeve). This measurement should be about 5130 mm or 200 inches  from the top of the sail to the bottom.

How to tell if you have a 'Standard' lower mast section:  The 'Standard' lower mast section should measure about 2865 mm or 113 inches . It is a fairly stout mast section compared to the two smaller mast sections. 

Laser Radial / ILCA 6

Originally called the 'M' rig when first designed, the Laser 'Radial' sail is smaller than the 'Standard' sail at 5.76 square meters (62 square feet). At the time, it was the only Laser sail to feature the radial cut panels, which allowed the sail to be de-powered more easily in bigh winds. Per the notes about the 'Standard' rig above, both the Standard and Radial sail feature the radial cut design. Another typical indicator of a Radial size sail are the blue panels at the tack and clew of the sail.

How to tell if you have a 'Radial' sail:  The first and most obvious way to tell if you have a 'Standard' sail is to look at the panels. If they are radial, as in emanating out from the center, it is most likely a radial sail. Next, you can measure the luff (the front edge of the sail along the mast sleeve). This measurement should be about 4560 mm or 180 inches  from the top of the sail to the bottom.

How to tell if you have a 'Radial' lower mast section:  The 'Radial' lower mast section should measure about  2262 mm or 89 inches . It is also a bit smaller in diameter than the standard section. 

Laser 4.7 / ILCA 5

The Laser 4.7 (or ILCA 5) is the smallest of the three Laser sails and was designed for young sailors just getting into Laser sailing. The 4.7 lower mast section is also different from the others in that is has a pre-bend near the boom fitting, allowing the sail to depower much easier. This is the least common Laser sail size, and if you have an old one around, chances are it is not a 4.7 sail.

How to tell if you have a '4.7' sail:  The 4.7 is similar to the old 'Standard' sail as it has cross cut panels. Many 4.7 sails also have an obvious 4.7 logo somewhere on the cloth. Next, you can measure the luff (the front edge of the sail along the mast sleeve). This measurement should be about  4080 mm or 160 inches  from the top of the sail to the bottom.

How to tell if you have a '4.7' lower mast section:  The '4.7 lower mast section has a pre-bend in it and should measure about 1810 mm or 71 inches . The bend is the easiest way to tell it apart from the others. 

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International Laser Class Association

One Boat, One Sailor, One Design.

Introduction to Laser Sailing

by Jon Emmett

The Laser is truly the boat for all ages from our Junior 4.7s to our legendary (over 75 year old) Masters. No other adult class is raced in more countries in the World, in a class which takes grass roots to Olympic sailors. Come and join us to see why!

Not only are there nearly 215, 000 boats out there at the time of writing, but there is truly something for everyone in a combined class which covers the competitive weight range for nearly everyone from junior to adult, although it is not just about racing. Lasers form a key part of many sailing holiday fleets for people who just want to blast or potter around for fun.

Many of the world’s best sailors, difficult to mention them all, have come through the Laser rank. It seems like medalling in an international Laser event means you are likely to be able to medal in future classes as Laser sailors go on to compete in nearly every aspect of the sport. Ben Ainslie, Iain Percy, Paul Goodison, Robert Scheidt, Francesco Bruni, Tom Slingsby are probably the best known, and with so many to choose from it is hard to know where to start. Behind them, there is a whole host of talent with the level just getting higher and higher.

Photo by Jon Emmett

The inspiration for a young sailor joining the fleet is there for all to see. Yet for the Masters, the competition is in a way no less fierce and keeping active in older age is recommended on so many levels. After all, Laser sailing has been compared to cycling, so it certainly keeps testing you both physically and mentally, and the Masters’ European circuit continues to go from strength to strength.

The core skills you learn in Lasers: the starting, the tactics, and the fitness lifestyle are for life, not to mention the ability to surf downwind whilst within Rule 42, and navigate every type of wave upwind in a non-planing boat. We are always learning, and this is the reason the Laser remains as popular today as when it was first launched as a beach boat in 1969.

It is not only about having a rig for every weight but competition for every level. Of course, this varies from region to region. Another beauty of the Laser is the ability to jump on a plane and charter a boat when you get to the regatta. Due to the class’s numbers, there is no other class where this option is so widely available.

So, whether your aim is simply to have fun on those warm sunny days when the wind allows you to plane freely without getting blown off the water, or you have the Olympics firmly set in sight, there are step-by-step routes to success.

Club sailing: There are very few dinghy clubs anywhere in the world without a Laser or two, meaning that fleet racing is possible. This really is the true test of skill, racing against someone in an identical boat. Whilst handicap racing has its place and means, we can race our friends who are of very different body weights or sail very different boats, this is a far from perfect system because an overpowered boat will always tend to do well in light winds and an underpowered boat do well in strong winds, especially if it has a trapeze and can plane upwind!

Europa Cups are not only for European sailors. Indeed, we see many sailors from all over the world attend these and they make an excellent stepping stone to other international events. More and more, the other regions are having their own circuits of events.

Europeans: In recent years, probably the greatest depth of competition has been found in the European region, meaning those from other regions will travel to participate not only in the EurOlym regattas (Olympic class events in Europe) with world class venues such as Garda, Medemblik, Kiel, as well as the European Championships (and Open Trophy) themselves. For example, in Asia we have the Asian Games, in America the Pan-American Games.

For more information please see  http://www.eurilca.eu/

However other regions are working hard to catch up.

Some useful links:  Europe http://eurilca.org/

Asia http://www.asiansailing.org/

North America www.laser.org/

Australia http://www.lasersdownunder.com/

Worlds: For some, just qualifying for the Senior Worlds is a massive task, with the level going up and up and up. However, Laser sailing really does have World Championships for everyone with Junior (4.7), Youth, Under 21, and of course the other end of the scale, Masters’ Worlds!  For more information please see http://www.laserinternational.org/

Perhaps the biggest Worlds is the Sailing World Championships run by World Sailing every 4 years, which features all Olympic classes, and sitting roughly in the middle of the Olympic cycle is the major country qualifier for the Olympics.

World Cups: Being an Olympic class, both the top Laser and Radial sailors will do the invitation only World Cup Series, which also forms a very important part of the World Sailing ranking (as these World Cup events generate a lot of ranking points). The circuit currently visits Asia, North America, Europe with a final, for an even further reduced number of sailors counting all three events. For more information, please see http://www.sailing.org/ .

Jon Emmett is an Olympic Gold medal-winning coach, guiding Lijia Xu from China to Gold in the Laser Radial class at the 2012 Olympic Games in London. He also sails competitively himself in worldwide regattas when he has the time. Check out his Facebook page, Jon Emmett Sailing, where he posts his latest training videos:  https://www.facebook.com/jonemmettsailing/

Published on December 1st, 2021 | by Editor

Fifty years of Laser sailing

Published on December 1st, 2021 by Editor -->

When the Laser boat emerged in the 1970s, it was a gateway drug to the world of sailing. Go anywhere, launch anywhere, race anywhere. Adults and youth sailors alike, it initiated a worldwide generation that continues today.

During the pandemic in 2020, it was the solution to social distancing, with dusty gear finding the water again. And in this era of age-based youth sailing, the Laser offers inter-generational competition, bringing all ages together for learning and living.

Mark Lammens remembered when it all began, and the experience created the foundation in which his impact on Canadian sailing has been profound, earning him the Sail Canada President’s Award for his contributions to the sport.

In this report, Mark shares his 50 years of Laser sailing:

When I was 12 my parents were thinking about getting me a boat. Sailing school was fun and going well in Flying Juniors, so my dad bought the plans to build a marine plywood OK dinghy in our basement.

He was very handy and built a Snipe as our first family boat years back. At the same time. the Laser just came out and was built an hour away from where we lived. They decided to spend the $795 on a brand new red Laser, #8525. The boat was simple, affordable, and fun.

The boat came with a modern name, polypropylene traveler, mahogany blades, a 3.2 oz Elvstrom sail, and Elvstrom ratchet block. It came with a wooden tiller, a short extension, brummel hooks on a clew tie down and system ropes you would see on a keel boat. It also had high quality metal gudgeons and wooden hand rails that never broke.

That summer my instructor brought me to a regatta in Montreal with 210 Lasers. Before long, there were 20 Lasers at the club.

The concept and design came from Canadians Bruce Kirby (designer), Ian Bruce (builder), and Hans Fogh (sail and rig). All three were successful Olympic sailors and saw a need for a boat that provides simple sailing for everyone. The Laser class rules embraced the one design manufactured provided boat approach to ensure fairness in racing and simplicity, though this might have slowed down the introduction of needed improvements like an auto bailer, metal fairleads, durable sail cloth, and a better ratchet block.

The boats built back then had a wide option of colors like blue, mustard, red, and yellow. Because it was marketed as a roof topper with a 2 part non-tapered simple aluminum mast, lower top sides and 130 pound +/- weight, the Laser could be easily transported on the roof of the big cars of the time. Although there was a major uptick in singlehanded racing, the boat became very popular with the cottage community as many thousands of them were bought for the weekends on the lake. By the end of 1981, a 100,000 were built.

A big part of launching was having a friend help carry the boat in and out of the water or dragging it up the beach. Marketing the ease of transportation and storage might have delayed the introduction of a portable dolly which came later from Peter Siedenburg, a Finn sailor in Toronto who saw the need and designed the Seitech Dolly.

There was also a wide range of variables like all up weight and mast rake, and it took 15-20 years for some improvements like low profile tiller, thimbles for mechanical advantage on restricted rope systems, and better quality ropes.

The first smaller sail option was called the M rig which used the standard rig bottom section with a shorter top section with a halyard. M stood for Modified or Mini, but it was really a mistake. It was very difficult to de-power when the wind came up as the mast would not bend.

The better option was the Radial rig in 1983 with a smaller bottom section and the same top section developed by Fogh. There were many challenges with the smaller bottom section as it had to be able to bend and not break. Sleeves inside the mast and a thinner wall section seemed to help allow mast bend and also not break at deck level.

The Radial boat was ultimately named after the radial sail. The sail radiated from the clew and the sail cloth needed to stretch along with the bendy mast to have the mast/sail work together. Pulling on the downhaul to depower was hard on the sail cloth durability. A better longer lasting sail like the new standard Mark 2 sail is still an issue. Sailors that are campaigning in this class have a significant sail equipment expense.

There was another option for younger and lighter sailors, the 4.7. It was designed in 2005 with a much smaller 4.7 square meter sail with an even smaller bottom section. The bottom section has a permanent bend at deck level to ensure the sail is over top of the centerboard for steering balance.

The Class Association was committed to promoting racing, ‘Sailing is Fun’ and the new go fast techniques with the member newsletter. All sailors were new to the boat and an environment of collective improvement and sharing information was the mantra of the class.

Publications such as ‘Beam Reach’ and ‘the Laser Sailor’ had district reports, regatta results, and many tips from coaches and champions to keep the class engaged and informed.

The Laser came before the invention of many products that make sailing easier. Waterproof sunscreen, Gore-Tex, rash guards, McLube, Gatorade, no stretch non-absorbing non-tangling Rooster rope, chill guards, Zhik life jackets, and energy bars were many years away. Good hiking boots, quick dry technical clothing, merino wool, and the introduction and improvement in neoprene for hiking pants and cold water sailing was also years away.

A complicated and contentious patent, royalty, and international availability issue required a boat name change from Laser to ILCA to maintain Olympic status.

Today’s equivalent Laser boat, the ILCA 7 has a carbon fibre top section option, 4.5 oz sail, tapered battens, non-slip hiking strap, electronic compass, and properly oriented harken rigging systems that can be adjusted from hiking position. With the boat’s World Sailing international status, it has national three letter identifiers plus national flag.

In 1996, 25 years after the first boats went into production, Olympic status was awarded for the Laser, followed in 2008 for the Radial. Today the Singlehanded Men’s class at the Olympics is now the ILCA 7 and the Singlehanded Women’s class is the ILCA 6.

The simple, widely available, consistently constructed boat with a two-part mast ensures that racing is testing the ability and fitness of the sailor. As a British journalist once commented on boats, “the Laser (ILCA) is a proper little yacht.”

Perhaps in light of that the class would consider bringing back metal gudgeons, hand rails that don’t break, and design a new longer lasting sail for the Women.

Tags: ILCA , Mark Lammens

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2000 – EXCITING SAILING DINGHY WITH EASY HANDLING

A highly successful dinghy class, the 2000 (formerly the Laser 2000) has active sailing club racing fleets and a full open circuit series plus championships, supported by an enthusiastic Class Association. With many features found in modern performance racing classes, such as a gennaker and a self draining cockpit, the 2000 combines exciting sailing and with easy handling that inspires confidence. The 2000 sailboat is also well established as a great training boat within many leading organisations including the British Royal Navy, Army and Royal Air Force sailing programmes. The perfect transition from training into more advanced techniques and racing. RS Sailing became the licensed manufacturer in 2013 adding many detailed improvements to the 2000 including new moulds and tooling to help set the stage for a new era of Class growth.

No. of Crew

Hull construction, no. of trapezes, sail area (m²), find out more, ready to buy, find similar models, what the sailors are saying….

From our side, we are very pleased that RS Sailing is to start producing the 2000. This is a great boat for racing at all levels, for cruising and for learning to sail and we eagerly await the chance to get afloat in the first of the new boats this spring.

2000 Class Association Chairman

We have worked with Phil Morrison extensively for many years, so it is a natural fit for us to add the 2000 and we’re very much looking forward to working alongside the 2000 Association in an exciting new era for the Class.

Chairman, RS Sailing

SPECIFICATION

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The story of the former Olympian who designed the world’s most beloved boat

In 1970, Bruce Kirby created the perfect single-person sailboat. What made the Laser so unbeatable?

By Andrew Blum | Published May 6, 2019 9:30 PM EDT

On a slate-gray day in September, 89-year-old Bruce Kirby leans against the ­pinstriped first-mate’s seat of Lulu as it motors in slow circles on Long Island Sound. Just outside the elegantly varnished cockpit, a fleet of small sailboats races by, its formation loose and shifting. Kirby follows the boats through a pair of binoculars. One, Jack , belongs to him; he’d be out there competing if it weren’t for his ailing back. But all of the boats are Kirby’s design.

Known as Sonars, Kirby drew their shape in 1979 with a day just like this in mind. The Noroton Yacht Club , Kirby’s home port in the suburban town of Darien, Connecticut, wanted a craft for its members to race—something nimble and fast, but also sturdy and well-behaved. The Sonar is a “one-design boat,” meaning its specifications and equipment are governed by strict rules to ensure that competing in one is a test of skill, not money. Sailing remains a sport of the wealthy, and left unchecked, they can take things to extremes. The superyachts of the America’s Cup have nine-figure R&D budgets, and crews who wear crash helmets and body armor to protect themselves at new limits of speed and performance. In contrast, a used Sonar can be had for under $10,000, and is stable enough that it’s been used by Paralympians since the 2000 games. Out on the sound that afternoon, 37 boats are ­vying for the Sonar North American Championship, with a few former Olympians among the skippers. The whole event is buoyed by ­Kirby’s presence.

Kirby is a world-class sailor and Olympian himself—he represented Canada in ’56, ’64, and ’68—but he is most famous as the designer of a slew of boats known for their swiftness, and also their clarity and simplicity. The epitome of his ethos was a blockbuster, one that defined his career and the course of sailing more broadly: the ­single-​­person racing dinghy known as the Laser.

Back on land, Kirby looks on as the competitors come off the water, windblown and skipping toward the toilets. A collision left one Sonar with a dinner-plate-size hole in its stern, and Kirby leans in for a closer look. The regatta’s press person asks him to do it again for the camera. During the awards ceremony, organizers call Kirby up to the stage for pictures with the winners, and the photographer makes everyone take off their shades, “­except the rock star; he can leave his on.” The teasing is apt; among sailors, there are few bigger celebrities than Bruce Kirby. He comes by their affection honestly. His boats are a blast. “Who wants to design a slow boat?” Kirby likes to ask. “Or own one, for that matter.”

The wheel was a Neolithic invention. It appeared on the scene 5,000 or so years ago, part of a suite of advancements in agriculture. Sailboats came earlier. Australia was settled at least 50,000 years ago, and the first humans didn’t arrive on the continent by foot. Three thousand years ago, Odysseus himself was “sailing the winedark sea for ports of call on alien shores.” Christopher Columbus crossed the Atlantic, by sail, in 1492—marking the start of several hundred eventful years of wind-powered global travel. Only in the past 200 years have the steamship, ­internal-​­combustion engine, and jetliner erased the sailing ship’s primacy as a means of transportation. Sailboats themselves, however, have held on, not as necessity but as sport.

No surprise then that in 1969, when Bruce Kirby got a call from his friend, the Montreal-based industrial designer Ian Bruce, about drafting a new sailboat, the brief was for a piece of recreational equipment—a “car-topper” to go along with a line of outdoor gear (tents, cots, camping chairs) for the Hudson’s Bay Company retail chain. “I didn’t even know what a car-topper was,” Kirby recalls. The craft had to be easy to transport and rig in order to make it as painless as possible to get out on the water.

The dinghy wasn’t the first boat Kirby had dreamed up, but he wasn’t designing them full time. He was working as an editor at a sailing magazine, living (like now) on the Connecticut shore. As a designer, he was self-taught, nicking a copy of Skene’s Elements of Yacht Design , originally published in 1904, from a family friend and understanding, he estimates, about a third of it. But Kirby had “three-­dimensional eyeballs,” as he describes it; he had no trouble envisioning the shape of a hull. And as a world-class racer of small boats, he knew what a fast one should feel like.

Kirby sketched on ruled paper as they talked. When they hung up, he brought it to his 7-foot drawing board and began to tinker. He knew he had to “get the numbers right.” His first consideration was what’s known as the prismatic coefficient, which defines the shape of the vessel. Is it a tub or a knife? Or, in the language of yacht design, is the hull “full” or “fine”? A rectangular barge has a prismatic coefficient of 1 because its hull entirely fills the prism made by its length, beam (or width), and draft (its depth). Most sailboats have a coefficient between 0.5 and 0.6, meaning about half that volume. If the prismatic coefficient is too high—if the boat is too fat—it will be slow, especially in light wind. But if the coefficient is too low—if the boat is too skinny—it will slice through the waves rather than ride up on top of them, or “plane.” A sailboat that planes well is fast, but more important, it’s fun. High up out of the water, wind and sail become more than the sum of their parts. Kirby settled on 0.55, a just-right number to make a well-balanced boat: fast but stable, neither too tippy nor too tubby.

But only if the sailor worked for it. Dinghies depend on “live ballast,” i.e., a person leaning, or “hiking,” out over the side. A big sail makes a boat zip, if its sailor can keep it flat. Basic physics says that their ability to do so depends on their weight, which of course varies from person to person. So, Kirby had a second number to choose: the ratio of sail size to the hull’s displacement, which depends on the weight of the boat plus its human. Kirby dialed in his ­dinghy to perform best with 180 pounds of flesh—in his words, “a good-size guy working like hell to go fast.” The decision was in part selfish; it described Kirby at the time.

Within a couple of weeks, Kirby had a sketch for Bruce. “He was in a bit of a hurry,” Kirby says. When Hudson’s Bay decided against selling a boat at all, Kirby told Bruce to hold on to the design: “I put a little more oomph in the boat than you asked for. It’s going to be a pretty hot little boat if we ever have a chance to build it.”

The chance came soon enough. In October 1970, Kirby’s magazine planned a promotional regatta for sailboats that cost less than $1,000, to be held at the Playboy Club in Lake Geneva, Wisconsin. Kirby and Bruce built a prototype of the car-topper and rigged it for the first time the day of the race. They came in second place. The bend of the mast didn’t match the shape of the sail, so they recut the cloth that night and won the next day’s contest. The little boat was fast and looked it, with a low profile that kept sailors close to the water. Spectators tried to buy it right off the beach.

Racing the wind

Back home, the friends began work on a second prototype, mailing plans back and forth across the border. They built it with an adjustable mast so they could play with different configurations. By December, it was ready for final testing. Doing laps on Lake Saint-Louis near Montreal, they moved the mast forward a few inches, cut its height, and took a foot off the end of the boom, looking for just the right feel. By the end of the cold weekend, they decided their hot little dinghy—13 feet, 10½ inches long—was ready for market. All it needed was a name. At a celebratory dinner, a sailing friend—a McGill University student—​­suggested it should be something youthful and international. “Why don’t you call it something like ­‘Laser’?” he asked.

Ian Bruce had a small boatbuilding shop, and the men decided that he would manufacture the dinghy, while Kirby would receive royalties for the design. Bruce priced it at $695. At the New York Boat Show the next month, they collected orders for 144 Lasers. “We didn’t know what the hell was happening,” Kirby recalls.

There were societal factors at play. Postwar prosperity and the construction of new highways led to a boom in ­second-​home ownership in the 1960s and ’70s. Many of those new residences were along lakes and reservoirs, and there were more of those too: Between 1933 and 1968, the Tennessee Valley Authority created more than 10,000 miles of new shoreline, while the Bureau of Land Management created 200 reservoirs. A new swath of the middle class could afford a lake house and, apparently, were ready for an inexpensive sailboat to go with it.

As intended, the Laser was cheap and easy to transport, rig, and bang into a dock. “From a technology standpoint, it’s a very simple boat, and just a great, great boat to learn how to sail fast,” says Scott MacLeod, a sailor at the Noro­ton Yacht Club who twice won the North American collegiate Singlehanded Championship in a Laser—1983 and 1985—and topped out at seventh place in the Worlds.

Laser sailors first organized themselves into an international class in 1974, codifying Kirby’s design into strictly defined specs, and setting the craft on a path toward the Olympics, where it debuted in Atlanta in 1996. In the ’80s, the introduction of a smaller sail, known as the Radial, allowed lighter sailors to be competitive in heavy winds, and became the standard for women’s Laser racing. The sport of sailing is said to be in perpetual decline, but Laser racing has persisted. The 2018 Laser Masters World Championships, held in Dún Laoghaire, Ireland, had 302 entries from 25 countries. (The apogee was the 1980 Laser Worlds, in Kingston, Ontario, a legendary event with 350 entries.) But there are also thousands of smaller weekend regattas, held everywhere from Sheepshead Bay in Brooklyn, New York, to the Victoria Nyanza Sailing Club in Kampala, Uganda.

All told, more than 220,000 Lasers have been built by licensed manufacturers on five continents. (Ian Bruce sold his boatbuilding business in the 1980s. He died in 2016.) With the exception of alternative rigs with smaller sails, like the Radial, the Laser has hardly changed. There have been slight upgrades, each one documented and approved in a “construction manual” maintained by the International Laser Class Association, a kind of worldwide club of Laser sailors. Each Laser factory is audited for conformity.

“Because it’s such a one-design boat, it really comes down to the sailor,” says Sarah Douglas, a contender for the Canadian 2020 Olympic sailing team who recently came in sixth at the Laser Worlds. “It’s not equipment differences or sail differences; it comes down to what the sailor is able to do out on the water,” she says. “At the end of the day, you can’t blame your boat. It’s just you. It is all you.”

For decades, Kirby and his wife, Margo, lived in a house on Connecticut’s little Five Mile River, just upstream from where it empties into Long Island Sound. It had a deepwater dock out the back, and Kirby’s Laser—sail number 0—was laid out on the lawn. (It’s now at the Mystic Seaport Museum .) But recently they moved a few blocks away, to a more modest Colonial with a two-car garage. There are still moving boxes to unpack, yet the walls are already hung with old photos of Kirby sailing his designs, and boat models known as half hulls mounted on plaques. The Laser gets pride of place. Next to the front door, there’s a framed action shot of the “hot little boat” at its best: in the sail position known as a reach, with spray skirting off the bow as if it had a jet engine underneath.

The Laser’s simplicity makes it something like the platonic ideal of a sailboat, like a child’s drawing with a line and a triangle—but enabled by the postwar innovations of fiberglass (for its hull), aluminum (for its mast), and Dacron (for its sail). It is the sort of definitive and lasting design that comes around only rarely, such as the iPhone or five-pocket bluejeans. Except bluejeans and iPhones are constantly being tweaked, evolving along with human taste or ingenuity. Each change widens the aperture of possibility. The object does a new thing, looks a new way, or serves a new purpose.

But a Laser is a sailboat. It moves by the power of the wind along the surface of the water, a function that hasn’t changed in millennia. Granted, Lasers rarely go anywhere, except in circles. They satisfy a basic human desire for speed and competition, each high on the hierarchy of pleasures. It’s all the more remarkable, then, that among innumerable variations of small sailboats over all time, the precise design of the Laser has ridden up on the wave of history, and stayed there, for 50 years—and counting.

This article was originally published in the Spring 2019 Transportation issue of Popular Science.

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Laser Dinghy

04.05.16  –  By: Graham Loveland  –  In: Boats

In one-design classes, however, very strict rules constrain the design with parameters such as hull shape/size/weight, fittings, and rig size all tightly defined by the class association, and with new boats often only available from identical moulds from a limited number of authorised builders. Possibly the strictest application of the one-design principle is in the case of the Laser.

Note: The name “Laser” originally only applied to the boat described in this article, that now known as the Laser Standard. However over time “Laser” became a brand rather than just a single design and there have been a number of very different dinghy designs from this stable.

The Laser was originally conceived by Canadian designer Bruce Kirby as a simple, car-toppable dinghy to form part of a line of camping equipment. Kirby sat on the design for a while but in 1970 submitted it to a competition run by an American sailing magazine for a new low-cost dinghy. Kirby’s design easily won its class and was introduced commercially at the 1971 New York boat show. It has since become one of the most popular dinghies in the world, with over 200,000 boats in 140 countries. Bruce Kirby had neither the finances nor the manufacturing capability to mass produce or market the boat himself, so he sold manufacturing licences to existing dinghy manufacturers with exclusive geographical sales regions. This was to lead to problems later.

The Laser’s appeal lies partly in the simplicity of its design. A flush deck with only a small well for the feet and low freeboard, are complemented by a two piece unstayed mast with a sleeved mainsail, and a simple daggerboard. Thus the boat is relatively cheap to buy, quick and easy to rig, and comes up dry after a capsize. The other feature contributing to its appeal is that it is exciting to sail. According to its class association, “the Laser rewards athleticism, subtle steering and trimming techniques, as well as tactical excellence”. However, in stronger winds keeping the boat upright requires not just body weight but also agility and strength, notably of stomach muscles because of the straight legged hiking position required for most efficient sailing.

Because of these considerations, for a number of years the design tended to appeal more to male than female sailors, at least at the top level. In the mid 1980s alternative rigs began to be offered, with a shorter mast and reduced sail area, but with everything else identical. These boats were known as the Laser 4.7 and the Laser Radial, with the original boat now named the Laser Standard. These changes opened up the class to younger lighter weight sailors who could now start with the 4.7 and then move up in the class by buying progressively larger rigs without having to buy a new hull or other fittings.

This development came to appeal not only to younger sailors but also to lady sailors and to others with less strength and agility who found the boat with the Radial rig easier to handle, notably in strong winds, than the Standard. The lower centre of effort of the Radial rig means it develops more power for a given heeling force than the Standard and as a result can be faster than the Standard upwind. The Radial rig now outsells the Standard in Europe.

The Laser was adopted as a single handed class for men at the Olympics in 1996 and for ladies, as the Radial, in 2008, and has been the training and competition boat of choice of two of the most successful Olympic sailors of recent years. Briton Ben Ainslie won the Laser Radial World Championships in 1993 at the age of 16 and then went on to win Silver in the class at the 1996 Olympics and Gold at the 2000 event, before switching to the Finn class for Olympic competition, in which he also won Gold medals at three successive Olympiads. Ainslie’s tally of five Olympic medals follows the pattern of Brazilian sailors Torben Grael and Robert Scheidt, the latter winning Gold medals in the Laser class at the 1996 and 2004 games, though beaten into Silver place by Ainslie in 2000. At the time of writing in November 2014, Ainslie’s Gold medal winning Laser and Finn boats were on display in the Museum.

Despite, or perhaps because of its success, the future of the Laser class is in doubt as a result of a complex legal dispute over the payment of design royalties between Bruce Kirby as designer and Performance Sailcraft as the builder which held the manufacturing licence for the world outside a few Asian countries, a dispute which has also embroiled the International Sailing Federation and International Laser Class Association. The case has been the subject of claim and counter claim since 2008 and shows no sign of early resolution; in the meantime Bruce Kirby has been seeking to reintroduce the design and gain official recognition of it as the Kirby Torch.

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How Long Is A Laser Sailboat?

Last Updated by

Daniel Wade

May 22, 2023

‍ Key Takeaways

• A Laser is an ideal boat for those wanting to dinghy race or be active on the water
• Laser boats are 13.78 feet long and some use a smaller sail depending on your weight
• The Laser hull is an excellent dinghy design with a few sail modifications
• Laser sailors are able to transport the boat on a trailer or the top of a typical car
• Laser sailing is arguably the best dinghy since it utilizes an ideal weight and boat length

‍ Laser sailboats are a popular racing dinghy that are compact and easy to handle. But how long is a laser sailboat?

A Laser sailboat is approximately 13.78 feet long and comes in three different rigging versions depending on your sailing needs. These boats include the Laser Standard, Laser Radial, and the Laser 4.7. Each rig type still remains just under 14 feet in boat length.

After careful analysis the Laser appears to have a perfect design and great boat length to accommodate any type of sailor no matter their experience. It is estimated that over 200,000 Laser boats are in about 140 countries and makes it the most popular racing dinghy out there.

Table of contents

‍ Differences in Laser Boats

Laser boats all remain the same boat length of 13.78 feet so there will be a level of familiarity if you were to move from one rigging type to another. Since they are a one design boat they are typically the same style but newer models might have something that the older ones do not.

The only differences will be in the rigging that you choose upon your purchase. You can see the rigging types below and how they might apply to your skill and body type.

Laser Standard - Best All Around

The Laser Standard has a 76 feet squared sail and is meant for sailors that are more athletic or have a heavier build. The skill level ranges between beginner and expert but most adults with some sailing experience will opt for this rigging type.

Laser Radial - Best for Lighter Sailors

The Laser Radial has a 62 feet squared sail and is meant for women or lighter weight sailors. The skill level ranges between beginner and expert but most that have limited experience will likely choose this one.

Laser 4.7 - Best Beginner or Youth Sailing

The Laser 4.7 has a 50.59 feet squared sail and is best of youth sailors or lighter sailors in general. The skill level still ranges between beginner and expert but this is a perfect introduction into dinghy sailing for anyone.

The Charecteristics of a Laser Boat

A Laser boat is made up of many different parts. Each part makes the boat unique and is why it is able to be around 14 feet in length. If any one of these parts are damaged or missing you will not be able to experience the Laser as it was intended to be.

Mast Section and Boom

The mast is adjustable into two different parts. One of them being the shorter lower mast section and allows you to change direction based on the wind.

The boom is similar to the mast in that it helps control the angle of the wind hitting the sail. This is located at the bottom of the sail along the footing.

Various Types of Sails

The sails are any of the three types that were mentioned above. The size of your sails will depend on your personal weight so it is important for the right balance and performance to find the sails that are accommodating to you.

Stability with Daggerboard and Rudders

The daggerboard is a keel type that enters through a slot on the hull. This is essential for a boats stability. Rudders have to be down while sailing in order to properly steer the boat.

Steering with a Tiller

The tiller allows you to steer the boat through the rudder and is necessary if you want to sail. Most Laser boat racers opt for a tiller extender so that they can control the boat while leaning over the edge for balance.

Best Tips for the Purchase of a Laser Boat

Laser sailing is a one of a kind experience on the water and not meant for simple cruising. These boat types are used in the Laser World Championships and have their own Laser class among dinghy races throughout the world. They are governed by the International Laser Class Association and races have a set of Laser class rules.

Bruce Kirby and his innovation helped sketched and designed the first Laser boat in 1970. This paved the way for a revolutionary brand.

Since the earliest models it has gained a lot of popularity among dinghy sailing. Today you can still find some original Laser Standard sail and many newer models that could fit within your budget or sailing goals.

What to Look for in a Laser Boat

You could look to purchase a Laser boats based on a variety of factors. These could be new or used but will ultimately vary depending on the desired use.

If you happen to find an older Laser boat you should give it some thought. These boats are designed with the same hull type over the years and the quality has been consistent.

Hull’s Condition

The hull needs to be in good shape no matter if it is new or used. Make sure there are not any holes or spots that are soft which would later become a hole.

The hull weight should also be around 130 pounds since that is what new Laser boats are weighing. If used you should ask the owner how they stored the boat whether on land or left at a marina in the water.

Age of Laser

Laser boats can be great if they are taken care of over time. A 1970 version will obviously look and feel much different than a 2023 model.

A lot of models have the same hull and same specifications since they are a one design boat. If applicable you can check the hull number and look it up to get an accurate representation of the boats age.

Average Cost to Expect

Laser boats range in price depending on a variety of factors. If the boat was taken care of over the years then a used version will definitely be a the best bang for your buck.

A Laser boat that is used but in good condition could vary between $2,000 and $5,000. A newer Laser boat could start around $5,000 and be as high as nearly $6,000.

It is best if you can shop around to find a great deal on a Laser boat. Since there are over 200,000 Laser boats in regulation around the world the chances of finding one at a good price near you is highly likely.

Why You Might Consider Purchasing a Laser Boat

Laser boats are a great way to be active on the water and get a feel for sailing. The best thing about it is that you can have a good time without needing a ton of experience sailing beforehand.

Ease of Transportation

These are compact boats that can be easily transported by a truck or trailer. It would be best to transport with a trailer but not everyone has that capability. Some small cars can carry these if you can figure out a safe way to transport the boat.

Different Versions and Rig Setups

They make two different hardware versions and three different rigging types. Since the design is essentially the same over the years many sailors of different experience levels can work on their sailing skills.

XD is best for sailors wanting to find performance. Race is best for those wanting to sail recreationally or for racing in clubs.

Easy to Learn Sailing Skills

If you have never sailed on a boat like this then it will take some practice. There is a slight learning curve since you need to use your body to help balance the boat while racing. They are great for anyone with a competitive spirit and that love to go fast.

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I've personally had thousands of questions about sailing and sailboats over the years. As I learn and experience sailing, and the community, I share the answers that work and make sense to me, here on Life of Sailing.

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Welcome to our Laser Sailing Tips Frequently Asked Questions page.

If you have any questions that are not covered below, please let us know and we will endeavor to answer them for you.

Alternatively, if you have any tips that you think others may find useful or questions that you know that people have and you can answer, please feel free to share your knowledge.

How long is a laser sailing race?

How old is my laser sailing dinghy, how does laser sailing work, how to rig a laser sailing boat, what is laser sailing, what to wear laser sailing, what is laser radial sailing, how much do laser sailboats cost, how fast do laser sailboats go, how much does a laser sailboat weigh, how long is a laser dinghy, what to look for when buying a laser dinghy, where to put tell tales on a laser sail, where to buy a laser sailboat, where are laser sailboats made, how to fold a laser sail, when is the laser sailing season, where is my nearest laser sailing club, where can you sail a laser.

The length of a laser race varies. It is normally determined by the race committee depending on the weather conditions on race day. Moreover, a lot of sailors nowadays assess the length of the race according to the estimated time it takes for the race to be over rather than the actual distance traveled.

To determine the age of your laser dinghy, you will first have to check the number embedded in the hull. Usually, it is located beneath the bow eye or in the transom.

For more information, click here .

Below is a table of laser sail numbers by year that you can also refer to:

Laser sailing differs significantly from sailing on other boats. It is very unstable so takes a lot of effort and concentration to get it sailing well. Since the laser dinghy lacks a motor, paddle, or oars, you need to master the skill of using the wind to propel your boat forward. One day, a gentle breeze might allow you to enjoy a quiet day out with nature, but the next day, it could be strong and gusty, testing your skill in coordinating your movements with the boat, the wind, and the water.

Different people have different ways of rigging their sailboats. A brief method is outlined below:

• Gather all the pieces in one place. Connect both pieces of the mast. Make sure they fit together securely.
• Slide the mast into the pocket of the sail. Make sure to insert the battens into the sail.
• Put the mast into the mast step on the deck.
• Put the front end of the boom into the gooseneck.
• Connect the outhaul, fasten the clew-tie-down, and tie it around the boom.
• Rig the mainsheet.
• Fasten the boom vang to the lowermost part of the mast.
• Screw the hull plug into the drain hole.
• Fasten the rudder, and connect the tiller and tiller extension.
• With the centerboard ready, launch the boat, slide the fin into place and tie off, and set to sail.

For more detailed information, please go to https://lasersailingtips.com/rigging-and-launching

Laser sailing is a popular water sport that uses a one-design dinghy. Although the design of the boat is straightforward, Laser sailors and racers face a unique set of challenges that require special physical skills. Laser sailing necessitates a high level of fitness so that a sailor is able to withstand the hiking and body-twisting skills vital in sailing, especially when sailing upwind.

Discover more about how laser sailing works at https://lasersailingtips.com

Laser sailing wardrobe depends on the conditions, the season you are sailing, and personal preference. These are some of the items generally used by laser sailors:

• Life Jacket – This is a must-have for all laser sailors. It should be cut high on the waist to make sitting and crouching easy and comfortable.
• Dinghy Boots – Use comfortable boots that are light and dry quickly.
• Sailing Gloves – Good gloves help you hold the lines well without damaging your hands.
• Hat – Wear a hat with a brim to protect your face from the sun. Tie it to your life jacket so you will not lose it overboard.
• Polarized Sunglasses – The glare of the sun bouncing off the water and your deck will put a lot of strain on your eyes if you do not protect them with sunglasses.
• Dinghy Smock – A great option for laser sailors. Lighter colors work best because they protect you when it’s cool and wet, but do not get as hot when it’s sunny.
• Wetsuit – some prefer full length to protect knees and elbows, while others prefer the shorter varieties that allow more flexibility.
• Thermal Pants – Thermal pants are especially useful in cooler conditions providing warmth when wet.
• Light Rash Vest – Helps keep the sun off your arms.
• Thermal Rash Vest – Acts like the light rash vest but is more appropriate for early spring and late fall when extra warmth is needed.
• Hiking Pants – Hiking pants (whether short or long) are made of perforated neoprene so it is cool to the skin and do not overheat even on a warmer day.

Laser radial sailing is generally for lighter-weight sailors. Unlike the Laser Standard, the Laser Radial has a smaller sail and is preferred by many women laser sailors. But just like the Laser Standard, the design is strictly controlled by the International Class Association. The only modification difference is the size of the sail as well as the lower part of the mast.

The value of a laser sailboat largely depends on the condition of the boat as well as the “extra” things that come along with it. Things like a roof rack, dinghy cover, foil carry bags, and spares all carry a value that is added to the price, as well as the general condition of the deck, hull, and sails.

See https://lasersailingtips.com/buying-a-laser/inspecting-a-laser-what-to-check for more information.

“Laser sailboat fastest recorded speed is 18.6 knots.”

The fastest recorded speed that we could find was 18.6 knots back in 2017 in Great Britain. You can read more about that record Laser speed here .

The previous record was in 2009 and was located in Honolulu, which pegged the Laser speed at 16.8 knots. Read more here.

“Laser sailboat hull weight is 56.7 kg. or 125 lb.”

Laser sailboats are generally lightweight, making them easy to transport. The hull weight is 56.7 kg. or 125 lb. and can be lifted onto the car-top rack without a problem.

Its nominal weight including the deck fittings is equal to 59 kg or 130 lb.

“Laser sailboat length is 4.23m or 13ft 10.5in.”

All Lasers are fabricated to standard specifications controlled by the International Class Association. It is, therefore, a one-design class of sailboat with a hull measurement of 4.23 meters or 13 ft 10.5 in long, and its waterline length is equal to 3.81 meters or 12 ft 6 in. It has a beam of 1.42m / 4ft 8in.

Click here to check out more of the Laser Dinghy and Sail specs.

When buying a laser dinghy, you need to check lots of things. Of course, determining your budget is essential. You also need to familiarize yourself with the various controls and fittings on a laser dinghy. Ensure you know how to inspect the boat to confirm it’s in excellent condition. Make sure to check out this article which goes into a lot of detail: https://lasersailingtips.com/buying-a-laser/inspecting-a-laser-what-to-check

Sailors have different ways of putting their tell tales on sails. Some sailors will put their tell tales just beneath the second batten pocket and another one under the first batten pocket, on the edge of the leech edge, within one foot from the mast pocket and a few feet up from the boom. You can read more about tell tales by visiting https://lasersailingtips.com/laser-controls-and-fittings/wind-indicators

You can look in many different places. If you want a new boat, call the manufacturer. They most likely have one in your region. But if a second-hand boat is what you’re after, visit your local sailing club and ask for referrals. For more ideas, visit https://lasersailingtips.com/buying-a-laser/where-to-look/ .

The Laser was designed by Bruce Kirby and was introduced to the public in 1971. After launching at the New York Boat Show, it quickly established itself as the perfect one-design boat due to its simplicity and performance. Currently, manufacturers in the UK, Australia, Japan, and the USA manufacture it.

There are two things to consider when folding a sail – how new the sail is and how much storage space there is for it.

There are a few different ways of folding a laser sail :

• Rolling the sail around a boom, pole, or tube – If you have plenty of space for storing and you like to preserve the sail in the best condition possible, then this is the best method to use. Instead of using your own boom (which has fittings attached to it and will crease the sail), you can use anything that is long and round but not too heavy or anything that is prone to rust. A good example is a PVC drainpipe.
• Concertina folding – This method is not recommended when your sails are new. It is also important to not fold the sail along the same lines every time because this will weaken the sail’s fibers and break.
• Folding the sail to its corners – This is the fold that you use when you are in a hurry or you want to vary your fold so that you do not fold along the same creases.

Most sailing clubs that race laser dinghies hold races in the warmer months, but this does vary depending on the club and where you live. During warmer months, there may be races every weekend. However, during the cooler months, races may be less frequent or racing may stop altogether until it warms up again.

Laser sailing clubs can either be part of a bigger yacht or sailing club or their own standalone club. If they are part of a bigger club, then they may have races dedicated to Lasers or races may be mixed in with dingies of different makes and sizes. Clubs can be found all over the place… all that is needed is a good-sized lake or body of water.

Because the Laser is so versatile, you can sail it in a wide variety of places. Any good-sized body of water may be ok for Laser sailing. Lasers are sailed on lakes, rivers, bays, dams, and also the ocean. If you are just starting out, one of the best places to sail a Laser is by going to your local yacht or sailing club. Most clubs will have a Laser fleet, and they will be more than willing to teach you how to sail. Another option is to ask around at your local marina, or even better if you live near a university, check out their sailing club. Most universities have a sailing club that will be more than willing to have you join and learn how to sail.

Previous: About Laser Sailing Tips

Next: Introduction – Specs and About The Laser Dinghy

22 Comments

Hi; I have just got a Laser – sail # 144522. But it is missing the lower mast. I am looking to buy one – but looking at the pictures of these I see that the goose-neck does not swivel horizontally. Is it possible that the boat has been designed so that the whole mast swivels in the hull hole??? Surely this would judder as it moved when under sail. Regards John

Hi John. Thanks for your question. It is designed this way, and seems to work ok. Because the mast does swivel in the hole in the deck, it’s important to make sure that the mast base is free from any sand or dirt, so that it does not wear out the mast step or base of the mast. Hope you enjoy sailing your new laser 🙂 Regards Brendan

Hi; I m confused to set my sail in water sometimes it work properly but sometimes in same condition not get feeling that were before

Hi Rohit. I would say that you just have a different setup. Getting the same setup does take a little practice. What you think might be the same may not be exactly, which can affect the feel and handling of your dinghy dramatically. Make sure you check out my sailing theory section to give you some of the background of the forces that are involved at different angles of sailing. This site is mainly aimed at those starting out, so if you are after more detailed responses, make sure you check out some of the great books going around. I have a list of my favorites here . Cheers Brendan

I just picked up a laser from the original owner with a serial number of 062. The color is teal hull and white deck. Is there any collectible value?

Hi Jeff #062 – Wow… I have never seen one that old. Not sure on the value on that one. Sorry. Some other readers may have a better idea.

Hi guys. I just read another article today that said the first commercially sold laser was serial number 100, everything before that was considered a prototype. Don’t know if that means it’s collectible but it certainly is a rare vintage

Hi Barclay I’d agree that any Laser number below 100 would be rare. Wasn’t aware that they were considered a prototype though. Very interesting… thanks for sharing! Regards Brendan

Unless the boat is in brand new condition, there is no collectible value. People still sail the old boats but they are prone to being heavier from water absorption through the hull to deck joints. Just sail it and enjoy it.

If I order a laser pico from the LaserPerformance website how long does it take till it is ready to be picked up from the factory?

Hi Felipe I think you are probably better off talking to the LaserPerformance people, as they may be able to help you. I have no affiliation with them. Regards Brendan

Hi, I am taking my laser across country and have a pretty crisp racing sail. It’s too long to have in the car with us and I worry about damage if transported externally. How much damage will be done if the sail is folded for a few weeks?

Hi Amy I know that many sailors fold their sails and are not too worried about damaging them, but care does have to be taken. ie. Don’t crease the sails (ie. by putting weight on the folds) and don’t fold through the window. Other Laser sailors prefer to roll them all the time around a tube (eg. PVC pipe) because they prefer their sails to be as crease-free as possible, and they believe that they perform better. To answer your question, I don’t think they should be damaged too much if you take care. Just do a very loose fold, and don’t put anything on top of the folded sail. That being said, if you are super worried, you can get rolled sail bags that may be able to protect a rolled sail from damage if transported externally (although I am not sure how well they work, as I have never used one), so you may want to check out this option. You could also box it up yourself and courier it over if you don’t have room in your car (I bought a windsurfing sail on the internet from the other side of the country, and it arrived fine doing it this way). Check out this post for other’s thoughts on rolling and folding. All the best. Brendan

I Would recommend that you get a big PVC pipe and insert the rolled sail In it to transport externally.

I have just gotten a secondhand Laser dinghy which is 12 years old and I was just wondering how long do Lasers generally last if they are taken care of well.

hi AK Thanks for your question. It’s probably impossible to put an exact figure on it, but as long as they are well looked after, and also not had too much use (eg. hard, competitive racing), then a laser dinghy can last for years. If yours is 12 years old and been well looked after, it should still have plenty of life in it. There are plenty of laser dinghies going around racing every week that are more than 12 years old. Yours may not be as light, stiff or fast as the newer boats going, but if you are just starting out, it may be a great option to get you onto the water without spending a heap of money. Once you have improved your skills, you may be able to sell your 1st dinghy for (hopefully) not much less than you paid for it, and upgrade. Hope that helps a little Cheers Brendan

Hi I’ve been cleaning up a laser for my son’s to use the sail number is 13282 what’s the age of the boat

Hi Peter I have not been able to find the exact ages of boats before 1977 (sail # 35265 – 42273). If you look at how many Laser dinghies were built after 1977, it is between approx. 7,000-16,000/year. So as a very rough guide, your dinghy may have been built 2-3 years beforehand. If anyone has laser dinghy numbers before 1977, please share them 🙂 cheers

Hi, I used to have a 15′ Rothmans Father and Son and I am interested in getting back into sailing now that I am retired by the ocean. The Laser seems like an ideal craft for hopping around the islands along our coastline. What I wanted to know was do the lasers have scupper holes to clear the water after capsizing? The Rothmans had a sealed floor and large scupper holes in the stern which meant that it drained the water out very quickly and I used to capsize it on purpose for fun. Later I purchased a normal basic sailing dinghy but when it capsized it was full of water and sat under the water line, very dangerous.

Hi Martin The cockpit of the laser is not open at the back like many newer-style dinghies and skiffs. The cockpit is closed in but it does contain a self-bailer at the bottom of the cockpit that drains the water away. If you do capsize and get a lot of water into the cockpit, it will drain away but more slowly than some other dinghy designs. Click here to see a few images of the bailer system.

Can anyone give me a tips to stop the main sheet catching on the stern when tacking or gybing

Hello Huw Thank you for your question… it’s a pretty common problem with Laser sailors. In my experience, it’s more common during gybes. While different sailors might offer varying insights, the solution revolves around managing mainsheet tension during the gybing process. To prevent the mainsheet from catching on the stern, consider this technique: just before initiating the gybe, take in a bit of mainsheet to minimize slack around the stern corner. As the boom starts its movement across the boat, give the mainsheet a gentle tug (you can grab it between the boom block and the mainsheet block) to further reduce any remaining slack. This adjustment should help you avoid the sheet catching on the stern. If it is happening during tacking, then you may be letting out a little too much when you are going into the tack. Try releasing a little less. With practice, you’ll become more proficient at tacking and gybing swiftly, reducing the likelihood of encountering this issue. If anyone else has some extra tips, please share. Hope that helps.

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What Is the Ideal Weight to Sail a Laser?

Sailing a Laser is an exciting and challenging sport that requires skill, strength, and endurance. One of the most important factors to consider when sailing a Laser is your weight.

The ideal weight for sailing a Laser can vary based on several factors such as wind conditions, water temperature, and individual fitness levels. In this article, we will explore the ideal weight range for sailing a Laser.

Factors that affect the ideal weight for sailing a Laser

There are several factors that can affect the ideal weight for sailing a Laser. Let’s take a look at some of these:

Wind Conditions

Wind conditions can play a significant role in determining the ideal weight for sailing a Laser. If you are sailing in light winds, you will need to be lighter to maximize your speed. Conversely, if you are sailing in heavy winds, having more weight can help stabilize your boat and prevent capsizing.

Water Temperature

Water temperature can also affect your body’s ability to perform optimally while sailing. If the water is cold, you may need more body fat to insulate yourself from the cold water. On the other hand, if the water is warm, having less body fat may be advantageous as it can help you stay cooler and more comfortable.

Fitness Level

Your fitness level plays an essential role in determining your ideal weight range for sailing a Laser. If you are physically fit and have good muscle mass, you may be able to sail effectively with more bodyweight than someone who is not as fit.

The Ideal Weight Range for Sailing a Laser

The ideal weight range for sailing a Laser varies depending on individual factors such as height, fitness level, and experience level. However, on average, most sailors find that they perform best when they weigh between 150-170 pounds (68-77 kg). This weight range is ideal for most wind conditions and water temperatures and allows for optimal speed and maneuverability.

In conclusion, the ideal weight range for sailing a Laser can vary based on several factors such as wind conditions, water temperature, and individual fitness levels.

8 Related Question Answers Found

How much should you weigh to sail a laser, what is the minimum weight to sail a laser, how far can you sail a laser, how hard is it to sail a laser, how much does a new laser sail cost, how fast can you sail a laser, is it hard to sail a laser, what size is a laser sail.

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LASER BIATHLON   JUNIOR was successfully tested during the two big events (The Innovation Day, Moscow City Day). We are glad to announce LASERTAG BIATHLON JUNIOR has been officially put in mass production. The main difference from the previous version is the optical system. The game set uses a laser diode (semiconductor) module. Its main characteristics are: - wave length - 980 nm; - output optical power < 1; operating temperature: from -10° C to + 40° C. The chosen laser module belongs to CLASS 1 LASER PRODUCT (according to laser safety standards), saving your eyes from direct laser hits and avoid specularly reflected rays. Safety is above all! 

It is FORBIDDEN to use a biathlon tagger in laser tag games!  Due to the fact that the laser uses half of the operating current, the range of the weapon is  50 (± 10) meters in the sunlight. The killing zone is smaller than 10 cm. This figure used to be a lot bigger when we used additional tube plugs. Now it has become harder to hit the biathlon target. The Laser Biathlon set includes: 

• Rack with supports;
• Biathlon tagger with special firmware based on MP-512;

The biathlon kit comes with a special belt that doesn't restrict the player's movements. Thanks to the design features of the belt, the player will be able to prepare the rifle for shooting in a matter of seconds and put the weapon behind their back as quickly.

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Laser engraving, laser cutting machine, laser welding machine, laser marking machine,JNCTLASER

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Laser Machines

Machine types.

Laser Cutting Machine

Laser Welding Machine

Laser Marking Machine

Laser Cleaning Machine

Laser machine video show.

We as professional laser machine manufacturer advanced in Fiber Laser Marking Machine, Mopa Fiber Laser, Co2 Laser Marking Machine, UV Laser Marking Machine.Keep high efficiency for users’ production line and save labor cost by our automatic laser marking machines is our eternal pursuit.

Our JNCT laesr is the first batch companies which start to produce the laser cleaning machines, it’s a good tool for metal laser rust removal.Our laser cleaner has good price and small weight, Handheld laser cleaning machine easy to operate, is a good tool for home use or industry use.

Handheld Fiber Laser Welder, Portable Fiber Laser Welding Machine, Manual Fiber Laser Welding Machine, Jewelry laser welder.The laser welding machine with character of easy to operate, beautiful weld seam and fast speed.

Laser Cutting Machine​

Fiber laser cutting machine suitable for wood, acrylic, leather, paper or metal. We supply the solution according to your business need. Both from beginner friendly laser cutting powering countless small business to professional machines to save your labour cost in factory.To be the most professional laser cutting machine manufacturer is our consist pursuit.

Jinan Changtai CNC Technology Co., Ltd. is a professional laser cutting machine manufacturer located in Jinan,Shandong province. which specializes in the manufacture and development of CNC machinery as well as the sales of domestic and foreign and technical service. it is engaged in the research, development, production and service of laser cutting machine , laser welding machine, laser marking machine, laser cleaning machine .

As a professional fiber laser cutting machine manufacturer , we supply the CNC laser metal cutting equipment with high quality, high speed, high precision and high efficiency. It is suitable for all kinds of metal cutting which will be your good metal working partner. It is equipped with different powers (from 1000W to 30000W) for cutting metal sheets/plates and metal tubes/pipes with different thicknesses.

Laser Machine Quality Control Process

R&D Department

Fully understand and meet customer needs is our eternal pursuit. With this, we customized each laser machine for our different client, and extremly to fullfill our client’s production demand.

Production Departmant

Every millimeter differnece will lead to differnet result. Detail is the key for production department to control each laser machine.

Quality Inspection Department

Strictly grasp every process is our responsibility.Product quality is the life of a laser machines manufacturing company and also the norm of our quality supervision department

Why People Trust JNCTlaser?

Unmached expertise, high investment in r&d, strick quality inspection.

Strict quality control system is spread throughout the entire production line. Every part of the machine, up to one screw, we will strictly control and prevent any non-compliant parts from entering the site to ensure the performance and quality of each laser machine.

Qualified After Service

Our factory covers an area of 6000 square meters, and contains nearly 80 employees, which maximally shorten product cycle time and guarantee the delivery of machines .we have more than 30 professional foreign trade salesperson & after-sales personnel, providing 24-hour online and offline technical services in 12 languages .

Laser Machines Reviews

Our laser machines have been distributed throughout the provinces, autonomous regions and municipalities, and exported to the  United States, Canada, Germany, Russia, Lithuania, the Czech Republic, the Netherlands, Slovakia, Georgia, France, Ukraine, Kenya, India, Thailand, Vietnam, Taiwan, Korea, Korea  and so on 40 countries and regions.

Silent tires become the first choice for new energy vehicles, and laser cleaning is promising

In the tire industry, laser can be described as a “all-rounder”! It can not only code the tire, but also clean the tire mold and

What is the difference between laser cutting machine QCS and QBH?

The interface part where the optical fiber is introduced into the laser cutting head, the common ones are QBH interface, QD interface, and QCS, RK

Compared to Sandblasting, Chemical Cleaning and Dry Ice Cleaning

Today I wish to reiterate the advantages of laser cleaning. The current main metal cleaning methods include sand blasting, chemical cleaning, and dry ice cleaning.

Advantages of handheld laser welding machine

1. The hand-held laser welding machine uses a hand-held welding gun, which overcomes the limitation of the workbench space. There is no limit when welding,

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