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Laser 2 (dinghy)
Encyclopedia
The Laser 2 is a double-handed version of the popular Laser
one-design class of small sailing dinghy. It is a quick, planing
dinghy that differs from the laser in that it has a jib
, symmetric spinnaker
and a
trapeze
for the crew. It was designed by New Zealander Frank Bethwaite
and was first launched as a product in Australia then North America in 1979 and in Europe in 1980. The hull is made of GRP (glass reinforced plastic). The rig is a Bermudian rig sloop with spinnaker. It is designed to be a mid to high performance racer. In Britain, its most common current use is at university class in British University Sailing Association (BUSA) events. A version known as the Laser Fun was available, the same hull but featuring a reefable
mainsail and a roller furling jib, and with the option of an asymmetric spinnaker (Laser Fun New Wave).
As a strict one-design boat the Laser 2 is not available for amateur construction; the boat has also been discontinued as a result of the 2007 merger of its manufacturers Laser UK and Vanguard Sailboats
into Laser Performance
. The Laser Vago
which features a gennaker
and has been designed to be sailed single-handed as well as double-handed, is considered by some as a replacement. Frank Bethwaite
's hull design for the Laser 2 was married to a new deck and rig to produce the Laser 3000
in 1996, which has since gone on to form the basis of the 3000
Class.
Laser (dinghy)
The International Laser Class sailboat, also called Laser Standard and the Laser One is a popular one-design class of small sailing dinghy. According the Laser Class Rules the boat may be sailed by either one or two people, though it is rarely sailed by two. The design, by Bruce Kirby, emphasizes...
one-design class of small sailing dinghy. It is a quick, planing
Planing (sailing)
Planing is the mode of operation for a waterborne craft in which its weight is predominantly supported by hydrodynamic lift, rather than hydrostatic lift .-History:...
dinghy that differs from the laser in that it has a jib
Jib
A jib is a triangular staysail set ahead of the foremast of a sailing vessel. Its tack is fixed to the bowsprit, to the bow, or to the deck between the bowsprit and the foremost mast...
, symmetric spinnaker
Spinnaker
A spinnaker is a special type of sail that is designed specifically for sailing off the wind from a reaching course to a downwind, i.e. with the wind 90°–180° off the bow. The spinnaker fills with wind and balloons out in front of the boat when it is deployed, called flying. It is constructed of...
and a
trapeze
Trapeze (sailing)
In sailing, the trapeze refers to a wire that comes from a point high on the mast, usually where the shrouds are fixed, to a hook on the crew member's harness at approximately waist level...
for the crew. It was designed by New Zealander Frank Bethwaite
Frank Bethwaite
Frank Bethwaite, born in Wanganui, New Zealand in 1920, is an award-winning boat designer, author and former Olympic meteorologist.-Biography:Bethwaite built his first boat as a teenager...
and was first launched as a product in Australia then North America in 1979 and in Europe in 1980. The hull is made of GRP (glass reinforced plastic). The rig is a Bermudian rig sloop with spinnaker. It is designed to be a mid to high performance racer. In Britain, its most common current use is at university class in British University Sailing Association (BUSA) events. A version known as the Laser Fun was available, the same hull but featuring a reefable
Reefing
Reefing is a sailing manoeuvre intended to reduce the area of a sail on a sailboat or sailing ship, which can improve the ship's stability and reduce the risk of capsizing, broaching, or damaging sails or boat hardware in a strong wind...
mainsail and a roller furling jib, and with the option of an asymmetric spinnaker (Laser Fun New Wave).
As a strict one-design boat the Laser 2 is not available for amateur construction; the boat has also been discontinued as a result of the 2007 merger of its manufacturers Laser UK and Vanguard Sailboats
Vanguard Sailboats
Vanguard Sailboats was founded in 1967 in Waukesha, Wisconsin, USA by Peter and Olaf Harken. The brothers started to gain attention after their sailing hardware was used on boats that won Olympic gold in 1968 and after Vanguard supplied the Finn class for several countries in the 1976 Olympics...
into Laser Performance
Laser Performance
-History:Up until around 2007, boats were built under the Laser brand name by several boat builders each allocated an exclusive geographic sales region. The builders were Performance Sailcraft Europe, Performance Sailcraft Australia and Vanguard...
. The Laser Vago
Laser Vago
A Laser Vago is a high-performance sailing dinghy designed by Jo Richards and manafactured by Laser Performance. The Vago can be sailed and raced by a crew of two or single-handed...
which features a gennaker
Gennaker
A gennaker is a sail that was developed around 1990. Used when sailing downwind, it is a cross between a genoa and a spinnaker. It is asymmetric like a genoa, but the gennaker is not attached to the forestay like a jib or genoa. The gennaker is rigged like a spinnaker but the tack is fastened to...
and has been designed to be sailed single-handed as well as double-handed, is considered by some as a replacement. Frank Bethwaite
Frank Bethwaite
Frank Bethwaite, born in Wanganui, New Zealand in 1920, is an award-winning boat designer, author and former Olympic meteorologist.-Biography:Bethwaite built his first boat as a teenager...
's hull design for the Laser 2 was married to a new deck and rig to produce the Laser 3000
Laser 3000
The Laser 3000 is a racing sailing dinghy crewed by two persons with a trapeze for the crew. Launched in 1996, the 3000 was developed from the Laser 2, using the original Frank Bethwaite-designed planing hull combined with a brand new self-draining deck by Derek Clark...
in 1996, which has since gone on to form the basis of the 3000
3000 (dinghy)
The 3000 is a racing sailing dinghy crewed by two persons with a trapeze for the crew. Launched in 1996 as the Laser 3000, the 3000 was developed from the Laser 2, using the original Frank Bethwaite-designed planing hull combined with a brand new self-draining deck by Derek Clark...
Class.