Laser 2
 | |
| Boat | |
|---|---|
| Crew | 2 (single trapeze) |
| Hull | |
| Hull weight | 76 kg (168 lb) |
| LOA | 4,370 mm (172 in) |
| Beam | 1,420 mm (56 in) |
| Sails | |
| Mainsail area | 8.90 m2 (95.8 sq ft) |
| Jib / Genoa area | 2.62 m2 (28.2 sq ft) |
| Spinnaker area | 10.2 m2 (110 sq ft) |
| Upwind Sail Area | 11.52 m2 (124.0 sq ft) |
| Misc | |
| D-PN | 92.8[1] |
| RYA PN | 1035[2] |
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 was not available for amateur construction.
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. Production was discontinued after the 2007 merger of its manufacturers Laser UK and Vanguard Sailboats into Laser Performance.
References
- ↑ "Centerboard Classes". US Sailing. Retrieved 31 July 2012.
- ↑ "Portsmouth Number List 2012". Royal Yachting Association. Retrieved 31 July 2012.