Laser (dinghy)

Laser is the name for a technically kept simple, but not undemanding single-handed dinghy. It is most common in this class worldwide. In contrast to Europe ( the second most popular single-handed class in Germany ) are the trim options limited ( outhaul, boom vang and Cunningham ), sailing is but sportier. Even with a few Beaufort the boat may have come onto the plane.

History

The laser was designed by the American Bruce Kirby as a single-handed dinghy 1970. The primary objective at that time was to design a boat for leisure, hence the original name of "Free Time". The name laser was proposed by a Canadian student, because it sounds modern.

Its simple design and the earlier low cost led to a rapid spread. However, the prices are very high today - mainly since admission to the Olympics. The end of 2005 there were an estimated 189,000 boats in the world.

The laser is a strict one-design class of boat, ie there are no changes allowed. A frequently complained of change was, for example, a mostly ignorant of drilled into the plastic cap of the mast upper part hole for attaching a Verklickers.

Manufacturing is the laser, as well as the catamaran series darts of the company performance Sailcraft Ltd.. in England. Licensee is in the United States, Australia and Chile.

Rigging, sails

The Cat - rigged rig the laser I consists of a two-part mast, the weaker in diameter shaft is inserted into the lower part. The sail has ( leech ), two lower battens and a shortened upper. For mounting on the mast called a mast sleeve is sewn to the luff of the sail is simply threaded onto the mast. For the tree is a very simple gooseneck fitting on which the tree is stuck to the present. After attachment of the sail and the boom vang of the tree, the plug connection is only subjected to pressure. The entire rig is straight and meets rotatably in a recess, the so-called quiver of the fuselage, a fastening is made by the Cunningham, the sheet for the operation of the sail, and optionally a mast control.

For the same hull, there are four different rigs for the laser. However, these are only three admitted to official regattas. Only the lower part of the mast and the sail can be exchanged, all other parts of the boat are identical. This principle is called "Formula laser ". ( The division of the mast was made because a development requirement of the laser was the transport on the car roof. ) Since all 3 Laser Regatta classes carry the same sail characters, you can use it as a differentiator for the Laser Radial the blue corner the clew. Laser 4.7 usually carries the 4.7 in the lower part of the sail.

  • Laser Standard: Rig with 7.06 m Sail area - open Olympic class since 1996, from 1996 to 2004, from 2008 men
  • Laser Radial. Rig with 5.7 m² sail area - Olympic women's class in 2008, in Germany Youth Championship class (male / female ) since 1998 The Laser Radial sparked 2008, Europe as an Olympic class for women from.
  • Laser 4.7: Rig with 4.7 m² sail area - since 2006 Regatta class in Germany. The 1971 introduced Laser 4.7 is geared towards younger and lighter sailors ( 50-65 kg) and is sailed as an intermediate step between the optimists and the Laser Standard or Radial.
  • Rooster 8.1 rig with 8.1 m² sail area - is developed and marketed since 2007 by a British company called Rooster Sailing. As of today (February 2010 ) at least sail number 426 on races represented is ( was started with sail number 81). For sailing the 8.1 - Riggs, a spacer made ​​of fiber - glass is placed between the pole halves of the Laser Standard mast to mast extension. This rig but is not recognized by the German Laser Class Association or by the International Laser Class Association races.

The Rooster 8.1 sail has its own character, which shows a red rooster in a circle and below the number 8.1.

Hull

The hull is made ​​of fiberglass. It is so light that it can be easily loaded to the roof of most cars.

Regatta and Races

For all three boats (Standard, Radial and 4.7), there are World and Continental Championships ( seniors and juniors, Radial rig and women ).

The level in the laser class is one of the highest in the Olympic boat classes. The results can be found under the respective Olympic Games. Simon Grotelüschen and Franziska Golz qualified for participation in the sailing competitions of the 2012 Summer Olympic Games in Weymouth, England.

Modifications

  • Laser II
  • Laser Vago
  • Laser 2000
  • Laser 4000
  • Laser 5000
  • Laser SB3
  • Laser Pico
Draft (hull) List of sailing boat types Hiking (sailing) Dinghy sailing Olympic sailing classes Apparent wind indicator Dart 18 Catboat Parts of a sail#The edges Boom (sailing) Sailing at the 2012 Summer Olympics Weymouth and Portland National Sailing Academy SB20
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