The laser

The International Laser Class sailboat, also called Laser Standard is a popular one-design class of small sailing dinghy. The design, by Bruce Kirby, emphasizes simplicity and performance. It is skippered by kids through to adults and is one of eight classes currently sailed in the Olympics.

It’s has been said although we don’t know by who the laser sailboat is:

Easy to Learn, Hard to Master

The prototype was originally named the “Weekender”; the sail held the letters TGIF, a common abbreviation for “Thank God it’s Friday”. It was renamed Laser (after the scientific mechanism) and officially unveiled at the New York Boat Show in 1971.

The Laser is one of the most popular single-handed dinghies in the world. As of 2012, there are more than 200,000 boats worldwide. A commonly cited reason for its popularity is that it is robust and simple to rig and sail in addition to its durability. The Laser also provides very competitive racing due to the very tight class association controls which eliminate differences in hull, sails and equipment.

The term “Laser” in sailing is often used to refer to the Laser Standard, the largest of the sail plan rigs available for the Laser hull. It is also the one we race with at Sunshine Coast Sailing Association.

source: wikipedia