A single-handed racing dinghy; it’s the Laser. The Laser dinghy’s most appealing feature is that it is protected by rigorous one-design class rules, which means that no changes to the boat are permitted unless it’s specified in the rules. As a result, whether a boat is brand new or ten years old, all Laser boats are nearly identical, allowing the sailor to win the race rather than the boat. The Laser is a difficult boat that rewards athleticism, sophisticated steering and trimming methods, and tactical mastery. Note that it’s a singlehanded Olympic class boat that is sailed at the club, national, and international levels by both men and women. It is the world’s most popular adult and junior racing sailboat, with over 200,000 boats in 140 nations. So, in this article, I will give information about the Laser boats as well as the speeds they can attain. So, keep reading!

The Laser Formula

The Laser Formula combines a single hull with three rigs: standard, radial, and 4.7. Young sailors who start out in the 4.7 can progress in rig size as they improve physically and tactically. They also don’t have to buy a new boat every few years. Because of the one-design protection, the Laser will never be obsolete. And, this explains why Lasers generally have high resale prices.

The Laser Formula also refers to the choice of rigs for different weights of people. It’s basically like having three boats in one. The Laser can be sailed easily in all wind conditions by modifying only the sail and lower mast. And it provides exhilarating yet controlled sailing for any sailor weighing as little as 35 kg.

So, the Laser Formula is a three-rigged sailboat that has been adopted by a number of sailing schools as a simple and cost-effective solution to keep sailing in all winds and reduce “downtime.” The Laser 4.7 has a 35 percent reduced sail area than the Laser Standard and a short pre-bent lower mast to maintain a balanced helm. It’s perfect for those learning to sail or those graduating from the Optimist class.

The next step up is the Laser Radial. It has a lower mast that is more flexible and slightly shorter, as well as a sail area that is 18% smaller than the Laser Standard. National and international regattas, as well as World Open and Youth Championships, attract as many countries and competitors as the Laser Standard Rig. The Laser Radial has large popularity among lighter weight sailors, as well as children, women, and masters racing.

Many countries now offer a comprehensive Laser Radial Youth program. The majority of national yachting authorities responded that the Laser Radial was their favorite youth boat in a study done by the International Sailing Federation. In moderate winds, any weight can sail the Laser Standard, but as the wind increases, it is better suited to heavier sailor weights. Apart from the significant second-hand market for Lasers with the Laser Standard rig, the lower mast and sails for Laser Radial and Laser 4.7 as a separate package from the hull have an even stronger second-hand market. Finally, a strong class association that actively promotes and advances Laser sailing around the world allows for mass manufacture of the Laser, lowering the cost of the boats and spares.

A Comparison of the Rigs

The Laser sailboat offers a variety of rig sizes, with the goal of making the boat sailable by a wide range of sailors and sailor weights. This happens by swapping out the lower mast section and leaving all other components the same. There are three different rig sizes now available. These are the ‘Standard,’ ‘Radial,’ and ‘4.7.’ Below is a graphic that compares the three rigs, and we’ll go through each one in detail in the next part.

Laser Standard

This is the most popular Laser rig size, as well as the one that came standard on the boat when it was built. It has a sail area of 7.06 square meters (about 76 square feet). The Laser Class approved a new ‘Standard’ sail in 2018, known as the ‘MKII’ or ‘Mark 2’ to differentiate it from the previous version. The difference is in the panels, among other things. Horizontal cut panels were used on the original ‘Standard’ sail. Note that radial cut panels are featured on the new MKII sail. Note that there is no size difference between these two variants. Moreover, all-new Laser Standard sails are now available in this upgraded version.

Keep in mind that when you look at the panels you can identify if you have a ‘Standard’ sail. It’s most likely a conventional sail if they’re horizontal. Then, you can measure the luff or the front edge of the sail along the mast sleeve. From the peak of the sail to the bottom, this measurement should be around 5130 mm or 200 inches. Note that the ‘Standard’ lower mast portion should be 2865 mm (113 inches) in length. In comparison to the two smaller mast portions, it is a rather sturdy mast section.

Laser 4.7

The Laser 4.7 (also known as the ILCA 5) is the smallest of the three Laser sails. It was firstly used for young sailors. The 4.7 lower mast part is one-of-a-kind because it features a pre-bend near the boom fitting. This makes depowering the sail considerably easier. This is the smallest Laser sail size, and if you have an ancient one, it’s unlikely it’s a 4.7 sail. The 4.7 sail has cross-cut panels, similar to the traditional ‘Standard’ sail. Many 4.7 sails also include a 4.7 logo on the material.

You can also measure the luff which is the front edge of the sail along the mast sleeve. From the peak of the sail to the bottom, this measurement should be around 4080 mm or 160 inches. Note that the lower mast part of the ‘4.7 features a pre-bend and should measure around 1810 mm (71 inches). The bend is the most obvious feature that distinguishes it from the others.

Laser Radial

The Laser ‘Radial’ sail, formerly known as the ‘M’ rig, is smaller than the ‘Standard’ sail, measuring 5.76 square meters (62 square feet). It was the only Laser sail at the time to include radial cut panels, which made de-powering the sail easier in strong gusts. Both the Standard and Radial sails have the radial cut design, as mentioned above for the ‘Standard’ rig. The blue panels at the tack and clew of the sail are another telltale sign of a Radial sail size.

Looking at the panels is the first and most obvious way to identify if you have a ‘Radial’ sail. It’s most likely a radial sail if they’re radial, as in radiating out from the center. From the peak of the sail to the bottom, this measurement should be around 4560 mm or 180 inches. Note that the lowest mast part of the ‘Radial’ should be 2262 mm (89 inches) in length. It’s also a little smaller than the usual portion in diameter.

Laser Sailing

Sailing on a laser differs significantly from sailing on other boats. There is no motor, paddle, or oars on a laser dinghy. To move your boat across the water, you must master the technique of harnessing the wind. It could be a calm breeze one day, making sailing a peaceful contact with nature. And then a violent gust the next, putting your talent in syncing your movements with the boat, the wind, and the water to the test.

The Laser dinghy is used in laser sailing, which is a popular water sport. Despite the boat’s simple design, Laser sailors and racers encounter a unique set of hurdles that necessitate specific physical abilities. Laser sailing requires a high level of fitness in order for a sailor to be able to handle the trekking and body-twisting skills that are required in sailing, particularly when sailing upwind.

Keep in mind that Laser radial sailing is often reserved for sailors of a lighter weight. The Laser Radial, as opposed to the Laser Standard, has a smaller sail and is chosen by many female laser sailors. The International Class Association, like the Laser Standard, has stringent supervision over the design. The size of the sail as well as the lower half of the mast are the only differences.

Different Wind Conditions and Laser Sailing

It’s all about getting your head out of the boat in light winds because even a small increase in wind speed results in a significant difference in boat speed. To maintain maximum water-line length, sailors place themselves well forward in the boat. In other words, their bodyweight must be just behind the centerboard. Not only is this faster, but it also gives the rudder a better feel with the bow in. In addition, it avoids the urge to produce too much leeward heel, which many people do only to obtain a greater rudder feel.

In medium winds, you just focus on the power. Meaning that you need to modify the sail controls to stay fully powered but not overpowering. This is especially crucial if you see a gradual increase or drop in wind speed during the race or course. So, it’s important that you hike “straight out.” To get the proper fore and aft trim with the waves, active body movement, or “kinetics,” is essential. Remember that if you spend most of your time leaning forward, you will most likely set too far back, and vice versa. You should spend approximately the same time for forwarding and backward body movements.

In strong winds, it’s natural to want to use as much power as possible, but this isn’t the same as making maximum upwind progress. Holding on to too much sheet will actually reduce your velocity, whereas loosening the sheet will not only maintain the boat flat. It will also assist it to accelerate in the wind rather than just heeling over and slide sideways. You may feel as if you’re pointing at the boat to leeward if you bear away somewhat. But in really strong gusts, you’re probably retaining your height better. The Laser will slip less sideways if it maintains its pace. As a result, sailing “fast and low” is frequently effective here. The most important suggestion is to maintain a steady heel angle. If the boat “staggers” upwind, it is not only slow, but it also means you are putting in the extra effort.

>>Also Read: How To Sail Single Handed

How Fast Do Laser Sailboats Go?

The fastest recorded speed for a laser sailboat is 18.6 knots. The fastest recorded speed was at 18.6 knots in 2017 in the United Kingdom. The previous record was set in Honolulu in 2009, when the Laser reached a speed of 16.8 knots. Mark Denzer of Honolulu, Hawaii, has held the official Laser sailboat speed record of 16.8 knots since January 16, 2009. High wind warnings, civil defense alerts, state government closures, and gusts up to 60 knots made for a great day for Laser sailing on this record-breaking day. However, the wind never went beyond 30 knots during the record-breaking attempt.

In gusts of approximately 15 mph, you can typically get the full-rig to plane (reaching) if you’re lightweight. Even at lesser wind speeds, it’s possible. However, by today’s standards, the Laser is hardly a fast boat; a Hobie 16 would be faster. And GPS-recorded speeds can sometimes be inaccurate. Without going into the technical gritty of how a GPS device measures velocity, it’s important to distinguish between instantaneous speed (for example, down a wave) and speed maintained over some specific distance. As a side note, ‘official’ speed records are set over a 500-meter course. Keep in mind that the upper wind strengths for a Laser are in the 30-40 mph range.

Using a GPS, you can record some incredible speeds. These speeds, of course, do not stay long because they are caused by position variations in the GPS system. That’s why GPS’s average speed over time is so important. As a result, it is dependent on how this speed was measured, under what conditions, and for how long.

In a medium breeze upwind, most laser sailors will attain a hull speed of just under 5 knots, which is why you’ll often see the crew condensed at the windward mark in a specific range of wind. When the breeze is steady, with minimal shifts and a consistent velocity, the leaders in the crew have a lot less to work with. And, the sailors further down the crew have fewer external inputs, so they make fewer mistakes. You can see how, once everyone hits maximum hull speed, most boats sit at the same speed upwind with little opportunity to break through that barrier.

In lighter winds, more skilled sailors will make better use of the available wind energy. And, as a result, maintain higher average speeds around the course than sailors further down the crew who move around too much. They also have a sail set up in a less-than-optimal shape and steer in such a way that energy isn’t converted into forward drive as efficiently.

In severe winds, on the other hand, expert sailors can now sail upwind at hull speed almost constantly. However, there’s the exception of brief times when tacking or navigating through a tough area of water. And they will occasionally exceed it through steering technique and very powerful hiking, allowing the boat to surf or semi-plane for short periods of time. But, further down the fleet, this additional wind, and wave energy becomes a hindrance. So, the boat and sailor will begin to fight it as they deal with increased weather helm. The water will constantly come over the bow, gusts will knock you sideways instead of straight ahead, and so on.

>>Also Read: Best Pocket Cruisers Under 20 Feet

Laser Sailing Upwind

Balance is the key to sailing upwind. The more balanced your boat is, the faster it will travel. You have three tools to regulate the boat speed, just as the pro sailors. The first step is to trim your sail. It is critical that your sail is properly set up. When your sail is properly set, the Laser’s balance should be great. Bear in mind that sailing is a very dynamic sport in which conditions can change rapidly. Meaning that the balance in your boat will change every time the wind strength or direction changes. So, the balance in the Laser will get disturbed every time you hit a tiny or larger wave. And, in order to maintain balance, you have to counteract the boat’s movements.

Your rudder is the second thing you’ll need to keep your Laser balanced while sailing. The rudder can be used to offset disruptive conditions like wind and water. So, you can use the rudder to change course when the wind direction changes slightly. Like this, the pressure in the sail remains constant and your boat remains balanced. You may also use the rudder to balance the boat when it hits a wave. Your bodyweight is the third and last option for balancing the boat. When the boat’s nose starts to rise due to a wave, you have to proceed forward. But, move back as soon as the wave passes and the boat wants to continue down again. This minimizes the disturbance in your Laser and maximizes the boat’s balance. The faster you go, the better balanced your Laser is.

Offshore, the wind can be quite shifty depending on the course’s proximity to the coast. This is sometimes exceedingly close due to stadium racing so that the audience can watch from the shore. This involves taking advantage (and tacking) on every shift in classes like the Laser, which tacks quickly. The angle at which you sail to the windward mark varies a lot. Keep in mind that this will necessitate quick sailing.

Onshore there may be huge waves, as well as a more steady wind, depending on the strength of the wind and the depth of the sea. At this point, we’re focusing on tack minimization since the wind is more likely to be stable, and it takes longer to get up to full speed. In other words, the potential tack loss is much higher. To ensure you can exit with maximum speed, you must choose where to tack extremely carefully. This applies both in terms of the shift and layline, and especially where you tack on the wave.

Laser Sailboat Top Speed – The Bottom Line

So, it is possible for a Laser to hit 20 knots for limited periods of time. These can be when going down the face of a wave. Who among us hasn’t sailed down a wave in 20+ mph only to have the boom swing into the centreline with an unloaded sail? Much more than 20 knots, though, is quite rare, as as you reach higher winds, such as around 30 knots. This is because the sail will stay out and always have some load on it, even on a huge offshore wave.

When sailing upwind, the best Laser sailors in the world all have the same goal in mind. They have, however, mastered the art of perfecting this technique. They are quite proactive in addressing all of the minor variables. As a result, their modifications are smaller, the balance is improved, and the boat moves faster. You may, however, learn to sail the laser as balanced as the experienced guys do so.

In general, I’ve found that the sustained boat speed is usually around 1/2 the wind speed, up to about 10-12 knots. In 15 knots of wind, the Laser will do 7-8 knots, and in 20 knots, it will do 10 knots. Around 6-7 knots boat speed, it appears to come up onto a plane. As it approaches 10 knots, steering becomes more challenging in order to keep the sail full and pulling. It also prevents being hit by a wave that knocks the boat speed down much or causes you to lose excellent sail trim.

Note that any “lash” (free movement) between the tiller and the rudder creates a serious challenge in trying to preserve accurate control of heading. So, trim and consistent power, and the boat direction becomes increasingly responsive to waves and harder to control. As the Laser approaches 12-13 knots through the water, it gets increasingly difficult to maintain the pace for an extended period of time.

Overall, a Laser will cruise at close to hull speed upwind as soon as the wind picks up enough to get the boat moving. Also, in planing conditions, 10+ knots beam reaching and close to that speed downwind regularly occur around a course. I hope this article gave you the answers and necessary information you wanted to learn.

I wish you all safe, pleasant & fast sailing!