Laser 2 Info & Links

The Laser 2 (Laser II) is a high-performance racing dinghy designed by Frank Bethwaite in 1979, in a similar fashion to the strict one design Laser dinghy. The Bethwaite family went on to design the well known and highly respected 29er & 49er classes.

Designed to be sailed by a crew of two, the lightweight hull comes readily to the plane, which makes for fast and exciting sailing, especially off the wind on a 3 sail reach. Due to it's relatively short length, it's very responsive and can be challenging to sail. Quick to rig and easy to right from a capsize, all sail controls are kept simple. Its only real downside is its poor light wind performance. It's best suited to light to medium weight crews.

The hulls and fittings are very well made and will usually last a long time. Older boats usually clean up well and the original fittings can normally be bought back into action using WD40 or silicon spray.

Variations

Several variations of the Laser 2 were produced:

Laser 2 Regatta

The Laser 2 Regatta is the racing version equipped with spinnaker and trapeze (earlier versions used bags instead of a shute). This is the standard and most common version of the Laser 2 dinghy, which was extremely popular and heavily marketed by the Laser Centre during the 1980s and early 1990s.

Laser 2 Fun

The Laser 2 Fun was designed for recreational sailing. It doesn't have a spinnaker, features brightly coloured sails, reefing points on the mainsail and a furling jib mechanism.

Laser 2 Fun New Wave

A short lived Laser 2 featuring an asymmetric spinnaker.

Escape Expedition

The Escape Expedition 14.5 was a Laser 2 hull combined with an Escape SmartRig.

Laser 3000

The Laser 3000 is essentially a Laser 2 hull with an asymmetric rig and open, self-draining cockpit, which was introduced in 1996.

Vandercraft 3000 (V3000)

The V3000 is an improved version of the Laser 3000.

Links

• Websites:
  • UK Laser 2 Facebook Page
  • UK Laser 2 Class Association
  • International Laser 2 Class Association
  • German Laser 2 Class Association
  • Laser Two Land
  • V3000 Class Association
  • Vandercraft V3000 page
• Parts:
  • Sailboats
• Manuals:
  • Laser 2 Rigging Manual
  • Vanguard Laser 2 Rigging Manual
  • Laser Fun & Fun New Wave Rigging Manual
• Rules/Measurement Diagrams
  • Class Rules
  • Measurement Diagram 1 (hull layout)
  • Measurement Diagram 2 (sails)
  • Measurement Diagram 3 (spinnaker)

Technical

Handicap Number	1065 (2016 RYA PY List)
Length	4.39m / 14'5
Beam	1.42m / 4'8
Draft (daggerboard down)	1m / 3'3
Mast length	5.8m / 19'0
Main & Jib	11.52 sq m / 124 sq ft
Spinnaker	10.2 sq m / 110 sq ft

Sail numbers by year

Year	Sail Number
1979	450 - 454
1980	455 - 1604
1981	1605 - 3631
1982	3632 - 4029
1983	4030 - 4905
1984	4043 - 4905
1985	4906 - 5438
1986	5439 - 6184
1987	6185 - 6582
1988	6583 - 7330
1989	7331 - 7803
1990	7804 - 8311
1991	8312 - 8660
1992	8661 - 9245
1993	9246 - 9599
1994	9600 - 9940
1995	9941 - 10039
1996	10040 - 10128
1997	10129 - 10361
1998	10386 - 10415
1999	10415 - 10499
2000	10500 -

Rope Lengths

Taken from the rigging manual:

Control	Length (m)	Diameter	Rope
Main sheet	9m	6mm	Excel Pro
Jib sheet	7m	8mm	Excel Marstron
Clew Outhaul	3.1m	6mm	Excel Pro
Clew tie down	0.63m	4mm	Excel Pro
Traveller	5m	5mm	Excel Pro
Spinnaker sheet	13.4m	6mm	Excel Pro
Daggerboard retaining line	3m	5mm	Shockcord + HA75 holt clips (x2).

© J. Bell 2024