The Laser

Nigel Cherrie reflects on the popularity of this stalwart dinghy class

Current Olympic gold medallist, Ben Ainslie (pictured) will not be taking any more glory in the class, having decided to follow in the footsteps of Coutts and co. moving into the Finn. Despite moving on after two olympiads Ainslie has become a role model for youth sailors around the world due to his exploits in the Laser. As a talented 19 year old he won the Olympic silver medal in Savannah, but his fairytale finish to the Sydney regatta when he match raced Scheidt for the gold medal was the most captivating races of the Olympic regatta.

"It is perhaps the best competition, just because all the boats are the same," says Ainslie. "The simplicity of just being able to go sailing and not having to worry about a special mast or sail and the cost of it is attractive," says Ben with complete enthusiasm. Two years after Sydney, Ben has put his experience down on paper and published a book on Laser Racing. "I have tried to make it readable for the class sailor top Olympic sailors," he says. " It was hard to have that range so the club sailor doesn't think what the hell is he talking about and people for Olympic campaigns thinking this is for novices".

Despite Ben's retirement from the class, the Laser is stronger than ever in Britain. As well as forming a strategic part of the RYA's Olympic effort, the boat is a central plank of the youth programme. Besides the series of European and world qualifiers, national championships and travellers [regional] events, the UK class association is working hard to ensure that the grass roots club sailors are not forgotten. The Laser Club Championship allows the average Wednesday evening or Sunday morning sailor to qualify and experience a national final, alternating between a sea and inland venue each year. The national winner receives a new Laser for their old model while holiday prizes and free dinners round off the apres sail programme.

There is a pool of qualified coaches to help those with youth squad or even Olympic aspiration, plus some grants for those who are not in line for funds from RYA World Class Lottery programmes. At the same time, all year round they host clinics to improve the standard of club level sailors. Past national champion and winner of the Masters worlds Mark Littlejohn has been a loyal member of the International Laser racing fraternity for over 20 years. Now a full time coach, Littlejohn was instrumental in Great Britain winning a gold and bronze medal in the two-singlehanded disciplines (boys Laser and girls Laser Radial) at the last Volvo Youth World Championship. Littlejohn is also quick to credit the worldwide manufactures for the consistency in hulls and availability. "The equipment is always there. They are all over the world, always available, everywhere, even Russia, he says.

The only flaw Littlejohn can find in the original design is the rudder. Others have been more critical and as from this year the design of the deckgear has been change to finally allow blocks in the control systems. Staying true to the one-design ethos of the class, all the necessary equipment for the new specification be retrofitted to existing boats. Perhaps more critically, other more subtle changes have been made over the years. The sail design has changed several times during the life of the boat. Other less visible changes have been made to both the hull and the equipment. The key to making these changes a success has always been to ensure that all Laser builders are producing an essentially identical product wherever they are in the World. Though the laser is currently produced in Britain, the USA, Australia and Japan no one source has been identified as producing faster boats and there is no competitive pressure from the sailors to buy a boat from one country or another.

So what do the next 30 years hold? Contrary to expectations, the Laser's elevation to the five-ring circus has done nothing to dent its popularity as a club and recreational boat. Sailing schools and holiday companies are still buying them in droves. An ever growing number of champions and medallist in a multitude of classes can count the Laser as the formative boat ion their sailing careers. Don't be in the least surprised to see sail numbers starting with '3' and a good few more Olympic appearances yet for the boat that stated out life as a simple beach boat.


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