The single-handed International Laser is
one of the most popular boats in sailing history, with over 190,000
hulls worldwide. This physically demanding dinghy follows strict
one-design regulations and tests a sailor’s endurance and finesse as
much as it tests tactical skill. The boat and equipment have changed
little since Bruce Kirby’s original 1971 design, but Harken’s
recent innovations have been accepted into the Class rules. The
powerful 15:1 cascaded vang, 10:1 cunningham, and low-friction clew
sleeve make frequent fine-tune adjustments a breeze and have opened
the class to a wider range of sailors.
Most sailors now use the Harken Laser Vang and have replaced the
older-style Hexaratchets (019) with 57 mm switchable Carbo Ratchets
(2135), or load-sensing Carbo Ratchamatics® (2625) for their
mainsheet blocks. Some skippers are going even smaller and using 40 mm
Carbo Ratchets (2608) for the mainsheet. These low-friction, compact
blocks are 30% lighter and have a 60% higher working load than Classic
blocks. |
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