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The Laser 2 is a double-handed version of the popular Laser one-design class of small sailing dinghy. It is a quick, planing dinghy that differs from the laser in that it has a jib, symmetric spinnaker and a trapeze for the crew. It was designed by Australian Frank Bethwaite and was first launched as a product in Australia then North America in 1979 and in Europe in 1980. The hull is made of GRP (glass reinforced plastic). The rig is a Bermudian rig sloop with spinnaker. It is designed to be a mid to high performance racer. In Britain, its most common current use is at university class in British University Sailing Association (BUSA) events. A version known as the Laser Fun was available, the same hull but featuring a reefable mainsail and a roller furling jib, and with the option of an asymmetric spinnaker (Laser Fun New Wave).
As a strict one-design boat the Laser 2 is not available for amateur construction; the boat has also been discontinued as a result of the 2007 merger of its manufacturers Laser UK and Vanguard Sailboats into Laser Performance Sailing. The Laser Vago which features a gennaker and has been designed to be sailed single-handed as well as double-handed, is considered by some as a replacement. Frank Bethwaite's hull design for the Laser 2 was married to a new deck and rig to produce the Laser 3000 in 1996, which has since gone on to form the basis of the 3000 Class.
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de:Laser II (Bootsklasse)
