321:. This changed the business model from being a licensed boat builder, to a lifestyle brand that manufactured and distributed dinghies and other water sports related products. LaserPerformance also introduced SailLaser centers with the goal of promoting sailing and bringing the community of sailors together through training programs, events, leasing of boats and social activities. Sailors are globally connected to pursue common interests by becoming members of LaserPerformance United, where LaserPerformance helps facilitate activities and suggests member-run initiatives.
195:
Bruce Kirby and Ian Bruce in 1969, the pair discussed the possibility of a car-topped dinghy (a boat small enough to be carried on a roof rack of a typical car) for a line of camping equipment. Kirby resultantly sketched out what would be known as "the million dollar doodle." Following his "doodle"
432:
On March 4, 2013, Bruce Kirby, Inc., filed a complaint in the U.S. Federal Court
District of Connecticut, alleging unlawful counterfeiting of the Kirby dinghy globally recognized as the Laser by LaserPerformance. LaserPerformance is the legal intellectual property owner of the Laser brand globally
253:
Neither Bruce nor Kirby had the financial or manufacturing capability to mass-produce and market the boat, and so sold a series of manufacturing licenses to existing boat manufacturers, each with an exclusive geographic sales region:
443:
On June 13, 2013, LaserPerformance filed its Answer and
Counter Claims in the United States District Court, District of Connecticut, alleging a scheme by Bruce Kirby, Inc., Global Sailing Limited, and Performance Sailcraft Pty. Ltd.
491:, Dart 16, and Bug. As of summer 2021, LaserPerformance remains in negotiations with the ILCA and has not signed a Builder's Agreement for Laser dinghies. At 2022 new boats Cascais and Portstar were announced.
455:
On March 27, 2019, ILCA revoked LaserPerformance's license to build Laser dinghies under the ILCA class brand. LPE now manufactures dinghies with the same design, now being called a Laser, and not an ILCA.
399:
makes a
Sunfish simple to learn sailing on and to set up. Upgrades can be added to enhance sail control for competitive sailing, making the boat attractive to both novice and experienced sailors alike.
210:
The prototype was originally named the "Weekender"; the sail held the letters TGIF, a common
American abbreviation for "Thank God It's Friday." Ian Bruce renamed the boat the "Laser" (after the
174:. Over the last 60 years, the Sunfish has become the most popular recreational sailboat in history. The Laser is widely accepted as the world’s most popular adult & youth racing class.
27:
529:
259:
215:
447:
On
February 14, 2020, a Connecticut Court gave a $ 6m verdict in favor of Laser designer Bruce Kirby in the long running dispute with LaserPerformance.
440:(ISAF) alleging they assisted LaserPerformance by continuing to supply ISAF plaques to the builder, after Kirby had given them formal notice to stop.
294:
rules. Each builder produced the Laser 1 and 2 but it was LaserPerformance Europe which diluted the brand most by introducing boats such as the
407:
for being "the most popular fiberglass boat ever designed, with a quarter million sold worldwide" (at that point in time). Today, the
Sunfish
913:
476:
770:
653:
384:
and the addition of a foot-well for a more comfortable sailing position. Sunfish began as a wood hull design and progressed to
832:
616:
572:
745:
537:
684:
626:
237:, with a special Olympic edition of the boat released that year in commemoration. A version with a smaller sail, the
437:
207:
for boats under $ 1000, called "America's Teacup." After a few sail modifications, the Laser easily won its class.
177:
LaserPerformance is also well known for its
Sunfish Stand Up Paddleboards and Seitech dollies and racking systems.
718:
658:
404:
1058:
825:
385:
697:
597:
372:
and first appeared around 1952 as the "next generation" improvement on their original boat, the
412:
771:"Laser Class removes LaserPerformance as approved builder >> Scuttlebutt Sailing News"
818:
381:
242:
230:
171:
8:
427:
373:
887:
480:
277:
126:
908:
892:
810:
784:
622:
348:
344:
154:
663:
359:
330:
161:
377:
37:
746:"Court gives $ 6.8m verdict in favour of Laser designer in long running dispute"
632:
408:
877:
576:
472:
362:
340:
291:
281:
186:
167:
122:
118:
111:
47:
464:
LaserPerformance now builds and sells a wide range of racing and recreational
436:
This case also names the
International Laser Class Association (ILCA) and the
1052:
1001:
948:
484:
226:
134:
115:
1006:
872:
530:"Laser | Olympic Classes | The Boats | Skandia Team GBR | Programmes | RYA"
488:
238:
196:
Kirby developed working drawings that Ian Bruce used to develop the Laser.
142:
138:
267:
263:
146:
83:
74:
403:
Due to the broad appeal of the
Sunfish, in 1995 it was commended by The
26:
1037:
1032:
993:
988:
918:
882:
867:
433:
except in
Oceania (includes Australia, New Zealand), Japan, and Korea.
303:
299:
295:
130:
511:
428:
Breach of contract, unlawful Counterfeiting and Trademark Infringement
415:
to refer to any brand of board-style boat sporting the characteristic
121:
manufacturer. LaserPerformance manufactures many sailboats including:
66:
856:
465:
317:
In 2007 Performance Sailcraft Europe and Vanguard merged to create
70:
805:
94:
1022:
974:
934:
396:
311:
271:
234:
222:
204:
150:
78:
554:
468:
416:
392:
352:
290:
Each was licensed to manufacture the basic craft, under strict
192:
785:"Why is LaserPerformance still not an approved ILCA Builder?"
211:
687:– other brands of boats commonly misperceived of as Sunfish
355:
241:, was first sailed as a women's Olympic-class boat at the
1027:
307:
840:
388:
construction just a few years after its introduction.
286:
Australia and Oceania: Performance Sailcraft Australia
199:
The plans stayed with Kirby and Bruce until 1970 when
314:
brand, and a range of rotomoulded plastic dinghies.
573:"About the Laser | www.laserinternational.org"
419:sail. Currently manufactured by LaserPerformance.
411:has become so widely known it is often misapplied
221:The first world championship was held in 1974 in
1050:
245:. Followed by a youth version known as the 4.7.
422:
615:White, Will (1996). "Background on the Boat".
608:
170:– a single handed boat which is sailed in the
826:
690:
339:sailboat is a personal size, beach launched
719:"Bruce Kirby wins Laser court case verdict"
833:
819:
25:
646:
555:"International Sunfish Class Association"
743:
549:
547:
376:. In contrast, the Sunfish has a wider
310:. The company was also responsible the
1051:
744:Gladwell, Richard (21 February 2020).
506:
504:
814:
614:
544:
501:
13:
698:"Kirby v. Rastegar, the Complaint"
621:. Sarasota, Florida: Omega Press.
214:), and officially unveiled at the
14:
1070:
799:
201:One Design and Offshore Yachtsman
160:They are most well known for the
438:International Sailing Federation
1016:No longer associated with Laser
777:
763:
737:
711:
678:
659:American Sailboat Hall of Fame
590:
565:
522:
450:
405:American Sailboat Hall of Fame
395:sail with its simple two line
380:for more stability, increased
1:
494:
180:
423:Litigation and controversies
7:
1002:Laser Stratos (Centreboard)
700:. Sailing World. 2013-04-09
225:. The Laser became a men's
10:
1075:
328:
324:
248:
184:
1015:
955:
943:
927:
901:
849:
368:Sunfish was developed by
89:
61:
53:
43:
33:
24:
459:
191:On a phone call between
602:uk.laserperformance.com
516:na.laserperformance.com
598:"LaserPerformance UK"
512:"LaserPerformance US"
260:Performance Sailcraft
16:Sailboat manufacturer
559:www.sunfishclass.org
243:2008 Summer Olympics
231:1996 Summer Olympics
212:scientific mechanism
172:Summer Olympic Games
956:Discontinued models
902:Two-person dinghies
850:One-person dinghies
789:laserperformance.us
666:on January 26, 2007
229:-class boat at the
21:
1038:Laser 3000 (V3000)
949:Laser Stratos Keel
841:Boats marketed by
725:. 16 February 2020
278:Vanguard Sailboats
216:New York Boat Show
19:
1046:
1045:
685:Clonefish article
618:The Sunfish Bible
358:mounted to an un-
105:
104:
97:.laserperformance
1066:
1059:LaserPerformance
1028:Laser SB3 (SB20)
965:Dart 20 Stampede
843:LaserPerformance
835:
828:
821:
812:
811:
793:
792:
781:
775:
774:
773:. 27 March 2019.
767:
761:
760:
758:
756:
741:
735:
734:
732:
730:
715:
709:
708:
706:
705:
694:
688:
682:
676:
675:
673:
671:
662:. Archived from
650:
644:
643:
641:
640:
631:. Archived from
612:
606:
605:
594:
588:
587:
585:
584:
575:. Archived from
569:
563:
562:
551:
542:
541:
536:. Archived from
526:
520:
519:
508:
471:, including the
331:Sunfish (dinghy)
319:LaserPerformance
203:magazine held a
108:LaserPerformance
101:
98:
96:
29:
22:
20:LaserPerformance
18:
1074:
1073:
1069:
1068:
1067:
1065:
1064:
1063:
1049:
1048:
1047:
1042:
1011:
971:Dart Hawk (F18)
951:
939:
923:
897:
845:
839:
806:Company website
802:
797:
796:
783:
782:
778:
769:
768:
764:
754:
752:
742:
738:
728:
726:
717:
716:
712:
703:
701:
696:
695:
691:
683:
679:
669:
667:
652:
651:
647:
638:
636:
629:
613:
609:
596:
595:
591:
582:
580:
571:
570:
566:
553:
552:
545:
528:
527:
523:
510:
509:
502:
497:
462:
453:
430:
425:
333:
327:
306:, Laser Bahia,
276:North America:
251:
189:
183:
153:, Funboat and
133:, Laser Bahia,
93:
82:North America:
81:
73:
38:Private company
17:
12:
11:
5:
1072:
1062:
1061:
1044:
1043:
1041:
1040:
1035:
1030:
1025:
1019:
1017:
1013:
1012:
1010:
1009:
1004:
999:
996:
991:
986:
983:
980:
977:
972:
969:
966:
963:
959:
957:
953:
952:
947:
945:
941:
940:
938:
937:
931:
929:
925:
924:
922:
921:
916:
911:
905:
903:
899:
898:
896:
895:
893:Vapor Optimist
890:
885:
880:
878:Laser Standard
875:
870:
865:
862:
859:
853:
851:
847:
846:
838:
837:
830:
823:
815:
809:
808:
801:
800:External links
798:
795:
794:
776:
762:
736:
710:
689:
677:
645:
627:
607:
589:
564:
543:
540:on 2009-08-19.
534:www.rya.org.uk
521:
499:
498:
496:
493:
479:, Laser Vago,
475:, Laser Pico,
461:
458:
452:
449:
429:
426:
424:
421:
341:sailing dinghy
329:Main article:
326:
323:
312:Dart Catamaran
288:
287:
284:
282:Portsmouth, RI
274:
250:
247:
187:Laser (dinghy)
185:Main article:
182:
179:
103:
102:
91:
87:
86:
63:
59:
58:
55:
51:
50:
48:Dinghy sailing
45:
41:
40:
35:
31:
30:
15:
9:
6:
4:
3:
2:
1071:
1060:
1057:
1056:
1054:
1039:
1036:
1034:
1031:
1029:
1026:
1024:
1021:
1020:
1018:
1014:
1008:
1005:
1003:
1000:
997:
995:
992:
990:
987:
984:
981:
978:
976:
973:
970:
967:
964:
961:
960:
958:
954:
950:
946:
942:
936:
933:
932:
930:
926:
920:
917:
915:
912:
910:
907:
906:
904:
900:
894:
891:
889:
886:
884:
881:
879:
876:
874:
871:
869:
866:
864:Laser Funboat
863:
860:
858:
855:
854:
852:
848:
844:
836:
831:
829:
824:
822:
817:
816:
813:
807:
804:
803:
790:
786:
780:
772:
766:
751:
747:
740:
724:
720:
714:
699:
693:
686:
681:
665:
661:
660:
655:
649:
635:on 2012-08-26
634:
630:
628:0-9654005-0-6
624:
620:
619:
611:
603:
599:
593:
579:on 2015-12-17
578:
574:
568:
560:
556:
550:
548:
539:
535:
531:
525:
517:
513:
507:
505:
500:
492:
490:
486:
482:
478:
474:
470:
467:
457:
448:
445:
441:
439:
434:
420:
418:
414:
410:
406:
401:
398:
394:
389:
387:
383:
379:
375:
371:
366:
364:
361:
357:
354:
350:
346:
342:
338:
332:
322:
320:
315:
313:
309:
305:
301:
297:
293:
285:
283:
279:
275:
273:
269:
265:
261:
257:
256:
255:
246:
244:
240:
236:
232:
228:
224:
219:
217:
213:
208:
206:
202:
197:
194:
188:
178:
175:
173:
169:
165:
164:
158:
156:
152:
148:
144:
140:
136:
132:
128:
124:
120:
117:
113:
109:
100:
92:
88:
85:
80:
76:
72:
68:
64:
60:
56:
52:
49:
46:
42:
39:
36:
32:
28:
23:
1007:Laser Vortex
873:Laser Radial
842:
788:
779:
765:
753:. Retrieved
749:
739:
727:. Retrieved
722:
713:
702:. Retrieved
692:
680:
670:February 19,
668:. Retrieved
664:the original
657:
648:
637:. Retrieved
633:the original
617:
610:
601:
592:
581:. Retrieved
577:the original
567:
558:
538:the original
533:
524:
515:
463:
454:
446:
442:
435:
431:
402:
390:
370:Alcort, Inc.
369:
367:
343:utilizing a
336:
334:
318:
316:
289:
252:
239:Laser Radial
220:
209:
200:
198:
190:
176:
162:
159:
107:
106:
62:Headquarters
34:Company type
477:Laser Bahia
451:Laser Class
413:generically
351:carrying a
268:Northampton
264:Long Buckby
147:Vanguard 15
84:Norwalk, CT
75:Long Buckby
1033:Laser 2000
994:Laser 5000
989:Laser 4000
928:Multihulls
919:Laser Vago
883:Laser Vago
868:Laser Pico
755:12 January
750:Sail World
729:12 January
704:2010-12-07
639:2013-08-13
583:2015-12-13
495:References
409:brand-name
386:fiberglass
304:Laser 5000
300:Laser 4000
296:Laser 2000
292:one design
181:Background
131:Laser Vago
998:Laser EPS
968:Dart 6000
944:Keelboats
861:Laser Bug
857:Laser 4.7
654:"Sunfish"
391:Having a
382:freeboard
308:Laser SB3
262:based in
218:in 1971.
193:Canadians
168:The Laser
155:Optimists
1053:Category
985:Laser 28
982:Laser 16
979:Laser 13
909:Club 420
723:Sail Web
489:Club 420
469:dinghies
466:sailboat
374:Sailfish
258:Europe:
139:Club 420
116:American
71:Portugal
65:Europe:
44:Industry
1023:Dart 18
975:Laser 2
962:Dart 15
935:Dart 16
888:Sunfish
485:Club FJ
481:Sunfish
397:rigging
345:pontoon
337:Sunfish
325:Sunfish
272:England
249:History
235:Atlanta
227:Olympic
223:Bermuda
205:regatta
163:Sunfish
151:Dart 16
135:Club FJ
129:, Bug,
127:Sunfish
90:Website
79:England
67:Setúbal
54:Founded
625:
417:lateen
393:lateen
360:stayed
353:lateen
119:dinghy
110:is an
914:Bahia
473:Laser
460:Today
347:type
123:Laser
112:Anglo
757:2021
731:2021
672:2010
623:ISBN
378:beam
363:mast
356:sail
349:hull
335:The
166:and
143:Z420
99:.com
57:1969
483:,
280:of
233:in
95:www
1055::
787:.
748:.
721:.
656:.
600:.
557:.
546:^
532:.
514:.
503:^
487:,
365:.
302:,
298:,
270:,
266:,
157:.
149:,
145:,
141:,
137:,
125:,
77:,
69:,
834:e
827:t
820:v
791:.
759:.
733:.
707:.
674:.
642:.
604:.
586:.
561:.
518:.
114:-
Text is available under the Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike License. Additional terms may apply.
