Laser Pico (dinghy)
Encyclopedia
The Laser Pico dinghy is a small sailboat designed by Jo Richards in the mid-1990s and used primarily for training and day sailing. It can be crewed by one or two children or an adult. Current models come equipped with both a mainsail
and a jib
, but the jib is so small that it is faster sailed single handed using only the mainsail.
A sport version is also available on this boat which includes a larger Mylar sail and upgraded control lines. This improvement has changed the PY from 1338 to 1269 (For the double handed setup). This version is used extensively in the one-design race series.
The hull
is of thermoplastic
sandwich construction, providing strength, stiffness, and built-in buoyancy. The cockpit is self-draining. The boat comes equipped with an aluminum two-piece mast, an aluminum boom, and a lifting rudder. For the more racy type, the pico can have a battened race sail attached instead of the cruising main. This sail is made of mylar and is much tougher and more powerful than its cruising counterpart.
Laser Performance
, the manufacturer of the Pico, has sold over 10,000 of these boats.
The first UK National championships were held on the 27th, 28th and 29th of May 2006 at Gurnard Sailing Club on the Isle of Wight, the Pico's spiritual home.
Ellen MacArthur
is quoted on the manufacturer's site as saying "It's simple, it's fun, and it's cool." Laser Pico
Mainsail
A mainsail is a sail located behind the main mast of a sailing vessel.On a square rigged vessel, it is the lowest and largest sail on the main mast....
and a jib
Jib
A jib is a triangular staysail set ahead of the foremast of a sailing vessel. Its tack is fixed to the bowsprit, to the bow, or to the deck between the bowsprit and the foremost mast...
, but the jib is so small that it is faster sailed single handed using only the mainsail.
A sport version is also available on this boat which includes a larger Mylar sail and upgraded control lines. This improvement has changed the PY from 1338 to 1269 (For the double handed setup). This version is used extensively in the one-design race series.
The hull
Hull (watercraft)
A hull is the watertight body of a ship or boat. Above the hull is the superstructure and/or deckhouse, where present. The line where the hull meets the water surface is called the waterline.The structure of the hull varies depending on the vessel type...
is of thermoplastic
Thermoplastic
Thermoplastic, also known as a thermosoftening plastic, is a polymer that turns to a liquid when heated and freezes to a very glassy state when cooled sufficiently...
sandwich construction, providing strength, stiffness, and built-in buoyancy. The cockpit is self-draining. The boat comes equipped with an aluminum two-piece mast, an aluminum boom, and a lifting rudder. For the more racy type, the pico can have a battened race sail attached instead of the cruising main. This sail is made of mylar and is much tougher and more powerful than its cruising counterpart.
Laser Performance
Laser Performance
-History:Up until around 2007, boats were built under the Laser brand name by several boat builders each allocated an exclusive geographic sales region. The builders were Performance Sailcraft Europe, Performance Sailcraft Australia and Vanguard...
, the manufacturer of the Pico, has sold over 10,000 of these boats.
The first UK National championships were held on the 27th, 28th and 29th of May 2006 at Gurnard Sailing Club on the Isle of Wight, the Pico's spiritual home.
Ellen MacArthur
Ellen MacArthur
Dame Ellen Patricia MacArthur, DBE is an English sailor, up until 2009, from Whatstandwell near Matlock in Derbyshire, now based in West Cowes, on the Isle of Wight. She is best known as a solo long-distance yachtswoman. On 7 February 2005 she broke the world record for the fastest solo...
is quoted on the manufacturer's site as saying "It's simple, it's fun, and it's cool." Laser Pico
Specifications
- Length: 3.50 m (11'6")
- Beam: 1.43 m
- Hull weight: 60 kg
- Mainsail: 5.1 m2
- Race mainsail: 6.44 m2
- Jib: 1.57 m2