Canadian Bruce Kirby became known worldwide as the father of the Laser, but was much more than that. He began his professional life as a newspaper journalist and was editor of "One-Design" and "Offshore Yachtsman", now "Sailing World". However, it was the Laser, allegedly sketched as a doodle while talking on the phone (see sketch), that enabled him to make the financial transition to a full-time designer. He acquired his knowledge as a yacht designer through self-study. "I had a copy of 'Skene's Elements of Yacht Design'. If you can understand 50 per cent of what's in that book, you can design a boat. Design is not brain surgery. We should always pretend it is, but it really isn't," Kirby said of his guild.
Kirby launched the Laser in collaboration with fellow countryman Ian Bruce, who oversaw the production of one of the most popular One design classes, of which over 220,000 were built.
Following a copyright dispute with the European-based manufacturer of the class, the Laser was renamed ILCA-Dinghy (International Laser Class Association). The class, now 50 years old, was introduced at the New York Boat Show in January 1971 and sold 144 boats from the stand.
Kirby himself sailed in the International 14 class, became world champion in 1958 and 1960, and represented Canada at the Olympic regattas in 1956 and 1964 in the Finn Dinghy and in 1968 in the Star boat.
With Kirby's departure, a sailor who has influenced the sailing world with his Laser design like few others, only comparable with windsurfing or the Hobie Cat.
