These pages show and describe the sailboats that competed in the 2012 Olympics. Go here to see the final results and medal winners in all 2012 sailing events.
The 2012 Olympics had 10 one-design sailing events, six for men and four for women. “One design” means the boats used by all competitors in any event are identical, so the sailor’s skill and strategy determine the winner. The 2012 Summer Games introduced one new boat (the Elliott 6m) and eliminated two classes that raced in 2008: the Tornado multihull and the Yngling keelboat.
Women’s One-Person Dinghy - Laser Radial
The Laser, shown in this photo, is a one-person, single-sail centerboard planing sailboat that is fast and maneuverable. Designed by Bruce Kirby and produced since 1970, Lasers are among the most popular sailboats around the world. The Laser Radial used in this women’s event has slightly less sail area than in the Lasers used in the men’s event, primarily because women’s lower body weights provide less balancing force against heeling induced by wind in the sail. The other eight classes of boats return from 2008 and some many decades previously. Each class is shown and described in the following pages.
Specs
Length overall: 4.23 mBeam: 1.37 m
Displacement: 59 kg
Sail area: 5.76 sq m
Shown in photo: American Anna Tunnicliffe in the 2008 Olympics.
