How do Bytes compare to Lasers ?
The Byte was designed by Ian Bruce, the father of the Laser, who put his 18 years of experience with the Laser dinghy into the design and development of the Byte. Bytes actually use a Laser rudder, centerboard (shortened), and bottom mast piece. Here are the key differences as we see them. • LASERS — When designing the Byte, Bruce fixed many of the problems sailors encounter on a Laser. Unlike the Laser, Bytes have a center-lead mainsheet traveler (no mainsheet getting caught on a corner of the stern), the sail zips around the mast, and all controls for vang, cunningham, and outhaul are led to both side decks with adequate purchase. The vang is 12:1 through a cascading, ball-bearing block system. Given the right conditions, Bytes can go nose to nose upwind with a Laser. Lasers, with their greater sail area, are faster downwind and move through chop better than a Byte. Bytes are more “squirrelly.” Almost no one can step on the bow of a Byte without tipping it. If you’re lighter weight,
