this year is the 60th anniversary of the Sunfish sailboat, and the current manufacturer – Laser Performance – has created a new commemorative sail to celebrate. they have posted a few pictures on Instagram (@laserperformance) as well as on their Facebook page.
Sunfish sails are typically all white (for racing versions) or various color combinations that are just diagonal stripes (for recreational versions). the sails are then basically constructed with varied color sail cloth for each panel on the sail. the sails created for the Sunfish Worlds are usually pretty awesome as well, but can often be a bit heavy on one or two colors with a custom design. I really like the simplicity of these – still mostly white, but with a creative design of little Sunfish logos splashed onto the sail.
I also really loved this picture they posted off a dog (a black lab?) enjoying some time on the water as well.
Laser Performance is currently running a contest on their Facebook page – enter your own “Sunfish story” for a chance to win your own 60th anniversary Sunfish!
I think it’s interesting that these are clearly recreational sails not racing sails (no window for example) and these publicity photos (couples and dog on Sunfish) are clearly projecting an image of a boat that is just for messing about having fun on, not for racing.
Has LP given up on the Sunfish as a racing boat?
tillerman, those are great points. maybe because it is an anniversary edition, they are trying to portray how it could mean something different to different people – as many people have grown up with them on a lake (or ocean, or pond) and have used them purely as a recreational past-time.
maybe LP is focusing on the Laser as their “racing” boat, and the Sunfish as more the recreational boat? that wouldn’t surprise me.
the other thing I found odd about the promotional pictures is that none of the sailors are wearing any type of life jacket or PFD. seems odd to promote something like that.
Yes, it’s really nothing new. I think the Sunfish has been positioned by the marketing people like this for many years now. I guess they know who buys them.
And I guess the “no PFD” pictures are meant to promote that laid-back, just for fun, nothing can go wrong lifestyle. Pretty irresponsible of them.
Anyway, when I win the contest for the 60th anniversary boat, I will be trading that pretty sail for a racing sail!
I’m not on Facebook, so you have an unfair advantage… as such, I’ll gladly accept that pretty sail as a gift from you when you do win that Sunfish!!
Wait. I just looked more closely at the picture. i think I do see a window, but the pretty little sunfish are all over the window too. Is that right?
I don’t know, it’s really hard to tell!
Anyway, even if it’s technically a racing sail, I wouldn’t want to race with it. Too easy for the RC to spot when you are OCS!
would it only be if you are REALLY OCS? the forward part of the sail is still pretty white.
if it’s from the manufacturer, it’d be legal for class racing. I’d be curious if is the race-cut sail though with more camber/draft.
Yes, you can always race with a recreational sail but it’s slower.
On second thoughts I don’t think there is a window. I was just seeing the bottom crease in the sail.
First thing that came to mind was Peter Max
should I feel bad that I had to consult The Google to see who that was?
his art seemed to be a bit heavier with colors.
Where can you purchase these sails? Went to the North Sails website and could not find them.
Mike, I would imagine that Laser Performance would be the place to look – but I don’t see them on their website yet.