Today the International Laser Class Association announced the release of the long anticipated new sail for the Standard Rig!

April Fool's for 2011!

In development since the Fall of 2006, the work has long been shrouded in secrecy. It can now be revealed that early computer modeling was done on the compute farms of Bear Stearns and AIG in the Summer of 2008, though this had absolutely nothing to do with the collapse of the financial markets soon thereafter. Design work was shared between companies that refused to talk to each, initially slowing the project somewhat. Forward progress was finally achieved after the advent of a secret carrier pigeon network between the designers.

In order to shield from prying eyes, detailed testing of the sail was done in Antarctica - the only continent which does not have an active Laser Fleet - and the team only recently packed up to head home.

The sail is intended to position the Laser to continue to dominate singlehanded sailing for decades to come. Said Heini Wellmann, President of ILCA, "Sailors have been asking for an improved Standard sail since I came to the Laser Class and I was determined to give them even more than what they wanted!" The sail will also achieve the goal of further separating the Radial from the Standard rigs since the average weight necessary to hold the boat flat when sailing upwind has now increased to 250 lbs.

The sail will be available from the builders as soon as they sort out the IP rights which ILCA is told will be shortly to never.

Scroll down for a picture of the new sail...