National News Laser sailboat designer Bruce Kirby dies at 92 Doodling on a yellow legal pad in 1969, Bruce Kirby designed one of the most beloved sailboats in history, a low-slung fiberglass dinghy that became known as the Laser. by The Washington Post Jul. 27 2021 @ 8:44pm Bruce Kirby, designer of the Laser sailboat. (Marius Bugge.) Doodling on a yellow legal pad in 1969, Bruce Kirby designed one of the most beloved sailboats in history, a low-slung fiberglass dinghy that became known as the Laser. Light enough to be fastened to the roof of a car, stable and speedy enough to be used by weekend hobbyists as well as Olympic racers, the boat became a fixture of international competitions and local yacht clubs.