Bruce Kirby

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For the American actor, see Bruce Kirby (actor).

A Canadian newspaperman and former editor of Yacht Racing (predecessor to Sailing World), Bruce Kirby (b. 1929) is best known for designing the Laser. Kirby started as a reporter in Montreal before editing Yacht Racing and, in his spare time, taking up yacht design and drawing the Laser.

In 1970 Kirby became editor of Yacht Racing, the premier racing publication of its time, where he stayed until 1975. Juggling editorial duties and his passion for the sea, Kirby still found time to continue designing boats. Sensing the need for a car-toppable, singlehanded dinghy, Kirby drew the Laser in 1969. Now an Olympic class, nearly 200,000 boats have been built through 2004.

While the Laser is Kirby's most successful design, his career began with the International 14 --a developmental skiff (http://www.i14.org/ ) --with relatively few rules. Kirby designed several International 14s, winning the world championships in 1958 and 1961. Kirby also represented Canada at the Olympics in 1956 and 1964, sailing Finns, and in a Star in 1968.

Since the 1970s Kirby has designed two America's Cup 12-Meters, Canada I and II, the Apollo, Sonar, San Juan 24, Kirby 23, 25, and 30, Ideal 18, and the Pixel, a doublehanded trainer that has replaced the Blue Jay on Long Island Sound. The San Juan 24 was extremely successful, with over a thousand built since its debut. Designed to the IOR rating, it was the basis for many of Kirby's later offshore designs. Kirby also served as both designer and skipper on Runaway, Canada's entry in the 1981 Admirals Cup.

Bruce Kirby also designed Norwalk Islands Sharpies, a line of high powered, shallow draft sailboats from 18 ft. to 41 ft. The designs use modern plywood, fiberglass and epoxy construction that are popular with home builders.

Kirby's Sonar is the keel-boat-of-choice for the Paralympics as well as a growing international class. Kirby was also part of the international committee elected to create the new IACC boats (International America's Cup Class) used in the America's Cup beginning in 1992 in San Diego.

The International 14 which won the two championships is now owned by the Dubiel family of Ottawa, Canada.

On-line references Norwalk Island Sharpies: http://www.melantho2.com/index.htm