I sailed Lasers in the 70s. I was campaigning the Tornado, but found it difficult to get much competition in that class without traveling thousands of miles and spending huge amounts of money.
So, got a Laser. By the way, I bought it new for $500.., and got it in Chicago from Lands End. Right! Lands End. They once were a sailing parts store. They were also a Laser dealer and this boat was their last one -- they were dropping the dealership and going to get more into clothing. Ha!
The Laser has come a long way since, and all due to the vang. The vang is the single most important tool on the boat and not many folks know that.
As many of you know, I teach Laser/Sunfish sailing and have had some really awesome guest experts. A little over a year ago I put out a video of the seminar featuring Brad Funk, Number Uno guy on the Olympic Team. Very good video, if I must say so myself.

Funny, but Kurt Taulbee, also once on the Olympic Team was sailing at our place in Key Largo just before a seminar. We were doing some beer can races on Waves and he joined in. We all suspected the Laser would take it to weather and the Wave would win off the wind. But, it was just the opposite. While the Wave did not point like the Laser, we footed off and was pretty far ahead at the weather mark. Off the wind, the Wave was still displacing, while the Laser was planing. The Laser almost caught up.

That was when we first started sailing Waves. I am sure we have the Wave going faster than back then, so it might be all Wave at this point.
Rick