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The Laser 28's design started in 1978, following the success of the Laser dinghy, with the intention to produce a keelboat equivalent, for the Laser sailors who would outgrow the Laser, just need a keelboat as they aged, or for family cruising and racing.[5]

In 1980 Ian Bruce, president of Performance Sailcraft decided to take the boat design away from that company to reduce commercial pressures on the design team. He formed Bruce Yacht R&D Inc (BYRD) and teamed with designer Bruce Farr and a group headed up by the president of the International Laser Class Association, Tim Coventry.[5]

The Laser 28 was Farr's 91st boat design. The project development team included Performance Sailcraft's Ian Bruce, Tim Coventry President of the International Laser Class Association, experienced sailor Peter Hicks, Norman Frost as plastics engineer and Piers Phipps as project financial advisor. Hans Fogh designed the sails, as he had done for the Laser dinghy.[1][5]

The boat project had four design goals. First, that the boat should be a strict one-design in the same vein as the Laser dinghy, with all boats produced the same with class rules that prohibited any changes to the boat, so that the competition would be between sailing skills and not the ability to pay for improvements. Second, that the design should have outstanding performance, unhampered by adherence to any rule structure, such as the International Offshore Rule, to ensure a long life as a competitive boat. Third, that the boat be a quality product, using the best of available technology. Fourth, that the boat represent a good value for the monetary outlay, "the intention being to produce a 28 foot yacht with a performance of a 35 foot yacht at the price of a 25 foot yacht."[5]

Two prototypes were built and the first sailed in the early summer of 1981 in Falmouth, England, with the second in the water that autumn. Originally fitted with a large genoa foresail the second prototype used a 108% "lapper" jib, that proved superior in winds over 5 kn (9 km/h) and was easier to handle by short-handed crews, as well as cheaper to produce.[5]

The prototypes were tested in severe conditions, including broaching and intentional knockdowns with the spinnaker flying, in 35 to 40 kn (65 to 74 km/h) winds that left the cockpit dry and with no equipment failures.[5]

With $1,000,000 invested, to get the design from testing to production, a new firm was created by financial consultant Piers Phipps, Precis Ninety Nine Limited. The design was licensed to Performance Sailcraft to produce.[5]

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