Why do you want to kill the Laser (ILCA)?
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It is the most active and widespread boat in the world, with 230,000 hulls launched since 1971.
Laser (ILCA) everyone wants to produce it
We are talking about the Laser (which today is called ILCA, but everyone still calls it Laser). Very easy to use, to transport, to rig. Fast, fun, planing, it is no wonder that its regattas (remember that it is also an Olympic class) are always the most crowded and that it is the object of desire, given its large numbers, for those who manufacture dinghies.
Since the Laser has been called ILCA (an acronym for International Laser Class Association: as of January 1, 2020) trouble has begun. It all stems from the now long-running diatribe between the class and its long-standing manufacturer Laser Performance, which covered Europe, Asia and the Americas, accused of not producing boats that always conformed to the Laser monotype. Hence ILCA’s openness to seeking new manufacturers.
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The latest Laser chaos in Australia
The latest “mess” comes from Australia, where the ILCA class had ousted the historic builder Performance Sailcraft Australia (PSA) in late September from the list of yards authorized to build Lasers. The reason? PSA built the boats with its own molds and not with the “official” molds codified in 2005 used by the other licensed manufacturers. Although-in ILCA’s words-“there is no evidence that PSA boats perform differently, the fact that they are not identical is contrary to ILCA’s strict one-design (or one-design) principle.” The matter ended up in court, which instead agreed with PSA. The yard can continue to produce its Lasers, with its “unofficial” molds, until the underlying dispute is resolved in court or through settlement.
Tell us your opinion
Trials, disputes, courts, and money matters are never sailors’ friends. No one would want to buy a boat only to find it “non-compliant,” in jargon out of tonnage. And so we turn to all of you, who at least once in your life have had fun aboard a Laser (which we will never be able to call ILCA: would you ever call a Fiat Cinquecento a Fiat Cinquecento International Class Association?). What do you think about the affair? Wouldn’t it be better to go back to the days of the good old Laser? Tell us your opinion.
Eugene Ruocco
All Authorized Laser Manufacturers
Below is the list of authorized Laser manufacturers. These shipyards are not the only ones where boats can be purchased; in fact, each of these brands may have their own local distributors, as is the case, for example, with the British Ovington and the Thai Element 6, which is distributed in Italy by Negri Nautica, or like the Devoti that are distributed, for example, by Best Wind.
Devoti Sailing s.r.o.
www.devotisailing.com
Element 6 Evolution Co., Ltd.
www.e6e.asia
Far East Boats
www.fareastboats.com
Nautivela Ltd.
www.nautivela.com
Ovington Boats Ltd
www.ovingtonboats.com
Performance Sailcraft Australia
https://psasailing.com.au/
Performance Sailcraft Japan
www.psjpn.co.jp
Qingdao Zou Inter Marine Co., Ltd.
www.zouintermarine.com
Rio Tecna Ltd.
www.riotecna.com
ZIM Sailing
www.zimsailing.com/ilca
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