If you’ve found this page because you are looking to make some sense of what an ILCA or Laser is or what is class legal or not then I’ll try and put your mind at rest.
In 1971 the Laser dinghy was unveiled and has become the most successful dinghy in history with over 200, 000 boats around the world and to cut a long complicated story short in 2019 there was a falling out between various involved parties with the class association taking control of the class and finding new boat builders. In this taking control (I’m not sure what else to call it) it would not be possible to continue calling the boat a Laser or to use the star burst logo so the new boat became an ILCA (short for International Laser Class Association) and a new sail insignia was created.
In brief the new ILCA rules recognise previously built Lasers and the equipment they used if it were legal at the time, Hulls from number 148200 onwards will have an ISAF/World Sailing identification sticker on them.
One of the best things about ILCA’s and Laser’s is the large fleets and close racing they offer, over the years there have been changes to the equipment that can be used and this has been done in a way to ensure that older boats do not become redundant and . In brief items that do not have to be class legal are ropes, shockcord, toe strap, tiller, tiller extension, cleats and blocks although the base plates for outhaul, downhaul & mainsheet must be class legal, all these mentioned items still have rules governing them and if you want specifics then go to the class rules. These rules are only normally enforced at class events so it you aren’t involved in class racing there may be a cheaper non legal alternative to suit you.
To try and make it easier for you we call anything that is not class legal Replica in the product title and description If you want more accurate and up to date information go to the class association www.ilca.uk
There are 3 rig types to suit sailors of various weights which require a sail and lower mast section of different sizes, everything else is the same, all fitting the same hull upper mast and controls. The rigs are called:-
ILCA 7, Laser 1, Laser Standard or full rig all have a 7.06m2 sail and there is now a Mk2 sail which is a bi radial cut
ILCA 6, Laser radial has a 5.76m2 sail which fits a shorter lower mast section and is recognisable by small blue triangles in the 3 corners of the sail
ILCA 4 or Laser 4.7 has a 4.7m2 sail which fits a short bent lower mast (the mast is bent to balance the smaller sail with the position of the daggerboard. The ILCA 4 now has orange triangles in the 3
