An Explanation to the Fast Aussie Lasers?

LaserPerformance has posted today this communiqué, alleging that not only did ILCA tolerate infringements to the Laser Construction Manual by Performance Sailcraft Australia, but also agreed for some infringement to become part of the new construction methods by the 3 builders. The mast rake was also allegedly adjusted to the sailor's demands! According to LaserPerformance, this made "all previous Lasers technically obsolete" and "no notification of the breach in protocol was reported to ISAF/WS or the Laser community at large."

This clearly provides a taste of what is to come in the expected legal / trademark battle between ILCA and LaserPerformance, the world’s dominant Laser builder, recently decertified by ILCA.

See April 28 related article: 
Aussie Lasers: Damaging ILCA Emails Released

This also comes in the midst of ILCA expected to rename the Laser within weeks as ... the ILCA! See the articles "And the Name of the Future Laser is ..."  https://optimist-openbic-sailing.blogspot.com/2019/04/and-future-name-of-laser-is.html?m=1 and "Laser Name Change: What the ILCA Trademark Tells Us"https://optimist-openbic-sailing.blogspot.com/2019/04/laser-name-change-what-ilca-trademark.html


---------------------

ILCA Turns Blind Eye While PSA Builds Illegal Laser Boats

LAST UPDATED

9 April 2019

In 2014 LaserPerformance received complaints that PSA-built Laser boats sold to sailors and used at the 2014 Santander ISAF Sailing World Championships were built differently than the Laser Construction Manual (LCM) and thus sailed faster. LaserPerformance acquired PSA Laser boats, measured and weighed them and cut them open for inspection. The examination by LP revealed that PSA was knowingly building boats that did not conform to the Laser Construction Manual. This was reported to ILCA which sent their Technical Officer to inspect PSA boats.

In a written report to ILCA, LaserPerformance found:

A PSA hull is lighter and can be purchased below minimum weight by specifying the weight/lowest weight possible they are seeking at the time of order. Weights of 56.2Kgs were reported by the sailors.

B PSA advertised that hull mast rakes can be pre-ordered to sailor’s preference, with much more rake than LCM target.

C PSA hull is stiffer in front section.

D Upper mast is much heavier and stiffer that LPE supplied upper mast.

ILCA’s Technical and Measurement Committee reviewed LaserPerformance findings and reported the following:

“The meeting reviewed CH spread sheet on LCM option differences adopted by the 3 builders, the results from sample plaques received from the builders and an LP teardown report comparing a PSA to an LP boat.

The major differences in construction were agreed as a. An extra layer of CSM in the bow area of the PSA boats, b. The use of foam blocks that are glued in with expanding foam on PSA boats (alternate to Cubitainers), c. Use of Plywood ilo grommets to fasten the grab rails. d. Some oversize CSM patches on PSA boats. “

ILCA did not admonish or decertify PSA for breaking the LCM Agreement. Instead, ILCA agreed that the other builders follow the PSA laminate schedule, thus making all previous Lasers technically obsolete. No notification of the breach in protocol was reported to ISAF/WS or the Laser community at large.

Popular posts from this blog

Green, White, Blue & Red Fleets: What is it all about?

Image
If you were present at a prize giving ceremony for the Optimist class, you may have been puzzled by the number of categories and prizes that are involved. The reason is simple: the Optimist class is big, and there are kids sailing from age 5 or 6 to age 15, and there are some kids new to the class, and other kids with years of experience  So it's normal to recognize the efforts of everyone according to age and experience. So here is how it is organized. Green Fleet : when your kid starts mastering the boat and do short races at your club, (s)he may be ready for doing a regatta in the Green Fleet. This is a regatta where advice can be provided by the coaches during the race. And it is typically a shorter course than the white/blue/red fleets. The importance in the green fleet is to participate. So there is typically no ranking announced at the prize giving. But when your kid starts performing well in the Green Fleet, it's then ... time to move on and join the White, Blue o
Read more

20 Reasons to Choose the Laser 4.7 (part 1)

Image
A frequently asked question is: « Why the Laser 4.7? » While the 4.7 rig is very well known in Europe, it is less so in some places elsewhere, particularly in the United States and Canada. The reality is that there are many reasons to choose this rig, which entails a sail of 4.7 square meters (1 square meter less than the Radial sail) and a slightly shorter mast. This rig is especially suitable for youth sailing. Let's take a look at the reasons - and there are many of them - why the Laser 4.7 is an excellent choice. Below are 10 first reasons. The second part of the article, presents 10 additional reasons to choose the Laser 4.7, and can be found at this link . Note: this article is available in French . Also, don't miss our upcoming webinar on Nov. 13 " The Laser 4.7 for Youth Sailing: All You Need to Know! " 1. A Considerable International Success The Laser 4.7, launched only twenty years ago, has achieved a considerable international success. For exampl
Read more

Laser or ILCA Dinghy: Which One is Fastest?

Image
A Mix of Lasers and ILCA Dinghies at the Laser 4.7 Worlds in Kingston "There's no such thing as bad publicity." -- Phineas T. Barnum The Laser is usually referred to as a single manufacturer one design boat (SMOD). But in reality, there are 3 builders (assuming LaserPerformance will be reinstated) and possibly more to come. The ILCA Dinghies are actual PSA Lasers, rebranded to circumvent the Laser trademarks. Boats from the third, Japanese, builder are much less common, except in Japan and South Korea. So, are the PSA and LaserPerformance boats the same? As indicated earlier, only one supplier of charter boats - PSA - was promoted by the Laser class at the Youth Worlds, so that many sailors did not sail by choice on the Aussie ILCA Dinghies. The fact that many of the top competitors used ILCA Dinghies for those championships is not necessarily an indicator that these are better boats. Most of the top international competitors were sailing the ILCA Dinghies
Read more