Non-Class Lasers Hit the Market in the UK

LaserPerformance "Club Edition" Laser
at Discounted Price in the UK
The UK Laser Association has announced on its website that a « Club Edition » of the Laser has been introduced by LaserPerformance. This is presented as a « training boat  » that does not bear the World Sailing Building Plaque or a Sail Button.

(read also: It’s High Time to Slash the Price of the Class Laser Sails)

The statement reads: « This is fine as a training boat but we feel it is important to clarify that these boats are not Class legal based on the Fundamental Rule within the Laser Class Rules. These boats will be ineligible to compete in any UKLA sanctioned events, broadly speaking but not exclusively, those advertised on the UKLA website. »
Adding: « Whilst the UKLA would like all Laser racing to be conducted strictly in accordance with the Class Rules, it does not consider it should dictate to sailing clubs throughout the UK over their adoption, though they would be subject to protest by competing sailors in the same way that any non-compliant gear currently is. »

Interestingly, the statement indicates that the UK Laser Class is taking a neutral stance in the row between the international Laser class ILCA and LaserPerformance.

« The UKLA is not party to the discussions between ILCA and LPE, does not possess any privileged information and considers itself a neutral party. This advisory statement is solely to ensure sailors wishing to compete in UKLA events understand the Laser 'Club Edition' is marketed as a training boat and not as a racing boat. »

See below the complete statement, that was posted at http://laser.org.uk/

Updated paragraph - April 18. In the UK, a visit of the LaserPerformance website lists the usual Standard, Radial and 4.7 models, in the Race or XD versions, at £ 5,500, while the price for the "Club Edition" listed on the website appoloduck.com is £ 4,250. Both prices include taxes.

This is £ 1,250 price difference, i.e. a 22.5% discount, when you purchase the "Club Edition" instead of a class legal boat from LaserPerformance UK.

In Euro terms, this is a price of approx EUR 4,900 taxes inc. The class legal Laser - Race model - is presently listed in France at EUR 6,690 taxes inc. Both in the UK and France, taxes (VAT) are 20%.

Carbon Fibre (Non-Class) Laser for Sale on Alibaba
Note that there were already other non-class Lasers available on the market. One example are the so called « Alibaba Lasers » available for purchase from China from the Alibaba website. (see screen capture)

One of the models listed on Alibaba features a carbon fibre hull!

Minimum order is for 3 boats, which are presented as « ready to sail »

To get pricing, one needs to send an online enquiry.

With LaserPerformance not in a position to supply class-legal boats any longer, it’s the Australian supplier that is mostly expected to supply the world market. 

A new Laser standard, "with  hull, sail, batten set, sail numbers, rudder, rudderhead, centreboard, alloy tiller and extension, top section, bottom section, boom, turbo kit, rope kit," is listed on the PSA website at AUS$11,235.00, i.e. at today’s exchange rate, at US$8,050.

The price of the boat with carbon tiller, extension and composite top mast section is not listed.

In the US, on the laserperformance.us website, the equivalent "Race" model is listed at US$6,450. Price difference is US$1,600, and this does not take shipping into account.

On March 27, the International Laser class announced that it « is seeking new builders to complement its existing network of manufacturers. »

The class added in a statement on April 6: « ILCA has had a tremendous response so far and we will soon be accepting formal applications from new builders.  We expect to be able to name new builders quickly ... "

In a related development, we revealed that the new name for class-legal boats is expected to be the « ILCA. »

Note: this story has been updated on April 18, as the pricing information for the LaserPerformance "Club Edition" Laser became available.
 
-----------

UK Laser Association Statement - accessed on April 14 2019

Training boats 

Laser Performance has introduced the Laser 'Club Edition', described as a training boat which does not bear the World Sailing Building Plaque or a Sail Button. This is fine as a training boat but we feel it is important to clarify that these boats are not Class legal based on the Fundamental Rule within the Laser Class Rules. These boats will be ineligible to compete in any UKLA sanctioned events, broadly speaking but not exclusively, those advertised on the UKLA website. Whilst the UKLA would like all Laser racing to be conducted strictly in accordance with the Class Rules, it does not consider it should dictate to sailing clubs throughout the UK over their adoption, though they would be subject to protest by competing sailors in the same way that any non-compliant gear currently is.

Please note, the UKLA is not party to the discussions between ILCA and LPE, does not possess any privileged information and considers itself a neutral party. This advisory statement is solely to ensure sailors wishing to compete in UKLA events understand the Laser 'Club Edition' is marketed as a training boat and not as a racing boat.

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