Laser 4.7: Where Does the International Laser Class Stand?
The Laser class ILCA has sent an extensive letter to its various national members, largely in response to the position issued by its European branch EurILCA and the online petition calling for the resignation of the ILCA leadership.
While the letter, signed by Tracy Usher, the president of ILCA, does not provide much new information and mostly reiterates ILCA’s position blaming LaserPerformance and arguing that a name change for the boat may have to occur, there is an interesting section about the Laser 4.7.
Remember, the President of the international Laser class ILCA participated in a video released on YouTube mid-2018, promoting a new "C5" rig developped in Australia.
« So thinking about the future of the Laser class, as we start to look at the end of our first 50 years, we want to position ourselves for the next 50 years, and we don’t see that future being white sails on aluminum masts, to be able to continue the model of a smaller rig, a medium size rig and a larger rig, so that people can progress through the different rigs, as they grow larger. » says Tracy Usher, ILCA President, in the video.
The video features the smallest of the three rigs, the « C5 », yet two other C6 and C8 rigs have since been unveiled, aimed at respectively replacing the radial and standard rigs.
And interestingly, the video also features the ILCA name and not the Laser name in the sail. As we previously analyzed, the Laser name change has been planned long in advance and well before the termination of LaserPerformance as a builder.
Remember also that in its January 21 2019 statement, the Laser class stated:
« the ILCA World Council therefore determined it worthwhile to see if a new rig could be developed that would facilitate a smoother transition from the Optimist into the Laser family. »
« Initial tests of this new rig (with the working name “C5”) have been positive and development has now reached the point where it would be useful to deploy a reasonable number of sample rigs “into the field” as a test to see how they perform in racing conditions in active fleets. »
The position of EurILCA, which has successfully championed the 4.7 for many years, and has over 400 boats at many of its European championships, is that such new rig is not necessary.
Despite its obvious implication in the C5 rig development for some 5 years, and its support to this new rig, here is what Tracy Usher now says.
« ILCA has no plan to replace the 4.7 rig. Anyone who says otherwise is either misinformed, or worse, is purposefully spreading misinformation. »
He claims that « It is well known that the 4.7 struggles to see significant levels of participation outside Europe, in spite of programs in place to promote the rig. »
Note that this latter assertion by ILCA can be seriously challenged. The reason why the 4.7 is successful in Europe is that substantial work has been done, and continues to be done, by the national class associations, in Italy, France, Germany, the UK etc. It's not like the 4.7 would be naturally more suitable in a European context. Such work has simply not been done in places like North America. There are no programs to support the 4.7 rig neither in the US nor in Canada.
See our detailed articles: "Fixing the Youth Sailing Pathway with the Laser 4.7 and the RS Feva" and
"Jumpstarting the Laser 4.7 in North America"
Who to Believe?
Now who to believe? The ILCA president claiming there is no future for the Laser with white sails on aluminum masts, or the ILCA president claiming there is no plan to replace the 4.7 rig (with white sails)?
Maybe we live in an era of « fake news, » but before blaming others for alleged misinformation, maybe should the Laser class get its house in order!
Time is short: August 1st is the deadline set by World Sailing for an Olympic contract to be signed.
As we previously analyzed, this means that, by that date, the trademark agreement, the status of LaserPerformance as a builder, and the FRAND terms need to be resolved.
Or alternatively, a vote with a 2/3rd majority of the membership must be successfully implemented on a complete change of the class rules and constitution. And litigation with LaserPerformance needs also to be averted. As we previously analyzed, this second scenario is a very tall and risky order.
The inability of the international class to get along with its European branch, which represents the vast majority of Laser sailors world-wide, is pretty baffling in that context.
Anyway, the discussions are continuing between the key players, including World Sailing.
And terminated builder LaserPerformance has confirmed yesterday having received World Sailing plaques, so that boats can be delivered to the Youth Sailing World Championship which will be held in Gdynia, Poland from 13 to 20 July 2019.
And remember, the reason advanced by ILCA for terminating LaserPerformance was that LaserPerformance was not allowing to inspect its building facilities.
Against that context, will the boats sailed at the Youth Worlds be class compliant?
À suivre …
While the letter, signed by Tracy Usher, the president of ILCA, does not provide much new information and mostly reiterates ILCA’s position blaming LaserPerformance and arguing that a name change for the boat may have to occur, there is an interesting section about the Laser 4.7.
Remember, the President of the international Laser class ILCA participated in a video released on YouTube mid-2018, promoting a new "C5" rig developped in Australia.
« So thinking about the future of the Laser class, as we start to look at the end of our first 50 years, we want to position ourselves for the next 50 years, and we don’t see that future being white sails on aluminum masts, to be able to continue the model of a smaller rig, a medium size rig and a larger rig, so that people can progress through the different rigs, as they grow larger. » says Tracy Usher, ILCA President, in the video.
The video features the smallest of the three rigs, the « C5 », yet two other C6 and C8 rigs have since been unveiled, aimed at respectively replacing the radial and standard rigs.
And interestingly, the video also features the ILCA name and not the Laser name in the sail. As we previously analyzed, the Laser name change has been planned long in advance and well before the termination of LaserPerformance as a builder.
Remember also that in its January 21 2019 statement, the Laser class stated:
« the ILCA World Council therefore determined it worthwhile to see if a new rig could be developed that would facilitate a smoother transition from the Optimist into the Laser family. »
« Initial tests of this new rig (with the working name “C5”) have been positive and development has now reached the point where it would be useful to deploy a reasonable number of sample rigs “into the field” as a test to see how they perform in racing conditions in active fleets. »
The position of EurILCA, which has successfully championed the 4.7 for many years, and has over 400 boats at many of its European championships, is that such new rig is not necessary.
Despite its obvious implication in the C5 rig development for some 5 years, and its support to this new rig, here is what Tracy Usher now says.
« ILCA has no plan to replace the 4.7 rig. Anyone who says otherwise is either misinformed, or worse, is purposefully spreading misinformation. »
He claims that « It is well known that the 4.7 struggles to see significant levels of participation outside Europe, in spite of programs in place to promote the rig. »
Note that this latter assertion by ILCA can be seriously challenged. The reason why the 4.7 is successful in Europe is that substantial work has been done, and continues to be done, by the national class associations, in Italy, France, Germany, the UK etc. It's not like the 4.7 would be naturally more suitable in a European context. Such work has simply not been done in places like North America. There are no programs to support the 4.7 rig neither in the US nor in Canada.
See our detailed articles: "Fixing the Youth Sailing Pathway with the Laser 4.7 and the RS Feva" and
"Jumpstarting the Laser 4.7 in North America"
Who to Believe?
Now who to believe? The ILCA president claiming there is no future for the Laser with white sails on aluminum masts, or the ILCA president claiming there is no plan to replace the 4.7 rig (with white sails)?
Maybe we live in an era of « fake news, » but before blaming others for alleged misinformation, maybe should the Laser class get its house in order!
Time is short: August 1st is the deadline set by World Sailing for an Olympic contract to be signed.
As we previously analyzed, this means that, by that date, the trademark agreement, the status of LaserPerformance as a builder, and the FRAND terms need to be resolved.
 |
| World Sailing Plaques Being Installed on LaserPerformance Hulls |
The inability of the international class to get along with its European branch, which represents the vast majority of Laser sailors world-wide, is pretty baffling in that context.
Anyway, the discussions are continuing between the key players, including World Sailing.
And terminated builder LaserPerformance has confirmed yesterday having received World Sailing plaques, so that boats can be delivered to the Youth Sailing World Championship which will be held in Gdynia, Poland from 13 to 20 July 2019.
And remember, the reason advanced by ILCA for terminating LaserPerformance was that LaserPerformance was not allowing to inspect its building facilities.
Against that context, will the boats sailed at the Youth Worlds be class compliant?
À suivre …
