ILCA / PSA Dispute: an Immediate Implication

 There is a dispute raging about the conformity/legality of thousands of ILCA (formerly Laser) hulls from the past 5 years. And this has an immediate implication that you need to be aware of.

This September 20th, the International Laser Class Association - the sailing class governing the ILCA dinghy - came up with an announcement titled “Protecting the One-Design Integrity of the Class.”

The position held by the Class, and not shared by the Australian (former) builder Performance Sailcraft Pty Ltd (PSA), is that all the boats being produced, except for those by PSA (until its dismissal as a builder) conform to the original Kirby design as using a mould that “can be traced back to the original mould created by Ian Bruce.”

“ILCA’s master mould was formally designated in 2005 as the definitive reference mould for all hulls, and its lineage can be traced back to the original mould created by Ian Bruce. This master was used to make moulds used by Performance Sailcraft Europe (later to become LaserPerformance), Performance Sailcraft Japan, and all current builders – except PSA.” reads the Class announcement.

 

For its part, the PSA position is that only its hulls are consistent with the original Kirby design for the Laser. The Performance Sailcraft Australia Official Statement 29th August 2025 states:

 

“In November 2024, PSA received new moulds supplied by ILCA. Our technical staff, in working with and listening to advice from ILCA’s own technical representatives, identified that the hulls produced from these moulds were shorter and materially different from those built under the original licensed Bruce Kirby tooling.” …

 

“Every boat we build continues to come from original Kirby-licensed moulds, preserving the one-design standard. We build the Laser design which World Sailing recognises under the FRAND agreement and we do not hold a mandate to deviate from that specification.” 

 

“Nor did ILCA hold a mandate to deviate from that specification in 2020. We remain committed to our duty of honesty and transparency to our sailors and to the legacy of Bruce Kirby.”

 

Continue reading at: 

https://dinghysailing.substack.com/p/ilca-psa-dispute-an-immediate-implication 

 

 

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