Optimist, Open Skiff, Youth & Olympic Sailing Blog

The secret was kept for a long time, but is now revealed.  After years of testing, the new Laser boom is finally here! It was time. The boat already benefits from a composite top mast section. And recently, a bottom mast section for the Radial was added. For certain, the boat became increasingly odd, mixing the original aluminum boom with these composite add-ons. The intensive exacting research conducted on the new composite boom will ensure that it will have exactly the same performances as the existing aluminum boom. No more bend, no less bend. Exactly the same. The new composite boom has exactly the same dimensions and diameter as the old aluminum boom. A weight compensation feature has been included so that both old and new have identical weights, something omitted with previous add-ons. The new composite boom is of course equipped with the latest carbon cleat and fittings, scientifically developed to the necessary exacting standards. What’s the key rationale to mo...

This article covers recent events relating to a working party established by the European branch of the International Laser Class Assocation - EurILCA - to decide on the future of the class in a European context. An inconclusive vote, at a specially convened general assembly, took place today on the recommendations of this working party. The article also provides a brief update on The Laser Class - the new class announced just a week ago. Finally, the article comments on the urgent need for ILCA and EurILCA to take their responsibilities regarding the coronavirus epidemic. Following its January 1 ultimatum to the international laser class ILCA, and an absence of response to the ultimatum by ILCA’s secretariat, the European branch of the class, EurILCA, formed a working group to explore avenues for the future of Laser sailing in Europe. With nearly two third of the world-wide membership, Europe is indeed essential for Laser sailing. https://optimist-openbic-sailing.blogspot.com/201...

Coronavirus: Officials, Sailors, Parents Should be Proactive - by Jean-Pierre Kiekens, Oxford educated development economist, former lecturer at the University of Brussels, and sailor. Note: this is a follow-up to the article Sailing and the Coronavirus - which you are suggested to read prior to this one, if you haven't done so yet. Please share the article, as it will likely be helpful to others Update: please also watch this March 8 Video by Dr John Campbell about the critical importance of being proactive. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=B5_yExFZFYw ------- The sailing season is now starting in Europe, with events such as the Valencia Optimist Regatta,  starting tomorrow, with nearly 400 sailors. https://optiorangevalencia.com/ These are huge events, with numerous sailors, coaches, parents, officials, club personnel, involved. Other important events that will come soon are the Garda Optimist Meeting in Northern Italy (over 1,200 registrations) and the Laser 4....

A new Laser class, called « The Laser Class » - presented as « a class for sailors, by sailors » - was announced today, on the occasion of the RYA Dinghy Show in London. Note: if you haven't done so yet, please read  Sailing and the Coronavirus . The class is supported by a number of Laser sailors until now associated with  EurILCA / ILCA, as well as UK Laser builder LaserPerformance. The Laser Class Interim President is Heini Wellman, from Switzerland, who is the immediate past president of the International Laser Class Association (ILCA). The Laser Class is presented to be a class « For sailors, by sailors - with the original Laser spirit in One Design dinghies. » « Welcome to The Laser Class. Or should I say, welcome to the original One Design Laser Class that we all wanted. I wish we didn’t have to go down this road but it’s time that the largest racing dinghy class also be the most democratic and the most respected. So many around the w...

After several months of silence, here is what LaserPerformance has to say about its relationship with the international Laser class ILCA, the lengthy delays in the tractations with ILCA for a possible reinstatement as an authorized builder, and why it has not signed the paperwork, presented by ILCA, for being reinstated as a builder. LaserPerformance Media Release - 6 February 2020 Why is LaserPerformance still not an approved ILCA Builder? Many Laser sailors have contacted LP and asked why LP has not signed the ILCA Builder’s Agreement, reappointing LP as a Laser Builder. We take this opportunity to update you on the latest developments. In mid-August 2019 the World Council of World Sailing voted for Laser to be the single-handed dinghy sailboat for the 2024 Olympics. This was based on the World Sailing Submission that said the following about LP and PSA: “(c) ILCA is in process to approve LaserPerformance Europe as a builder. LPE has agreed to the terms of approval and ILC...

Planned obsolescence is a well known and shameful feature when it comes to cell phones and other electronic equipment. It is now establishing itself in the Laser class, the self-proclaimed  « epitome » of strict one-design sailing. Sailors are now left with the dilemma of either being slower or having to upgrade their equipment at substantial cost. This trend has vast, existential, consequences for the future of Laser sailing. Changes to Hull, Blades, Mast The Australian Laser Class Association published on its website pictures of newly designed rudders and centerboards for the Laser - or « ILCA Dinghy. » Also, the Australian association describes changes that are being made to the hull laminate around the centerboard and the transom. And the Australian association also confirms the availability, at a steep price, of new composite mast bottom sections for the Radial. See details at http://lasersdownunder.com/ « Changes have been made to reduce damage not to make ...

Today, long time Italian Laser sailor Alessandro Castelli sent this letter to all the European districts. The letter was also published in Sailing Anarchy and, in Italian, on Saily.it. To all the European Laser Districts  Dear Laser District representative,  In its statement released on December 1, 2019 after the Annual General Meeting Eurilca wrote “EurILCA has scheduled an extraordinary EAGM for mid January to make any decision we believe necessary to protect the interests of our sailors, should significant progress on the above points not be apparent.”  This extraordinary General Meeting is now scheduled for March 7, 2020 and I think it’s important that all the district representatives attending the meeting know what their members think about it, because the decisions to be taken will have a fundamental impact on the future of our class. For this reason I propose that every district has a referendum (electronically it’s quick, every member has an em...

"che colui che inganna, troverà sempre chi si lascerà ingannare" // "he who seeks to deceive will always find someone who will allow himself to be deceived."  -- Machiavelli -- Il Principe - The Prince A recent posting by the Laser class ILCA on its official Facebook page refers to « festive #laser sailing » and features an Italian fleet of Radials. One of the sailors even wears a Santa hat. Yes, in this holiday season, you may believe there is a sense of peacefulness. That there may be a truce in the Laser disputes. It looks all perfect. Yet, is this a perfect holiday season for Laser sailors? Not really. Festive Laser Sailing ... Really? While posting this Christmas holiday picture featuring Radials, the International Laser Class Association - ILCA - has a special Christmas gift for its membership. Yes, ILCA is already acting, in a way some will call machiavellian, towards dropping the Radial and 4.7 names, along with the Laser name,...

Here is an update about Laser class developments in this end of the year 2019, a chaotic year for the Laser, which started with the « termination » of the world’s largest builder - LaserPerformance - in March, followed by a controversial and partially reversed name-change in April and the loss to the RS Aero in the World Sailing equipment trials. Yet the Laser was saved by the insistence by World Sailing member countries to keep the boat Olympic. World Sailing then worked with the Laser class on « proposed arrangements » aimed at getting the class to meet antitrust and other requirements. 4.7 ILCA Sail (4.7 Branding Has Been Removed) But the controversial « proposed arrangements » of the Laser class remain to be implemented, and undoubtedly to be legally tested. Meanwhile, there is impatience, particularly in Europe, where shortages of equipment are becoming acute, to the point that the European branch of the Laser class - EurILCA - issued an ultimatum to its mother organization...