What is the ILCA?

• ILCA is a self-administered organisation
  
  
• Provides co-ordination, organisation and communication for the class worldwide
  
  
• Liaison with National and International authorities
  
  
• Maintains One Design Rules: When the Laser was first introduced, a set of rules were drafted which at the time were very different from other existing classes. These other class rules listed a number of prohibitions which led to developers trying out new ideas if the idea was not specifically prohibited. The result of this is that quite often older boats became outdated with a subsequent loss in value. The Laser rules are different in that they prohibit ANY changes unless the rules specifically allow a change. This means that a 10 year old Laser is the same as a brand new one and as a result holds its resale value far better. ILCA plays an important part in keeping the Laser rules strictly one design by preventing changes and providing a measurement structure that maintains the one design.
  
  
• Protects the Design and ensures consistency
  
  
• Monitors building agreements
  
  
• Self-funding
  
  
• Positively promotes Laser sailing worldwide
  
  
• Creates excellent magazines and newsletters: The amount and quality of literature available to a Laser sailor is high compared with most other classes. ILCA's newsletter LaserWorld is prepared by the International Office and distributed throughout the world to supplement the many and various publications produced by the Districts. A truly international newsletter keeps everyone in touch with class activities and helps the class to develop evenly throughout the world. This is one of our greatest strengths. In many other classes a lack of international communication has caused groups of sailors in different counties to become isolated and the class in that country to become extinct. This fall off in activity eventually affects the class in established countries leaving only the truly international classes well supported.
  
  
• Co-ordinates International Events Calendar
  
  
• Organises World Championships
  
  
• Administers the class worldwide
  
  
• Has three full-time employees
  
  
• World Class - sets the standard that others aspire to achieve

What is it all about? 

One of the greatest things about our boat is that it offers a huge amount of fun and family pleasure to all ages yet at the same time it satisfies the desire for excellence and a physical test at the highest level in the Olympic Games. The Laser is something very special. 165000 owners have been attracted to its simple charm and continue to be attracted at a rate of nearly 4000 new boats per year.

Seeing 15 and 16 year old youngsters, fresh out of Optimists, getting a thrill out of sailing an Olympic class boat in full control with the Laser 4.7 or Laser Radial rig is as exciting as listening to the stories of 60 year old Masters recounting their wild rides on Pacific rollers during the 1997 World Masters Championship in Chile.

The Laser is challenging and it is rewarding whether it be at club level or the Olympic Games. When you take your 10 year old boat out for a local race the challenge is to work harder, hike longer, be smarter and sail better than the other Laser sailors. At the end of the race you count the number of boats behind you and you are rewarded with the knowledge that you beat them fair and square by your own skill and effort. Even if there are no boats behind you the challenge is to go out next time knowing that you have the same equipment and the potential to improve.

And there is a bonus! It is quick to rig, it keeps you fit and is inexpensive. That is why I first made the long journey from New Zealand to England back in 1976 to take part in the European Championships and why 22 years later I’m still sailing from Tamaki Yacht Club. Having just moved from the “young” master group I can assure you that the racing is just as much fun and equally competitive.

When you look in the centre pages of this Handbook and count Lasers sailing in 115 different countries all over the world and you see that the Laser class has achieved the highest ever country entry at the Olympic Games, and more recently see that 65 countries have entered the Laser Class at the 1998 Dubai World Sailing Championship, you perhaps realise just how great our little boat is and why it is so important to look after it with a strong class association.

Have fun.

And to prove our point, here is copy of a letter received from a sailor who competed at the 1998 Laser Radial world Championships in the Netherlands:

Jonathan Voisiu
France
20 August 1998

This is a letter for the Race Committee and all the people who helped for the “Worlds”.
I’d like to say how good was the race. I just started Laser Radial last year and it was my first International race. During the year I trained a lot to have the best level. AT this race I tried to do my best but it was still a pretty bad race for me. I did 29 in the “Emerald Fleet” so it’s not very good. But it is normal because the it is the Worlds and all the best sailors are there.
I met a lot of guy’s (in the Netherlands Team) who were very nice and they helped (we talked about the shifting wind on the water). I would like to thank this team and all the Race Committee.
It seems that the Race Committee had a really good experience of big races like this one because the running of the races was really good and the start line excellent!
The evenings in the tent were really nice and I had lots of fun. The best was when they climbed the Laser mast in the water.
The “Daily News” was a really good thing and was a nice souvenir of the event.
I really hope I can go to Spa next year.
Have a nice year and see you next summer.
Bye
Jonathan Voisin

Joining ILCA

Membership of the ILCA entitles you to:

• local District/Fleet information and newsletters
• 4 issues of LaserWorld each year
• the official handbook, published every year
• the opportunity to qualify for official ILCA Championships
• the advice and support of a strong class association

ILCA Administration

Structure

• Fleets: Small groups of sailors (up to 50) normally sailing at a club or clubs near each other. Fleet members elect a Fleet Captain to co-ordinate their activities. A Fleet would normally be formed within a District.

• Districts: These cover larger geographic areas of varying size and normally conform to national boundaries. Districts are usually formed when there are 50 or more Laser sailors spread throughout a geographic area. In North America and Australia, Districts are single states or amalgamations of states.

• Regions: These are groups of Districts and Fleets, usually on a continental basis. Regional activities are co-ordinated by officers elected by the District representatives.

• International: The World Council is responsible for directing the work of the Association and maintaining its objectives as they are expressed in the Association's constitution. The World Council consists of the Chairman and Vice Chairman of each region, the Chief Measurer and Executive Secretary appointed by the Council and two representatives of the Laser manufacturers. The Council jointly have a wealth of experience spread over all levels of sailing.