LASERPERFORMANCE IS ENDORSED
HOMENEWSINDUSTRY NEWSLASERPERFORMANCE IS ENDORSED
09 Mar 2020
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LaserPerformance is to build boats for the newly established The Laser Class. Photo: The Laser Class
INDUSTRY DATABASE
LASER PERFORMANCE
LaserPerformance has been endorsed by the newly established The Laser Class as its recognised boatbuilder.
The boatbuilder was formerly a registered builder for the International Laser Class Association (ILCA) until last year when the association said it was building non-compliant boats.
LaserPerformance – that had a large presence at the recent RYA Dinghy Show – lost its rights to build boats for the Olympics and association competitions.
However, in a statement, the new class – set up by disaffected Laser sailors – says it wants to return to the original mandate of the class and serve the Laser sailor community.
Secret decisions
“ILCA no longer serves the interests of the majority of Laser sailors,” said the statement. “It has become dominated by a minority of class members who have transformed ILCA into an entity where decisions are made in secret that do not address the requirements of the majority of the class members.”
The statement continued: “We aim to build a class that rebuilds the Laser brand as the global iconic leader in sailing, instead of spending its time infighting and spending the members’ money on legal fees.”
And the statement pointed out that the construction of the Laser has already been changed by the ILCA making around 200,000 older Laser boats not adhere to one design criteria.
The Laser Class is to apply for class recognition to World Sailing this year and is currently creating a process to approve further builders and to comply with Olympic competition requirements.