2021 ILCA (Laser) News Update:
– ILCA 4 (Laser 4.7): the smallest sail rig has a 4.7 square meter sail that provides an optimal power to crew-weight ratio for smaller sailors. The 4.7 rig has been seen in limited numbers at some JSA regattas for over ten years. Now, the minimum age and weight shown above for the 4.7 rig have been reduced to encourage use of this rig by smaller sailors of any age, especially those who are transitioning from other boats, like the Optimist.

– The International Laser Class Association (ILCA) has announced that it is establishing additional approved builders. Boats and sails from the newly approved manufacturers have started to  appear at regattas with  “ILCA” branding because the right to use the original Laser “burst” trademark is not controlled by the ILCA. Read details about this continually changing situation at the ILCA website. Laser Performance (LP) was the previous builder for North America, but is no longer approved by the ILCA, so LP has responded by helping to promote an alternative class association for the boats it builds, called “The Laser Class” that is not affiliated with ILCA.

– Because of limited availability during early 2021 in North America of boats from builders recently approved by the ILCA, the rules for JSA regattas were updated to permit use of boats, sails and equipment that a) bear an approved ILCA label (sometimes called “Class legal”), or b) are produced by non-ILCA-approved sources (sometimes called “not Class legal”), including but not limited to sources like Laser Performance or others. See the details of this change in Appendix E of the Rules for JSA Events.

– Notice: buyers who are considering purchase of  “not Class legal” boats, sails and equipment from of non-ILCA-approved sources should be aware that regattas organized by hosts not affiliated with the JSA may restrict use of any gear produced by non-ILCA-approved sources. For example, regattas organized by the International Laser Class (ILCA) in North America require gear that bears an approved ILCA label. 

Age and Weight Requirements:
A sailor’s age on December 31 of each year shall be considered his/her age for any event during that year. Weight and age requirements may be requested to be waived for a specific regatta by written consent of the Sailor’s parent together with recommendation of Program Chair and Head Instructor. Such requests are subject to acceptance solely by the regatta host club.

Sail Numbers for ILCA dinghies (Lasers):
ILCA dinghy (Laser) regattas are scored using the six-digit ILCA sail number that is assigned to the boat, and applied to the sail as described in the ILCA Rules.