From our Blog

I have been busy lately, including with the now world famous blog http://covexit.com yet this caught my attention. The pricing in the Netherlands for the new ILCA boats, produced in the UK, is twice the pricing of the Laser by LaserPerformance. 3,995 euros for the Laser (non ILCA approved) versus 8,035 euros for the ILCA (non The Laser Class approved) We expected the announced “market […]

Great racing ; great commentary. Enjoy

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 […]

You may have heard by now that there is significant hope with treatment to be available for the coronavirus. This was little known just a week ago. I have written a piece about what the treatment is, what are the current indications about its effectiveness, and how it is being progressively adopted in various jurisdictions. I also reflect in the article about the implications of this development […]

by Jean-Pierre Kiekens, Oxford educated development economist, former lecturer at the University of Brussels, and sailor. This is just a short piece to express a very straightforward viewpoint, a viewpoint of reason.  There shouldn’t be any Olympics before it is safe, and it will not be safe before we have a vaccine. While the coronavirus pandemic is growing, stock exchanges are plunging, […]

Suggestion to the organizers: cancel NOW! March 17 Update: contrary to initial reports that the event was interrupted after a day, the sailing went on, with races on March 15, 16 and 17. See results here. When announcing that the Oceania & Australian Laser Masters Championships were maintained, from March 14 to 18 in Geelong, Victoria, AUS, organizers sought to reassure sailors by stating […]

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 […]

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 […]

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. […]

an article by Jean-Pierre Kiekens, Oxford educated development economist, former lecturer at the University of Brussels, and sailor. Note: There are key references at the end of the article, which I recommend you to read. They are presented in a easily readable format. Even if you think this article goes too far, asks too much, please check these references, and inform yourself as much as you […]

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 […]

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, […]

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 […]

With the threat of a new rig made in Australia looming over the future of the Laser 4.7, and the Australian Laser class actively promoting the new rig, one would think that the Laser 4.7 is not successful in Australia. What is noteworthy, however, from the entry list at the Australian national championships, currently taking place at Sandringham Yacht Club, located in Melbourne, is how strong […]

“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 […]