ILCA / Laser 50TH ANNIVERSARY

The ILCA / Laser Dinghy 50th Anniversary was celebrated in style on Sydney Harbour on Sunday 20 June. Over 100 sailors braved the winter morning to take part in the historic event that marked the birth of the world's most popular single-handed dinghy.

Brett Beyer, 13-times World Masters Champion, who was sailing a one-off gold-coloured boat, produced by Performance Sailcraft Australia, led the fleet down the harbour from the Sydney Opera House to Watsons Bay. Although it was not a race, it was a great opportunity for club sailors to sail in a large fleet and test their skills against some of the great Masters Champions and rising stars destined for future Olympic Games.

For many of those sailors, it became a de facto race, highlighting the fun and competitive nature of the one-design class. One sailor quipped, “How do you know if it’s a race? … Well, if there were two Lasers, it’s always a race!”

Andrew Cox, Commodore of Double Bay Sailing Club, which hosted the event, said, “With a huge fleet sailing under dramatic skies, in great wind and waves, set against the iconic Sydney backdrop, the event was a truly memorable experience, which showcased the spirit and camaraderie of the class."

"We had 217 registered sailors from Sydney, and other parts of Australia, but many were unable to attend due to last-minute travel restrictions in place for COVID-19. We’re sorry they couldn't join us", said Commodore, Andrew Cox.

The event received great print media coverage, as well as aerial footage on the evening television news. “We were delighted with the interest this received, as our key objective was to raise awareness of the popularity, the competitiveness, and the fun of the ILCA Laser class, in the hope of inspiring new and returning sailors to the sport”, Cox said.

Here is a snapshot of the day which makes us all very proud to be a part of such a historic event.

MEDIA RELEASE 15 JUNE 2021

The 50th anniversary spectacle of the popular ILCA Laser dinghy sailing class, involving 200+ boats, has been rescheduled (as a result of weather and lockdowns) to 20 June 2021, starting at 10:00am near the Sydney Opera House.

Andrew Cox, Commodore of Double Bay Sailing Club, which is hosting the event, said, “We are privileged to showcase our incredible harbour to the world in the kick-off to a series of global celebrations of this important milestone for one of the most popular sailing boat classes ever. The footage is going to be spectacular.”

In a fitting tribute to the ILCA Laser’s status as the Olympic one-person dinghy sailing class, Mark Bethwaite AM, who competed in the 1972 and 1976 Olympic Games, and is a multiple times Laser class Masters World Champion, will officiate the event from the start boat near Farm Cove. He will be joined by guest-of-honour, Rob Mundle OAM, who introduced the Laser class to Australia after meeting with class founder, Bruce Kirby in New York in 1971.

Since then, Australia has had many champions in the class, including men’s gold medallists at the last two Olympic Games. Participants in the event will include six Masters World Champions in the Laser Class – Brett Beyer, Vanessa Dudley, Jeff Loosemore, Rob Lowndes, Lyndall Patterson, and Martin White.

Tom Slingsby, Australian 2012 Olympic Laser-class gold medallist, who is in Europe competing for Australia in the SailGP Championship said, “I am disappointed to be missing this event – the Laser is a very special boat to me. It is enjoyed by so many people, whether sailing for fun or competing on the world stage.”

“This celebration will showcase the popularity, the competitiveness, and the fun of the ILCA Laser class. Whether you’re returning to the sport, transferring from another class, or just starting out – we encourage you to give the Laser a go!”, said Commodore, Andrew Cox.

MEDIA RELEASE 21 MAY 2021 [AMENDED]

A world record attempt of 200+ ILCA Laser dinghies will sail in a parade from Sydney Opera House to South Head, starting at 10.00am on Sunday 20 June 2021 [amended], to celebrate 50 years of the popular sailing class.

Andrew Cox, Commodore of Double Bay Sailing Club, said, “This is going to be real spectacle, with such a large fleet framed against the iconic backdrop of the Sydney Harbour Bridge and Sydney Opera House – led by 13-times World Laser Masters Champion, Brett Beyer, on a commemorative gold-coloured Laser created for the occasion by the Australian ILCA Laser builder, Performance Sailcraft Australia.”

Since the class was established in 1971, over 218,000 boats have been sold worldwide, making it one of the most popular sailing classes ever. It was first introduced as an Olympic one-person dinghy class in 1996 and, in the six games since then, Australia has won three medals, including gold in the last two Olympics. It is the boat of choice for single-handed dinghy sailors worldwide, whether sailing competitively or for pleasure, because it is affordable, simple to rig, and easy to sail.

Australia has always had a strong presence on the world sailing stage, and the ILCA Laser dinghy has featured as an important pathway to success. Tom Slingsby, Australian 2012 Olympic Laser-class gold medallist, following in the footsteps of Australia II skipper, John Bertrand, went on to win the 34th America’s Cup as the strategist on Oracle, also later becoming the inaugural SailGP Champion as skipper for Australia, earning US$1 million prize money for the team.

Double Bay Sailing Club, which has the largest fleet of active ILCA Laser dinghy sailors in Australia, has invited all Laser sailors from around Sydney and beyond to participate in the exhibition parade, with festivities to follow at Double Bay Sailing Club.

“This event is generating a lot of excitement, with sailors travelling from around Australia to participate, including the Victorian owner of one of the first 10,000 Lasers ever built – numbered 9956!”, said Commodore, Andrew Cox.

“We are thrilled to be hosting this showcase event, which will highlight the popularity, the competitiveness, and the fun of the ILCA Laser class, and which we hope will inspire new and returning sailors to the sport”, Cox said.

MEDIA RELEASE 13 APRIL 2021 [amended]

Double Bay Sailing Club will host a large exhibition of ILCA Laser dinghies sailing on the iconic Sydney Harbour on Sunday, 20 June 2021 [amended], to mark the 50th anniversary of the one-design class.

Double Bay Sailing Club Commodore, Andrew Cox, said, “The exhibition will be a visual spectacle, with up to 200 boats sailing en masse against the backdrop of the Harbour Bridge and Opera House, in what we expect will be the largest single fleet of ILCA Laser dinghies ever to sail on Sydney Harbour, and possibly anywhere in the world.” 

The event is significant because of the popularity of the ILCA Laser class in Australia and globally, with over 218,000 boats sold in its 50 years of existence. It is the boat of choice for single-handed dinghy sailors worldwide, whether sailing competitively or for pleasure, because it is affordable, simple to rig, and easy to sail.

Since its first introduction as an Olympic one-person dinghy class in 1996, Australia has won three medals, including gold in the last two Olympics, making the ILCA Laser the ultimate goal of rising stars in single-handed sailing. 

With one of the largest fleets of active ILCA Laser dinghy sailors in the world, Double Bay Sailing Club is inviting anyone who has access to a Laser across greater Sydney and beyond, to participate in this historic event, and sail from the Sydney Opera House to South Head, starting at 8.30am (time to be confirmed) [now confirmed as 9.30am for 10.00am start] on Sunday, 20 June 2021 [amended], followed by festivities at Double Bay Sailing Club.

“We are excited to be hosting this showcase event, which will highlight the popularity, the competitiveness, and the fun of the ILCA Laser class, and which we hope will inspire new and returning sailors to the sport”, said Commodore, Andrew Cox.