World Sailing statement on Laser Class

Turmoil within the Laser Class has World Sailing issuing this statement on April 27, 2019:

World Sailing, the world governing body of the sport, wishes to make clear its position on the current issues surrounding the Equipment for the Men’s and Women’s One Person Dinghy Events at Tokyo 2020.

World Sailing is aware of the current dispute between the International Laser Class Association (ILCA) and its main manufacturer (LaserPerformance). Both parties have kept World Sailing informed of their position and the information will be considered as part of the ongoing Equipment Selection Process for the Paris 2024 Men’s and Women’s One Person Dinghy.

World Sailing is committed to following its published procedures for this process and it will be for the World Sailing Council to make a decision on the Equipment for the Men’s and Women’s One Person Dinghy Events having received the recommendation and report of the Equipment Committee.

However, World Sailing is concerned that recent public statements overstate conversations with World Sailing officials.

World Sailing has not endorsed or pre-approved the proposed name change of the Laser to the ILCA Dinghy. World Sailing’s Board of Directors and Senior Management Team have continuously maintained a position that World Sailing will deal with any applications for class rule changes when they are made by ILCA to World Sailing.

To date, World Sailing has received no class rule change requests related to the name of the boat and, if formally made, World Sailing will process any applications in accordance with the relevant World Sailing Regulations.

Concerning the issue of World Sailing’s Olympic Equipment Policy, World Sailing has not approved any individual class or manufacturers’ position concerning production and intellectual property rights. What World Sailing has done, and continues to do, is to listen carefully and note our stakeholders’ positions in this area.