ILCA dinghy going green

The International Laser Class Association (ILCA) and Greenboats, a German-based pioneer in sustainable composite materials, have formed a strategic partnership to explore and develop environmentally responsible innovation within ILCA dinghy’s production. The goal is to reduce the ILCA dinghy’s environmental footprint while maintaining the fairness, integrity, and legacy of ILCA one-design racing.

Together, ILCA and Greenboats are launching a two-track initiative:

• Long-term vision – Develop a low-emission ILCA concept that reimagines dinghy construction for the future.

• Incremental innovation – In the near term, trial sustainable materials on isolated areas of the boat or on smaller components of the equipment with a vision of adopting innovation in a stepped approach.

Greenboats will lead technical research, supply chain, and co-manufacture of prototypes, while ILCA will ensure rigorous lifecycle assessments, compliance with the relevant authorities, and alignment with class governance as well as ILCA Approved Builders & Suppliers.

The key functioning pillars for this partnership are:

• Collaboration: ILCA and Greenboats teams will work together to identify, evaluate, engineer and develop solutions and implementation roadmaps for various material replacement initiatives with the ultimate aim to reduce the net emissions of an ILCA dinghy – part by part. This work will expand on what has been researched and documented by masters student Lucca Günther on his Greenboats and ILCA supported Masters Thesis project delivered earlier in 2025.

• Governance alignment: Any proposed innovations will be reviewed to ensure compliance with the ILCA Build Manual and Class Rules and undergo the Class’ Approval Processes engaging with its Builders and World Sailing.

• Stakeholder engagement: Builders, sailors, material suppliers, and regulators will be included through initiatives, dedicated stakeholder forums & feedback protocols as to gather real feedback and ensures innovation is relevant and impactful where it really matters. Both ILCA ang Greenboats will keep stakeholders informed via newsletters and appearances at key events.

• Collaboration network: Greenboats will leverage its supplier base and 15 years of biocomposite innovation, while ILCA ensures class-wide coordination and transparency.

“By working with Greenboats, we can evolve responsibly – protecting our class’s extensive legacy, competitive fairness and longevity while taking meaningful steps toward a sustainable future,” said Tracy Usher, ILCA President. “ILCA and Greenboats share the same vision of real and meaningful change, driven by facts and measurable data.”

How does this impact the ILCA stakeholders?

• Sailors: Confidence that sustainability can be achieved without losing fairness, consistency or performance.

• Builders: A clear pathway to remaining ahead of regulatory mandates by responsible and timely integration of sustainable materials and reducing workforce exposure to solvents and materials that have long been a debate in the industry.

• Suppliers: A platform to showcase and scale innovations in the sailing industry. – Community & Environment: A tangible reduction in sailing’s carbon footprint.

Material suppliers with innovative bio-based solutions are encouraged to contact ILCA or Greenboats for potential collaboration.

Source: Greenboats