ILCA Invites Nominations For New Athlete Panel

24th February 2026

Afloat.ie Team

ILCA sailors battle choppy conditions during fleet racing, as the class launches a new Athlete Panel to strengthen representation and communication with its World Council

The International Laser Class Association (ILCA) has opened nominations for a new Athlete Panel. The formation of the panel was approved by the ILCA World Council in November 2025. The panel will act as a link between sailors and the World Council. It will operate in an advisory role.

ILCA said the focus will initially be on Olympic-level sailors. However, members are expected to represent both Olympic and non-Olympic competitors. Two founding members have already been confirmed.

Mária Érdi and Pavlos Kontides, the current ILCA representatives on the World Sailing Athlete Committee, have agreed to join the panel. The group will consist of six sailors. It will include equal representation from ILCA 6 and ILCA 7 fleets. Four additional sailors will be elected. At least two must be non-European.

Eligibility is limited to active campaigners for the LA 2028 Olympic Games. Nominees must also have competed in at least one of the two most recent ILCA Senior World Championships or have entered the 2026 Princesa Sofía Regatta.

Nominations close on the 1st of March. Candidates are asked to submit their name and eligibility details by email to [email protected]. An online vote will follow. Voting will be restricted to sailors who meet the same participation criteria. Voting will close at the end of the 2026 Princesa Sofía Regatta.

ILCA said the panel is intended to encourage open communication and provide structured feedback to the World Council.

Published in Laser, Olympic, LA 2028

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Published in Laser

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About the ILCA/Laser Dinghy

The ILCA, formerly known as the Laser, is the most produced boat in the world, with 220,000 units built since 1971.

It's easy to see why the single-handed dinghy has won the title of the most widely distributed boat of all time.

The Laser is a one-design dinghy, the hulls being identical but three rigs that can be used according to the size and weight of the sailor.

The class is international, with sailors from 120 countries. The boat has also been an Olympic class since 1996, being both the men's and women's singlehanded dinghy.

Three rigs are recognised by the International Laser Class Association (ILCA):

ILCA 4: sail of 4.70m2
ILCA 6: sail of 5.76 m2
ILCA 7: sail of 7.06 m2

ILCA 2026 Calendar

Apr 04–05 — Munster Championships — Baltimore SC
Apr 09–12 — Irish Sailing Youth Nationals — Ballyholme YC
May 09–10 — Ulster Championships — East Antrim BC
May 23–24 — Masters National Championships — Howth YC
Jun 27–28 — Leinster Championships — Skerries SC
Jul 24–26 — National Championships — Royal St. George YC
Sep 11–12 — End of Season Championships — Waterford Hrbr. YC

2026 ILCA World Championships

Men ILCA 7: Aug 23 – Aug 30
Women ILCA 6: Sep 04 – Sep 12
Royal St. George Yacht Club & National Yacht Club (Dublin Bay)

At A Glance – Laser Dinghy Specifications

Designer Bruce Kirby & Ian Bruce

Year 1969

Crew 1
Draft 0.787 m (2 ft 7.0 in)
Hull weight 58.97 kg (130.0 lb)
LOA 4.2 m (13 ft 9 in)
LWL 3.81 m (12 ft 6 in)
Beam 1.39 m (4 ft 7 in)
Mainsail area 7.06 m2 (76.0 sq ft)

Racing D-PN 91.1 RYA PN 1088 PHRF 217