While we have been getting on with sailing and enjoying a great summer of sailing the International Laser Class Association (ILCA) has been going through a few dramas. Starting with the retention of our Olympic status leading to the need to open up the market for class builders complicated by trade mark issues and the licensing of new builders around the World – and did I mention a World pandemic leading to the cancelling and rescheduling of World Championships and the Olympics.

In spite, or perhaps in part because of these dramas, ILCA have undertaken a review of our nearly 50 year old and much amended constitution. This review hopefully will address issues resulting from the recent builder and trade mark changes but also to better equip the class to continue to prosper for the next 50 years.

Much of the existing constitution, which is online HERE, is still highly relevant so the idiom concerning babies and bath water will be respected. As well any changes will need the support off at least 2/3rds of the membership to be passed.

ILCA is calling for suggestions for changes from members. The details of how the change process is planned to go and how, where and by when members can suggest changes is on the ILCA web site HERE.

If you want to have your say now is your chance.

To relieve the tedium of life indoors most Laser sailors are getting out for regular exercise which is both conditionally allowed and encouraged under current Government regulations.

The NSW Government Office of Sport says on their web site HERE that during the COVID-19 pandemic “Where possible, it is important sporting clubs and organisations continue to allow people to exercise, so long as social distancing is practised and rules around public gatherings of no more than two people are complied with.”

As we know sailing your Laser gives you a pretty good work out on most days and a few sailors have asked can sailing a boat be counted as exercise under the new order of things. Well the answer is yes with some sensible restrictions.

Transport for NSW (ex Roads and Maritime Services ex NSW Maritime) further elaborates on their web site HERE.

“From 31 March 2020 NSW Government Public health directions have been updated requiring people to stay at home unless they have a ‘reasonable excuse’.

You should only be on your boat alone, or with no more than one other person; or with family who ordinarily live in the same household as you.

A ‘reasonable excuse’ to use your boat could be to exercise (e.g. kayaking/sailing/paddling etc) or fish.”

It is not a Government regulation however a group of boats sailing together is highly visible so best to sail in ones or twos. If we are seen to be doing the right thing then hopefully no one will be prompted to change the rules.

We can’t find any specific references to sailing as exercise in the ACT however the ACT government has said exercise away from home was allowed in groups of no more than two and providing the strict 1.5 metre, social-distancing rules were kept. A spokesperson said “People are allowed to travel for essential reasons, including to exercise,”

Stay safe.

Sailing alone – good exercise – photo by Jon West

Hope everyone is isolating in safety.

None knows how things will pan out in the next several months however planning for the best of a full season in 2020-21 following is the schedule of proposed Laser events.

There is a complete list of proposed events on the Events tab HERE

Following the postponement of the 2020 Laser Masters World Championships a number of other Worlds events are in question. The situation is uncertain and sailors should refer to the International Laser Class Association web site https://www.laserinternational.org/ for the latest information.

For longer term planning in 2022 it is our turn to host the Oceania and Australian Open and the separate Oceania & Australian Masters Championships. The dates and venues for these events are listed below.