International Laser Class Association (ILCA) Dinghy launched in Virtual Regatta Inshore

ILCA Dinghy launched in Virtual Regatta Inshore © World Sailing

Global eSailors will now be able to race the International Laser Class Association (ILCA) Dinghy, with the boat set to launch in Virtual Regatta Inshore on Saturday 20 June.

The ILCA Dinghy will launch in the Kieler-Woche event in Virtual Regatta Inshore allowing eSailors to race on the boat virtually. The ILCA Dinghy is widely recognised as the world's most popular boat, with more than 200,000 in circulation.

World Sailing and Virtual Regatta, the leading digital sailing platform, are constantly striving to bring the sport seamlessly into the virtual world, and expanding the boats offered in the game is a perfect way to engage with the large community of ILCA Dinghy sailors worldwide.

ILCA have enabled the addition of one of the world's most popular adult and youth racing class boats into the game. The Laser is a hugely versatile boat, offering fun for sailors of all ages, whilst also providing high level competition as an Olympic discipline.

Eric Faust, Executive Secretary at ILCA commented, "The International Laser Class Association is proud to partner with Virtual Regatta and World Sailing to be part of the game, and especially the eSailing World Championship. We know that a lot of our members are active Virtual Regatta players and we are excited to have our boat as part of the game."

The ILCA Dinghy is the latest Olympic boat to be created in the virtual world for the eSailing World Championship and joins the established 49er and Nacra 17. eSailors from around the world will be able to experience the thrills and tactical nuances of sailing the high-performance Olympic disciplines from the comfort of their home.

Kieler-Woche, one of the world's best known sailing events, and a number of other international Olympic class sailing events have been cancelled or postponed due to the COVID-19 pandemic. World Sailing and Virtual Regatta have worked closely to hold virtual challenges during the same dates, allowing the sailors around the world to compete virtually and remain connected throughout this time.

This challenge will provide an opportunity for three eSailors (one from the 49er, one from the Nacra and one from the laser) to qualify for the eSailing World Championship Playoffs.

Success at the Playoffs will give eSailors a chance at qualifying for the Final later this year, where the 2020 eSailing World Champion will be crowned.

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