Double Bay Sailing Club to host ILCA Laser 50th anniversary exhibition sail

Lasers on the start line at Sail Sydney © Robin Evans / Australian Sailing

Double Bay Sailing Club will host a large exhibition of ILCA Laser dinghies sailing on the iconic Sydney Harbour on Sunday, 30 May 2021, to mark the 50th anniversary of the one-design class.

Double Bay Sailing Club Commodore, Andrew Cox, said, "The exhibition will be a visual spectacle, with up to 200 boats sailing en masse against the backdrop of the Harbour Bridge and Opera House, in what we expect will be the largest single fleet of ILCA Laser dinghies ever to sail on Sydney Harbour, and possibly anywhere in the world."

The event is significant because of the popularity of the ILCA Laser class in Australia and globally, with over 218,000 boats sold in its 50 years of existence. It is the boat of choice for single-handed dinghy sailors worldwide, whether sailing competitively or for pleasure, because it is affordable, simple to rig, and easy to sail.

Since its first introduction as an Olympic one-person dinghy class in 1996, Australia has won three medals, including gold in the last two Olympics, making the ILCA Laser the ultimate goal of rising stars in single-handed sailing.

With one of the largest fleets of active ILCA Laser dinghy sailors in the world, Double Bay Sailing Club is inviting anyone who has access to a Laser across greater Sydney and beyond, to participate in this historic event, and sail from the Sydney Opera House to South Head, starting at 8.30am (time to be confirmed) on Sunday, 30 May 2021, followed by festivities at Double Bay Sailing Club.

"We are excited to be hosting this showcase event, which will highlight the popularity, the competitiveness, and the fun of the ILCA Laser class, and which we hope will inspire new and returning sailors to the sport", said Commodore, Andrew Cox.