ILCA withdraws approval of Performance Sailcraft Australia. PSA hits back.
by Richard Gladwell/Sail-World.com/nz 29 Aug 2025 17:25 PDT
2025 ILCA Under-21 World Championships Day 2 © David Branigan / Oceansport
The International Laser Class Association has announced that it has withdrawn its Builder Approval long-standing class builder Performance Sailcraft Australia. In its statement the Class Association has not made any specific comment on the reasons for the withdrawal.
In its response, also published in social media, Performance Sailcraft Australia claim that "the ILCA has issued new moulds to PSA and other builders that do not match the original class design approved by World Sailing. Boats built from these moulds deviate from the strict one-design standard that defines the ILCA class as designed by Bruce Kirby."
Performance Sailcraft Australia says later in its statement that it has made the decision not to build new ILCA's that "we will not build boats that break the one-design rule."
Statement by the International Laser Class Association:
The International Laser Class Association (ILCA) has announced that, effective 27 August 2025, Performance Sailcraft Australia (PSA) is no longer an ILCA-approved Builder under the ILCA Class Rules.
ILCA exercised its right to withdraw PSA's builder approval following contractual breaches by PSA. As a result:
- PSA is no longer an ILCA-approved Builder and can no longer build and sell class-legal boats and equipment.
- PSA is no longer eligible to receive World Sailing plaques, which must be obtained through ILCA and affixed to all new boats built under the ILCA Class Rules.
Important for Sailors and Owners
This decision does not affect boats already built by PSA. Any existing boat with a valid World Sailing plaque on the aft cockpit face remains class-legal and fully eligible for ILCA-sanctioned racing. If you are unsure whether your boat has a valid plaque, please see our guide to verifying class-legal equipment.
For the most up-to-date list of ILCA-approved Builders, visit: ilcasailing.org/approved-builders
We thank our sailors, districts, and partners worldwide for their continued support, and we look forward to seeing you on the water.
Performance Sailcraft Australia responds to the ILCA action
"Our sailors deserve honesty."
PSA responds to ILCA's attempt to revoke its builder status.
ILCA has claimed that it has terminated PSA's agreement as an authorised builder - a move we strongly contest as no notification of termination of our 2022 Builders agreement has occurred.
ILCA has issued new moulds to PSA and other builders that do not match the original class design approved by World Sailing. Boats built from these moulds deviate from the strict one-design standard that defines the ILCA class as designed by Bruce Kirby.
PSA asked ILCA to confirm in writing that their moulds are compliant and would build boats to the designs in an interim contract signed in 2024. They refused following numerous requests. Now, because we declined to use the ILCA non-compliant moulds that would breach the interim 2024 contract, ILCA has tried to terminate that agreement and not our valid and in force builder agreement from 2022.
We will not build boats that break the one-design rule and would cause us to breach the 2024 contract.
Our duty is to the sailors. For 55 years, we have built one-design dinghies to the exacting standards defined by Bruce Kirby and Ian Bruce. That heritage matters.
The ILCAs built from the new, incorrect moulds do not conform to the original World Sailing specified dimensions. For that reason, we chose integrity and honesty and we continue to uphold the true one-design tradition, refusing to be complicit in anything that undermines it.
A detailed statement will shortly be available on the PSA website www.performancesailcraft.com
ILCA and Laser class Background
In June 2025 the Performance Marine Group, who acquired Performance Sailcraft Australia in October 2024, opened a 23,000 sq ft boatbuilding facility in Morisset, New South Wales, the purpose built facility is dedicated to the manufacture of ILCA class dinghies. PMG also owns Performance Sailcraft Europe. In early 2025 Performance Sailcraft Europe (PSE) has acquired sailing dinghy brand Ocean Play from RS Marine Group, along with the manufacturing rights for the Bug, Pico, Vago,and Bahia dinghies from designer Jo Richards. PMG now builds eight dinghy classes. It is led by IT entrepreneur and dinghy sailor Nick Ogden.
In 2019, due to trademark disputes over the "Laser" name and copyright, the ILCA rebranded the class as the "ILCA Dinghy" to ensure continuity and compliance with World Sailing regulations. At that time there were three licenced builders Performance Sailcraft Australia, Performance Sailcraft Japan and Laser Performance Europe.
After the dispute ended the Laser singlehander, one of the biggest dinghy classes in the world and an Olympic class since 1996 in the Mens and Womens events, was renamed the ILCA. Laser Performance Europe was not approved as a builder by the new International Laser Class Association, and was eventually dissolved.
PSA became the largest ILCA builder for a time. ILCA then licenced new builders of the class, bringing the total of approved builder to ten around the world, and as of August 27, with the remponal od Approval from PSA, that list is now nine approved builders.
S-W NZ