The ongoing Laser Performance vs the International Laser Class Association dust up seems to have taken a bit of a break during Covid 19. It’s probably not lost on the everybody that there’s (dare we say it) a growing demand for ILCA dinghies (think Laser) amid the pandemic. It’s certainly not lost on Sailish sponsor and all-around good guys and gals at West Coast Sailing. They’ve been hard at work securing parts and new boats. Their announcement, below, is definitely worth reading. Not only have they chosen the builder to work with carefully, they’re also working with other distributors to coordinate supply. Imagine, working together!
I’m hoping to get the inside scoop on what, if any, controversy remains between ILCA and Laser Performance. In the meantime, a container of new ILCA dinghies is coming to the Pacific Northwest. See West Coast Sailing’s press release, below. -KH
Ovington ILCA : A New Era of Winning Boats
West Coast Sailing Partners with Ovington Boats to Offer ILCA Dinghy & Spare Parts in North America
PORTLAND, Oregon – West Coast Sailing is pleased to announce a partnership with Ovington Boats to offer class approved ILCA dinghies. Ovington Boats, the UK based builder specializing in high performance sailboats, was approved by the International Laser Class Association (ILCA) and World Sailing in August 2020. A long time supporter of the class and its sailors, West Coast Sailing carefully considered all new builders and sought to find the best ILCAs available. This expansion of a decade-long relationship between the two companies will allow West Coast Sailing to offer race-ready boats, spare parts, and top tier support, while providing Ovington Boats with a leading partner for their North American distribution.
The ILCA landscape has evolved quickly in the past year with several new builders approved by the class. Chris Brown, West Coast Sailing President, is confident the Ovington ILCA will become the boat of choice for sailors looking for high quality spare parts, reliable support, and a strong track record of success. “Ovington has been building high performance and Olympic level dinghies for many years and has applied the same level of craftsmanship and attention to detail in how they build their ILCAs,” Brown said. “After careful analysis and a factory visit, working with Ovington was a clear choice for us.” Beyond building a top quality ILCA, Ovington Boats is backed by a great team and a commitment to ongoing support. This is a key part of the equation every sailor should consider given issues with previous builders. Ovington staff members have an average of 20 years of boat building experience, and Chris Turner has been a stable hand at the helm of the business for the last 15 years. Robust warranty and support systems give dealers the latitude to solve problems and keep sailors on the water so they can focus on what they do and enjoy best. Ovington is committed to success from start to finish.
“This is an organized, experienced team that is used to being held to the highest standards of Olympic sailors who demand the absolute best,” Brown continued. “We have chosen to work with Ovington because we believe all sailors should expect the same.” The first container Ovington ILCA dinghies will arrive at West Coast Sailing the last week of December. Sailors can place a preorder deposit now to reserve a boat, with shipping available across the country starting in early January. A full range of Ovington ILCA sails, spars, blades, and upgrades are available for immediate purchase via the West Coast Sailing ecommerce website. Zim Sailing of Bristol, Rhode Island and Vela Sailing Supply of Dallas, Texas will join West Coast Sailing to collaborate on regional distribution. Through all the changes with the class and availability of boats and parts, the team at West Coast Sailing remains committed to helping sailors get out on the water and is looking forward to this new era for ILCA sailing. Additional information about West Coast Sailing, Ovington Boats, and the ILCA dinghy, including boat package details and a full list of spare parts, can be found via the link below.
https://westcoastsailing.net/ILCA
Kurt grew up racing and cruising in the Midwest, and has raced Lasers since the late 1970s. Currently he is a broker at Swiftsure Yachts. He has been Assistant Editor at Sailing Magazine and a short stint as Editor of Northwest Yachting. Through Meadow Point Publishing he handles various marketing duties for smaller local companies. He currently is partners on a C&C 36 which he cruises throughout the Northwest. He’s married to the amazing Abby and is father to Ian and Gabe.
Jan’s Marine Photography, PhotoBoat, Buddy the Sea Flea, and Boat Boy (me) are standing by to assist in this movement / transition / initiative – please let us know how we can best engage in this matter for the super-long-life of Lasers and our beloved sport! Have PhotoBoat / Will Travel.
The District 22 Championship will be in the Seattle area next fall, and hopefully we can have a great and maybe even social event. Stay tuned Skip and Jan, we’ll need some photos of smiling kids and even some of us oldsters.
Keep us posted, and count us onboard!