Sailing fanatic
Roy Bruin, founder - ILCA7 How did you get into ILCA7? “As a child I sailed in a pirate. Even then I found the Laser interesting, but I was a...
Roy Bruin, founder - ILCA7 How did you get into ILCA7? “As a child I sailed in a pirate. Even then I found the Laser interesting, but I was a...
Roy Bruin, founder - ILCA7
How did you get into ILCA7?
“As a child I sailed in a pirate. Even then I found the Laser interesting, but I was a bit too light for it. I started windsurfing and learned how to sail in competitions. In my student days I started sailing with large crews. That's great, but at some point I got the urge to do everything myself again. What could be better than a single class where everyone has the same things and so it only matters to the sailor?
So what do you have to do to win a race?
“You really have to be fit. You really have to sail this boat flat, otherwise you will lose a lot of speed. So you're hanging all the time. And you operate the mainsheet and the rudder, especially in waves you don't sit still for a moment: you then make a kind of rudder movement with both hands. In addition, it is a very tactical game. You sail in a large fleet, even in club competitions. You have to start well, because if you don't have free wind you're pretty much sailing backwards.”
Would you change anything about this class if you could?
“It's actually a terribly old-fashioned boat. Of course, some things have been changed in the class rules over the years. Nowadays we sail with a carbon fiber top mast and a mainsail with a slightly more modern cut. But you are not allowed to use laminate tarpaulins and such. Perhaps that is actually an advantage, because it keeps the class somewhat affordable. No, I wouldn't change anything anytime soon. It is a friendly class that is accessible to many people but where there is a very high level of competition.”
Specs ILCA (Laser);
ILCA 7
Length 4.19 m
Width 1.39 m
Draft 0.78 m
Sail area 7.06 m2
Hull weight 58 kg
Ideal crew weight 70+ kg
Design Bruce Kirby/Ian Bruce, 1969
Copyright; Sailing - Joris Westerveld and Marinus van Sijdenborgh De Jong
Your cart is currently empty.
Start Shopping