In this section you will find the ILCA Class Rules, covered in By-Law 1 of the ILCA Constitution.
You can download the ILCA Class Rules as a pdf and browse the rules history, latest changes detail and Class issued Clarifications in the interactive guide below.
The Fundamental Rule:
ILCA Class hulls, hull appendages, rigs and sails are manufacturer controlled and supplied only by ILCA and World Sailing approved manufacturers – referred to as Approved Builders in these class rules. Boats are required to comply with the ILCA Class Build Manual and subject to a World Sailing approved manufacturing control system.
No addition or alteration may be made to the hull form, construction, equipment, type of equipment, placing of equipment, fittings, type of fittings, placing of fittings, spars, sail and battens as supplied by the Approved Builders builder except when such an alteration or change is specifically authorised by Section C of the Class Rules.
The principle of the ILCA Class Rules is that no changes to the boat are allowed unless they are specifically permitted by the class rules. The English text of the Class Rules shall govern.
The Class Rules below are valid from 10th August 2026. Cancels all previous rules and interpretations.
Note: The class rules published on this website are a convenient redirect access to the World Sailing approved rules. If there are any discrepancies between the rules shown here or those published in the most recent ILCA Handbook and the World Sailing publish text, World Sailing text shall prevail.
HISTORY of Rule Changes:
10th August 2026:
Uniformisation of the ILCA Class Rules to the World Sailing Standard Class Rules format. Multiple changes implemented as part of the exercise can be viewed here
21st August 2023:
Rule 3(d)x modified to remove photographs and 3(d)x.d) was added to allow replacement of certain specified parts.
13th February 2023:
Rule 24 modified to allow heat shrink tubing.
01 January 2020:
Definition of Builder modified to read: “A Builder is a manufacturer that is manufacturing the hull, equipment, fittings, spars, sails and battens in strict adherence to the Construction Manual, and has been approved as a Builder by each of World Sailing and the International Laser Class Association.”
Other class rules affected by this rule change were modified to be consistent with the amended definition of Builder.
01 January 2019:
Part One modified to clarify that all sails used in competition shall have an ILCA supplied sail button to be class legal. (previous interpretation.)
Rule 3(b)i modified to remove the restriction on the use of aramid fibre rope for control lines. (previous interpretation)
Rule 3(b)ii modified to allow for local variation in thickness of control lines that is not specifically restricted to tapering. (previous interpretation)
Rule 3(b)vi modified to enable clam cleats to include a through hole attachment point. (previous interpretation)
Rule 19(a) modified to clarify that mast step abrasion tubes or collars may be in separate pieces. (previous interpretation)
Rule 31 modified to shorten the rule voting process from six months to one month and removing “votes to be sent by post”.
01 January 2018:
Rule 22 Compasses, Electronic Equipment and Timing Devices modified to allow use of digital compasses that are not GPS enabled.
New Rule 28 Added to allow boat or body mounted cameras.
Rule 3(f)vi modifed to remove restriction on the attachment points of the shock cord inhaul.
Rule 17(c) modified to allow for the addition of one cleat and one turning point in the hiking strap support line that are not attached to the hull or hiking strap.
01 January 2016:
Rule 4(f) National Letters: updated wording with instructions for positioning of letters on new MKII sail.
01 February 2015:
Rule 3(h)i sentence added: A splice that does not extend through the nearest traveller eye may be used at the non-free end.
Rule 4 new rule added. 4(h) NATIONAL FLAG. If required by the Notice of Race and the Sailing Instructions, a national flag with a nominal size of 567 x 337 mm shall be applied to both sides of the mainsail. For the ILCA 7 and ILCA 6 sails, flags shall be positioned such that the aft edge of the flag is within 100 and 150 mm of the leech and between the sail numbers and the batten pocket below the sail numbers. The flag shall be approximately parallel with the sail numbers and letters and shall not touch the numbers. For the ILCA 4 sail, the flag shall be positioned within 100 and 150 mm of the leech but below and within 50 mm of the bottom batten pocket. The flag shall be printed on separate material applied to the sail. The use of permanent ink pens or similar to make a national flag is forbidden. The national flag shall correspond to the national letters.
Rule 10 modified: Advertising, including competitor advertising, is permitted in accordance with World Sailing Regulation 20 – Advertising code; except that the sail window shall be kept free of advertising or other graphic material.
Rule 14(d) sentence added: Vertical cuts are allowed in the material to allow the material to conform to the shape of the centreboard case.
Rule 15 new rule added. 15(k): Padding of uniform thickness may be used in the gap between the rudder blade and rudder head. This padding must cover completely the part of the rudder blade that comes in contact with the rudder head. The thickness of the rudder blade plus the padding must not exceed 20.3mm.
Rule 18 new rule added. 18(c): Traveller and Boom mounted mainsheet blocks may be replaced with the “Builder Supplied” blocks shown in the photo.
Rule 26(c) modified: Preventative maintenance includes the replacement of fasteners (screws, bolts, nuts, washers and rivets) provided the replacement does not alter the function of the fitting. The tolerances of the Measurement Diagrams shall not be used to alter the position of fittings. In addition the reversing of spars is permitted if the fittings are replaced in accordance with the Measurement Diagrams. Any holes in the top section of the mast shall be permanently sealed with a rivet or similar to maintain the buoyancy of the mast.
23 April 2013:
Fundamental Rule modified: Clarification that Lasers shall be built by World Sailing and ILCA approved manufacturers in adherence to the Construction Manual.
Definition of Builder modified: Modified to conform to current agreements with World Sailing.
1 January 2012:
Rule 3(c)i modified: The mainsheet shall be a single line, and be attached to the becket of the aft boom block, and then passed through the traveller block, the aft boom block, boom eye strap, forward boom block and the mainsheet block. After the mainsheet block it shall be knotted, or tied, so that the end of the mainsheet cannot pull through the mainsheet block. The mainsheet shall not be controlled aft of the forward boom block except to facilitate a tack or gybe.
Rule 3(c)ii modified: The tail of the mainsheet may also be knotted or tied to either the base of the mainsheet block, the hiking strap, the hiking strap support line, or the hiking strap shock cord. This option, if used, satisfies the knotting requirement in 3(c)i.
Rule 22 modified:
Compass, Electronic Equipment and Timing Devices
- One compass is permitted mounted on any part of the deck or the cockpit, provided that the hull cavity is not pierced by anything other than the fasteners. Compasses shall not be fitted to inspection ports. Electronic and digital compasses are prohibited (see exception in part d).
- Any use of electronic equipment not specifically allowed in the rules is prohibited unless modified in the sailing instructions.
- Timing devices are permitted.
- A timing device that includes an electronic compass is permitted as long as it is worn on the wrist.
Rule 14(f) modified: A tie line or shock cord shall be attached to the small hole in the upper forward corner of the centreboard, and any of the bow eye, the cunningham fairlead, the “Builder Supplied” deck block fitting and the mast to prevent loss of the centreboard in event of a capsize. The tie line or shock cord may be looped around the bow, but shall not be attached to the gunwale. Attachment can be by knots or loops in the shock cord, and/or tie lines, shackles, clips, hooks or eyes. When the shock cord is attached to the bow eye it may also pass through an attachment to the “Builder Supplied” deck block fitting or the cunningham fairlead.
Rule 28 and Rule 29 modified: For the purposes of RRS 43.1(b) the maximum total weight of competitors clothing and equipment shall be 9Kg for ILCA 6 and 8Kg for ILCA 4.
1 January 2011:
Rule 3(e)ii modified: The cunningham control line shall be securely attached to any of the mast, gooseneck, mast tang, swivel or shackle that may be used to attach the vang cleat block to the mast tang, the cunningham attachment point on the “Builder Supplied” vang cleating fitting or the becket of an optional becket block fixed on the cunningham attachment point on the “Builder Supplied” vang.
Rule 3(f)vi modified: A shock cord for use as an inhaul may be attached between the outhaul cleat and clew of the sail, the clew tie down, the optional block at the clew, the quick release system or through the clew of the sail and to an optional block in the primary control line.
Sentence added to Rule 3(g)i: An additional outhaul extension tie line may be added between the clew of the sail and the outhaul or the quick release system.
Rule 21 modified: Clips, ties or bags to stow or secure safety or other equipment may be used on the deck, in the cockpit, around the mast or boom.
Rule 24 modified: Tape and Line. The use of flexible adhesive tape or similar or line is permitted to secure shackle pins and clips, and to bind sheets, control lines and rigging, except that tape or line shall not be used to construct new fittings or modify the function of existing fittings.
New Rule 27: The sail may be reefed by rolling the sail around the mast 1 or 2 times.
Class Rules – International ILCA Class Association
Effective date: 10 August 2026
Status: Approved
The ILCA class dinghy received World Sailing Class status in 1972.
Originally known as the ‘Laser / Laser Radial / Laser 4.7’, the class
name was changed to ILCA7 / ILCA6 / ILCA4 in 2019.
1. Approved Electronic Compasses
Below are the approved compasses that meet the requirements of Rule 22. Compass, Electronic Equipment and Timing Devices (NOTE: compasses may be added or removed as circumstances change):
2. Repairs and Maintenance: Sailors may apply anti-abrasion material at the traveller fairleads to prevent wear of the deck as a form of preventative maintenance under rule 26(a).
3. Hiking strap: A sheaveless block, such as the “shock block” or equivalent, will be considered a ring for the purpose of rule 17(c).
4. In accordance with ILCA Class Rule 22e, the use of heartbeat monitor with no additional function or capability is permitted. The heartbeat monitor device shall comply with Class Rule 22.
Previous rule interpretations have been incorporated into the Class Rules.