About three years ago a website for an International RC Laser Association was put on line but it was not too well managed and the exercise lapsed.
At the Championship of Nations in July-13 a meeting of the international representatives agreed that the IRCLA should be re-opened with an objective of achieving international class status, improving communication between nations, publicising international and national events, promoting the class generally, and getting better international input and consultation into any proposed Class Rule changes.
Dave Bedford and I from WAnderers in WA have made several overseas trips where we have participated in different championships and, irrespective of the results, these have been a lot of fun with the sailing and making new friends with a common interest. The beauty of the RC Laser is the ease of travelling with the boat, compared say with an IOM, 10R, etc, and the toughness of the boat construction.
Personally, my objective of participating in the new IRCLA is to assist in getting International status for the class, getting an international programme of RCL events each year with our Oz events included, establishing a network of RCL contacts for RCL skippers travelling from OZ, making sure that future proposed rule changes are not made just by the Builder and a select few, and generally keeping everyone up to date with news from the international RCL community.
There will be an international RCL website and forum established very soon and I’ll post information regularly on the RadioSail site when received and set up web links to the new site and forum for those interested.
Rod Popham AUS 42
Class Co-ordinator – RC Lasers
E: gerney@bigpond.net.au M: 0416 246 216
Interesting information Rod.
I think it is very desirable to have an international association and thank you for your efforts in this area. A case in point is Rule 31 which is apparently deleted in many countries but enforced in others. Obviously it is better to be standard. Our fleet on the Gold Coast is in favour of it being deleted but we are only one small voice.
An international website is also desirable but with both this and the association they need management and volunteers may be hard to find.
Thank you again for your efforts.
Peter O’Grady AUS 145