ILCA Book

The Laser was launched just over 50 years ago and has now been renamed the ILCA dinghy and moved to multiple licensed builders. To reflect this change, the leading book on Laser Sailing since 1979, The Laser Book, has now been renamed The ILCA Book. In this latest update, it has also moved from a single author, with ILCA guru, Jon Emmett, joining the original author, Tim Davison. 

The ILCA Book covers the techniques and skills needed to succeed in ILCA sailing, for those starting out through to those striving to win their Club Championship. Whether you are a youngster moving up to an ILCA 4 or ILCA 6, or a club sailor looking to improve your results, the expert advice from the authors, plus contributions from Laser gold medallists, world champions and their coaches, will take your Laser sailing to the next level. 

Beginning with setting up the boat, the book takes you through your early sailing experiences and caring for your Laser. Developing your skills on all points of sailing, you will then be introduced to race tuning and racing itself. This is detailed for all three rigs, including the latest sails and masts. 

Over 350 photographs show you exactly how it’s done and 50 diagrams illustrate key boat parts, the different points of sailing and complex on-the-water scenarios with clarity. 

Whatever your background, your current level or the extent of your ambition, this book gives you all the tools you need to get out on the water and improve your ILCA sailing. 

“This book provides both the basics and so many of those details I spend my life looking for! This book tells you how. Jon Emmett has spent his life passionately involved in every level of the class. He has an unrivalled perspective on the class and what any sailor needs to know to improve. This latest ILCA Book provides excellent and up-to-date information that is valuable to any sailor … the best learning resource for the class.” Micky Beckett, Team GBR ILCA 7 athlete, Paris 2024 Olympics