BoatsIlca 7 (Laser-International)

Ilca 7 (Laser-International)

Cat (unstayed) · Dbrd. Dinghy · First built 1970

A Bruce Kirby-designed Olympic class dinghy featuring a simple unstayed cat rig and a lightweight, high-performance hull

Designed by Bruce Kirby, built by Element 6 Evolution Co. Ltd.

LOA
Beam
Draft (max)
Displacement
Hull type
Dbrd. Dinghy

See her sail

The Ilca 7 (Laser-International), on the water

The fleet's own footage — the truest look at how she really moves.

Footage from SEILmagasinet

Is it for you?

Character

Where this design lands on the numbers a shopper trusts — read straight from her own ratios.

TrailerableBeam 1.37 m — inside the 2.55 m no-permit tow width across most of Europe, and the 2.59 m US and Canadian limit. About 58 kg of hull, so roughly 650 kg on a trailer: check that against your own towing rating.Ramp-launchableAbout 58 kg of hull, with a keel that raises or a draught shallow enough to float off a trailer — she can go back on the trailer at the ramp, not only into the water.Shoal draughtDraws 0.10 m, board up where she has one — creeks, sandbars and thin anchorages most keels have to stay out of.
LivelySea-kindly

Her light displacement on a moderate beam gives 2 — a quick, lively motion that feels every wave.

Comfort ratio 2
CoastalBluewater

At 3.56 she sits above the 2.0 line — beamy for her weight, and happiest coastal.

Capsize screening 3.56
LightHeavy

29 — light for her waterline, so she is easily driven and quick to accelerate.

Displacement / length 29
EasygoingPowered-up

47.9 — a lot of sail for her weight; powered-up and eager, a real performer.

Sail area / displacement 47.9

Light and lively — happiest day-sailing and coastal-hopping in settled weather.

  • Lighter than ~86% of boats her size on file
  • Narrower than ~88% of boats her size on file

Compared with 374 boats of the same type within a quarter of her length.

The living fleet

Sailed by the fleet

Where the fleet has filmed this boat.

Seen once across one channel of the fleet.

Basemap © Wikimedia Commons · CC BY-SA 4.0

The record

Full specifications

The complete reference set — tap any figure to switch between metric and imperial.

Dimensions
Weights
Rig & sail area
Rig
Cat (unstayed)
Ratios
SA / displacement
47.9
Displacement / length
29.3
Comfort ratio
2.1
Capsize screening
3.56
Hull speed
4.7 kn
Pounds / inch immersion
201
Hull
Hull type
Dbrd. Dinghy
Construction
Fiberglass
Production
Years built
First built 1970
Units built
150000
Designer
Bruce Kirby
Builder
Element 6 Evolution Co. Ltd

Boats like this, on the water

More boats like her, on the water

Comparable boats the fleet has on camera: same type, within a quarter of her length. Open the boat, or watch the video — a timestamp means she only appears in passing.

Ilca 4 (Laser 4.7)4.23 mSame hull familyNear-identical lengthA Bruce Kirby-designed dinghy sharing the classic Laser hull, optimized with a smaller sail plan for lighter sailors
Theodor Middelthon: An "ILCA Viking" on a steady course for the world summit11:48from SEILmagasinet
Alcort Sunfish4.24 mSame hull familyNear-identical lengthWith a high sail-area-to-displacement ratio of 47.02, this nimble 4.24-metre dinghy remains a benchmark for simple
Lewis Boat Works TETRIS 30 Apr 230:02from kentblairl
McDougall Waszp3.35 mSame hull family0.9 m shorterA one-design foiling dinghy featuring wings and an unstayed rig, built in the thousands for high-performance racing
Asker Sailing Club5:14from SEILmagasinet
Topper International Topper3.40 mSame hull family0.8 m shorterAn Ian Proctor-designed polypropylene dinghy featuring an unstayed cat rig and three versatile sail-area configurations
Isle of Dogs Sea Cadets race at London Regatta May 25 in blustery conditions,from City Sailing
Butler Boats Streaker3.88 mSame hull family0.4 m shorterA 3.88-metre cat-rigged dinghy featuring a high sail-area-to-displacement ratio and a fibreglass option introduced in 1998
Behind the scenes at the Wayfarer factory – a tour of Hartley Boatsfrom practicalboatowner
Several Under License 29er4.40 mSame hull family0.2 m longerA high-performance skiff designed by Julian Bethwaite, featuring a powerful fractional rig for competitive racing
Marie Rønningen, Olympic gold contender7:24from SEILmagasinet

The family

Boats like this

Nearby designs by size, type, and era — worth a look alongside her.

Ilca 4 (Laser 4.7)A Bruce Kirby-designed dinghy sharing the classic Laser hull, optimized with a smaller sail plan for lighter sailorsIlca 6 (Laser Radial)An Olympic-standard single-handed dinghy featuring a high sail-area-to-displacement ratio for lighter sailorsLaserPerformance BugCat (unstayed) · 2.60 mLaser PicoA Jo Richards-designed dinghy with a free-standing rig, built for versatile single or double-handed sailingLaserPerformance BahiaFractional Sloop · 4.60 mLaser 2A high-performance fractional dinghy designed by Bethwaite and Bruce, featuring a rapid sail-area-to-displacement ratio

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