Zim Sailing Gets ILCA Green Light

Zim Sailing is now a licensed builder of ILCA dinghies having been approved by the class and World Sailing, bringing ILCA production back to the States.
Zim Sailing's class-legal ILCA
Zim Sailing’s class-legal ILCAs are now in production in Bristol, Rhode Island. Zim Sailing

Zim Sailing has been busy over the past years building institutional dinghies (FJs and 420s) for clubs, high schools and college programs across the country, but now, with licenses in hand to build both ISCA (Sunfish) and ILCA (Laser) class-legal boats, the production team in Bristol, Rhode Island, is about to get even busier.  

For the past several years Zim has been pushing behind the scenes to complete a thorough certification process and recently got its green light from ILCA and World Sailing. It’s a long and labor-intensive approval process that requires adherence to World Sailing’s Olympic Equipment Policy, and according to a statement from Zim this week, ILCA dinghies now manufactured in Bristol are “fully compliant with ILCA regulations, and legal for use in ILCA events.”

 “We are absolutely thrilled to be a class approved ILCA builder in North America. The certification process has been rigorous, but the technical support of ILCA and World Sailing have been terrific,” said Zim Sailing’s George Yioulos. “We are joining a collective of builders who are paving the way for all ILCAs to be effectively identical. Our company has an almost 20-year history with the class and we look forward to supporting local and regional dealers who work directly every day to grow sailing. We hope that our support of sailing, and history as dinghy builders, will give sailors the confidence to check out a made Zim ILCA.”

With the announcement, Zim said its first ILCA production run of 50 boats will be a “Founders’ Series.” These boats will carry a commemorative plaque alongside World Sailing and ILCA designations. Additionally, Zim will be stocking and supplying all major ILCA parts for dealers, programs and retail customers.