I think Vanguard stopped coding the sail number into the serial number. There should be a small sticker in the back of the cockpit with the actual sail number. If not, contact Vanguard directly.
It seems so, torrid.
"Vanguard" now is part of "LaserPerformance Ltd.". European Lasers of LaserPerformance have a so called "Hull Identification Number" (HIN), printed to the gelcoat at the stern.
From that I would say: The Laser with HIN "OQT L0353 I708" is produced in September ("I") 2007 ("7") like the model for 2008 ("08"). "L0353" is an internal production code of LP/Vanguard. Only the producer is able to say, what that exact that code-part means. The Sailnumber is shown at the silver-sticker of LP/Vanguard at the rear wall of the Cockpit. Sail number of 210xxx seems a bit to early for 2008.
Every Laser since the nineties has had that sticker on the inside back wall of the cockpit. Read the sticker and answer your question and while you are at it.
Please...pretty please chill us all out and post an explanatory note for the rest of us.
Note: One of our Austin locals bought a laser with a 210XXX number last spring.
phooey. The thirty year tradition of having the numbers match was nice for the users.
On the other hand. Look at what the bean coujnter businessman kooks at...money tied up unnecessarily.
The serial number which is molded into the hull must be known before the hull is built. The builders do not know the ILCA royalty tag numbers until they purchase and receive those tags by making payments to ILCA, ISAF, and Mr Kirby.
As it is most convenient to make runs of one color of Laser and then another color and then to stock those boats in a warehouse while building runs of 420s, Nomads, and Sunfish, there is a lot of capital which can be freed up by waiting until shipping day to apply royalty stickers.
The concern about "having the royalty labels" shifts from the scheduling day for production to the scheduling day for shipping. In some cases that period could be months.
Royalty tags are not cheap. Reducing stock is simply a way to save money.
I will not elaborate about my belief that this move is moving funds from the most important promotional system the builders have and how ignorant I believe both the builders and association officers are to allow it to happen..