ILCA NSW & ACT

Two events featuring Lasers and run by Newcastle Cruising Yacht are coming up in April.

First is Newcastle Sailfest which will  have a Laser event on Sunday 11th April. Boats will rig at Port Hunter Sailing Club, Stockton and racing will be real grand stand sailing in front of the city, Queens Wharf area.  A flyer for the event is HERE.

If you haven’t been to Newcastle in a while you will be surprised at what a great job the city fathers (and mothers) have done in and around the city and the harbour.

The second NCYC event is the dinghy section of Sail Port Stephens. This will be held at the Bay Sailing Centre which is the old favourite Port Stephens SAC at Soldiers Point which is now under new management by NCYC. NCYC has re-vitalised the club as a sail training and racing venue.

Sail Port Stephens is a very popular yacht regatta which has now incorporated off the beach events. This year OTB races will be on 24 -25th April (12.30pm start) from the Bay Sailing Centre. The flyer for the OTB classes is HERE.

Bay Sailing Centre will be the venue for our Laser State Masters in 2022 (5-6 February) and the Australian Laser Masters 10-13 February 2023 so this is an opportunity to get some racing practice in there.

Our NSW & ACT events for next season are set as follows;

There is a full list of Laser local, Australian and International events on our Events Page.

We don’t anticipate any COVID impediments to running our local events or the 2022 Australian & Oceania Championships Open & Youth (Fremantle.WA 1-8 January), Australian Masters (Westernport,Vic 25-28 February 2022) or Oceania Masters (Darwin, NT 20-26 August2022). Notices of Race will be issued for these events shortly.

Participation in 2021 ILCA World Championships by Australians is unlikely due to the current Australian Government international travel ban. Information about these ILCA Laser Worlds and access to applications is available through the ILCA events page HERE.

If these events can’t be held as World Championships due to travel restrictions there is provision for them to be run as International Regattas for those who can travel to and from the venue.

Sailors considering entering these ILCA 2021 World Championship events should carefully read the “Entry Regulations” and Attachment 1 “Application and Entry Procedure” of the Notice of Race (the information appears in the NoR for each event). Check the Australian Government Smart Traveller web site advice. This includes the Australian Government’s overseas travel ban for citizens and permanent residents invoked in March 2020. Also relevant is the Australian Institute of Sports information on overseas travel for sport HERE.

Mina Ferguson Metro Champion – Photo Jon West

The Metro Championships were held at Hunters Hill Sailing Club over the weekend 6-7 March with over 80 boats competing.

The club is very strong especially in youth sailing. It has great facilities, enthusiastic volunteers, massive grassed rigging area, easy parking and great close to the action spectator viewing.

Winds for the series when averaged were from the south east at around 10 knots but were very variable in direction and strength providing some testing conditions. Sunday’s opening race was delayed for 90 minutes to allow the breeze to settle and only two races were able to be completed. Over the two  days five races were run with one drop.

The racing at the head of the 4.7s was close with the first three separated by just two points. The winner was Hamish Gilsenan from Avalon SC just a point clear of Matthew Power from Canberra YC and another point to third placed local HHSC sailor Harry Ashton.

Racing was hot and close through the 40 boat Radial fleet with the top Australian women competitors filling seven of the top nine places. There were some strongly contested starts resulting in several black flags. The Radial winner was Australian Sailing Youth Team member

Mina Ferguson who sails at RSYS, Woollahra and Double Bay clubs. Mina also won the Under 17 youth category. She counted three wins and a second place to be one point ahead of Australian Sailing Squad’s Zoe Thompson from Royal Freshwater Bay YC in WA. Daniel Costandi from GRSC and DBSC was third just ahead of Australia’s selected Tokyo Olympic representative Mara Stransky from Royal Queensland YC. Daniel was also the first in the Under 19 youth category.

First in the Masters categories and 12th overall was Bruce Paine who is a Great Grand Master 55+. Bruce sails from Canberra YC so the variable winds were familiar to him. Bruce’s boat’s name is Boat of Pain which at times in this series must have seemed quite apt.

There was some very close racing in the 30 boat Standard rig fleet. The standout winner was Brett Bayer from WSC. Brett, in an incredibly consistent performance in the conditions, counted four wins with a third place drop for a big win. He was also first in the Masters’s category.

Second and the only one to win a heat from Brett was Belmont 16ft SC and Newcastle CYC sailor Tom Farley. Tom had a great series also winning the Under 21 category. Tom’s dad, Masters sailor Scott was also well placed at 12th so well done the Farley team. Third was Zac Skulander MHASC by a tie break from fellow Apprentice Master David Newman DBSC.

Thanks to Hunters Hill Sailing Club and its many volunteers for hosting this great series for us and to our Race Officer Andrew McLachlan for his orchestration of event on the water.

The full series results are HERE.

There are lots of photos by Jon West which you can view and buy on his web site at the links below.

• Day 1 photos
• Day 2 photos

Tom Farley Metros Runner Up & Did Someone Call Mark Room – Photo John West

The Sailing Instructions for the Metropolitan Championships at Hunters Hill 6-7th  March are HERE.

You can enter online HERE or up until 11.30am on Saturday 6th March at the club.

The Metropolitan Championships are on 6-7th March at Hunters Hill Sailing Club.

The Notice of Race is HERE and you can enter online HERE or up until 11.30am on Saturday 6th March at the club.

We will have online sign on and off  at the link HERE. Alternatively you can sign on or off by scanning the QR code HERE or on the notice board at the club.

We will be posting information and results on the Australian Laser app as well as on our NSW & ACT Laser web site. You can see information and links to get the free Australian Laser app HERE.

HHSC is a great club with lots of rigging area. It has one of the best vantage point for watching the racing at Clarkes Point. There is a canteen at the club and the Deckhouse at Woolwich Dock and Woolwich Pier Hotel are nearby for more substantial fare. Two of the HHSC sponsors www.boatropes.com.au and www.boatcrewgear.com will have pop up stores at the club on Saturday.

Event logistics are covered in some detail in the document HERE.

Standards Winner Matt Blakey (right) & Brett Beyer (left) – Jon West photo

The NSW & ACT Laser Masters was held over the weekend of 13-14th February at Jervis Bay Sailing Club on Callala Bay. Jervis Bay is a great sailing water. Callala Bay is at the northern end so with a 15 knot southerly and a 12 Km fetch there were some great waves to be caught and rides to be enjoyed.

The conditions were fabulous for Laser sailing  14 gusting to 18 knots  from the south on both days. The COVID gods were also on our side as the rules were changed overnight on Friday allowing the seven sailors entered from Victoria to sail.

140 Lasers lined up for the series evenly spread between Radial and Standard rigs with two 4.7′s. The three races each day were completed in good time despite a few and in the case of the Standards many general recalls and black flag starts.

In the Standard fleet it was a toe to toe battle between Apprentice Master Matt Blakey from Port Melbourne YC and Master Brett Beyer from Woollahra SC. Both are current national champions in their age division. Matt finished ahead by two points after dropping a black flag result. Brett was very consistent with a second place his worst result. Master Matthew Faddy from Vaucluse YC was a clear third. Jan Scholten (ASC/RPAYC)) won a close tussle in the Grand Master Division from Steve Gunther (Port Melbourne YC).

In the Radial fleet the top three stood out with Double Bay SC Apprentice Masters James Tudball and Gavin Blake finishing first and third respectively.GM winner David Early from Georges River SC was second. The first Master was Andrew Cox also from DBSC. The DBSC Brett Beyer coaching program is clearly lifting the standard in the club. Current World Radial GGM champion Jeff Loosemore (MHASC/GRSC) was first GGM and finished 5th in the Radial fleet. Lew Verdon (MHASC) won the newly introduced Legends Division.

Vanessa Dudley (MHASC) had a great regatta finishing 6th in the Radial fleet and was the first woman.

The encouragement award prizes donated by PSA  went to Robert McCulloch Radial Northbridge SC and local Geoff Carne in the Standards. The sail draw donated by NB Sailsports was won by Mick Tilden from Illawarra YC. Thanks to these sponsors for these prizes.

Our photographer Jon West took some great photos which you can see and buy online on his web site HERE.

Thanks to our RO Andrew McLachlan and the great crew from Jervis Bay Sailing Club for running this event for us. The club did a great job on the water and on the shore. The necessary COVID plan placed some restrictions on us but these were managed in  a friendly and co-operative way with little inconvenience,  Well done JBSC for a great event.

The results for the event are HERE.

Radial fleet winners James Tudball & David Early – Andrew Cox Masters winner – Jon West photo

Fair dinkum – photo of a spectator at the golf event

A field of 18 players turned up for the annual lead up event to the State Laser Masters.

The event was played at the Callala Country Golf Club on the Friday before the Laser Masters.

The event caters for all skill levels so Tournament Director Hugh Leicester opted for a two person Ambrose format.

Team Hugh Leicester (MHASC) and Sandy Kiernan (NSC) won the event.

You can see details of how the Tournament Director managed to win in organiser Rob Lowndes’ report HERE.

Standards in Action Jervis Bay Masters 2011

The NSW & ACT State Masters is on 13th -14th February at Jervis Bay Sailing Club. This is a great place for Laser Sailing with beautiful open water. If you were at Jervis Bay in 2011, the last time we ran the Masters there, you might remember the lovely NE’ers. The photo above  may remind you.

NB Sailsports‘ Rob McMillan has donated a sail for a lucky sailor at the Masters. The draw will be at the presentation on Sunday. Rob will have his van at the event and will be supporting sailors with charters. If you need any Laser gear at the event come along a see Rob or Ann.

This is our cube regatta for Masters and an event not to be missed.

The event will be run with the usual format of six races over two days.

The Notice of Race is HERE. Entry is $60 and you can enter HERE.  You can see who has entered to date HERE.

The Sailing Instruction for the event are HERE. Venue location, arrival and COVID plan information is HERE.

Online form to sign on and off is HERE.

Check-in to the club via Service NSW is HERE.

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International Laser Class Association has announced that applications for entry for the following World Championships are now being accepted.

• 2021 ILCA Laser Radial Youth World Championships 23-31 July 2021 Arco Italy
• 2021 ILCA Laser 4.7 Youth World Championships 7-14 August 2021 Dun Laoghaire Ireland

Information about all ILCA Laser World Championships and access to applications is available through the ILCA events page HERE.

If these events can’t be held as World Championships due to travel restrictions there is provision for them to be run as International Regattas for those who can travel to and from the venue.

It seems unlikely that Australian sailors will be able to travel to compete in these events. Those considering entering them should carefully read the “Entry Regulations” and Attachment 1 “Application and Entry Procedure” of the respective Notices of Race;

• NoR Radial Youth Worlds
• NoR 4.7 Youth Worlds

Also relevant is the Australian Institute of Sports information on overseas travel for sport HERE.

With border restrictions easing (for the most part) the Queensland Laser Association is welcoming all Laser sailors to participate in a program of regattas and coaching to be held in the pristine waters of the Whitsunday region in April 2021 as follows:

• Sail Airlie – 3-5 April (Easter) – hosted by Whitsunday Sailing Club, Airlie Beach;
• Coaching – 6-7 April – by QAS Head Coach, Shane Smith – from Whitsunday Sailing Club, Airlie Beach; and
• Queensland Laser Championships: 8-10 April – hosted by Port Denison Sailing Club, Bowen on behalf of the QLA.

Further details are provided in the attached flyer HERE.

It’s on again, the legendary Masters Golf Tournament will be held on Friday 12^th February the day before the NSW & ACT Laser Masters.  Venue is the beautiful Callala Country Golf Club. You need to arrive around noon to sign in, be allocated to a team, have a bite to eat and be ready for a 1:00pm first tee time.

Cost is just $25 plus $35 for a cart if you want one.  If you are intending to play please email or SMS Rob Lowndes at lowndesr@bigpond.net.au or 0419 266 257.

The tournament director on the day will be our very own ILCA Vice President, Hugh Leicester.  If you might be a little embarrassed about the quality of your golf, as most of us are, it simply does not matter as we will again be playing an Ambrose format.  So pack your golf clubs (or hire some from the pro shop) and come and join us for a fun afternoon.

Our favourite venue for large Laser events the Port Stephens Sailing and Aquatic Club (PSSAC) at Salamander Bay has now been secured by the Newcastle Cruising Yacht Club (NCYC). The clubs memberships will be merged.

This is a good outcome as the Port Stephens Council had sought to get greater community benefit from the the club and its iconic location. It was feared that commercial interests might prevail.

NCYC is a strong and well organised club and its management of PSSAC will help promote and retain sailing in the area. PSSAC President Lachlan McPherson said of the changed management “We see this as a very positive outcome to secure and further develop the venue on Salamander Bay for dinghy sailors both local and visiting”

The newly merged club is off to a flying start with a new name “The Bay Sailing Centre” and a makeover with barista made coffee and snack bar and  a discover sailing experience kicking off from 21st December. The Port Stephens Examiner carried the advertisement of the new initiatives HERE.

We will be running the (one year delayed) Oceania and Australian Laser Masters Championships at PSSAC 10-13 February 2023. NCYC have indicated their support for the event arrangements which we have had for some time with PSSAC.

The NSW & ACT Laser Annual General Meeting was held by Zoom at 7.30pm on 10th December 2020. Online meeting was due to COVID-19.

Minutes and reports from the meeting are HERE.

Matt Wearn on his way to winning the Standards – Photo by Jon West

The NB Sailsports NSW & ACT Laser State Championships were held over the weekend of 5-6 December at Belmont 16s Sailing Club.

Entries were COVID Safe limited to 120 with strong fleets of Standard (55) and Radial (57) and a small 4.7 (8). Olympic representatives from Australia, New Zealand and Belgium ensured some very competitive racing in the Standard and Radial fleets.

The weather on Saturday was forecast to be good and was anything but. 180 degree changes and mostly light and variable winds only allowed R.O. Andrew McLachlan to run two of the three scheduled races. Sunday had a terrible forecast but a good north westerly at 20 plus knots saw the three scheduled races completed – a pretty good breeze for a westerly.

In the Standards Australia’s and New Zealand’s Olympic representatives Matt Wearn and Sam Meech went head to head. Sam and fellow countryman George Gautrey had the upper hand on day one while Matt scored three bullets in the breeze on day two to take a one point win. Australian Sailing Team and Double Bay SC member Finn Alexander was a very consistent fourth.

In the Radials RSYS/DBSC’s Brook Wilson led after day one with a first and second. In the breeze on day two however Belgian Emma Plasschaert the 2018 World Laser Radial Champion scored two wins. Both however were eclipsed by Zoe Thomson from Royal Freshwater Bay Yacht Club WA. Zoe had a consistent series counting 1,2,2,2 to win by one point from Emma.  Australia’s Olympic Radial sailor Mara Stransky was just one point behind Emma in third counting a win and three 3rd places. Local Under 19 RSYS/GRSC/DBSC sailor Daniel Costandi was the sole male in the top seven places. He had a consistent series in the hot fleet.

Grand Master Pru Bennett RPAYC had a good win in the small 4.7 fleet. Pru sailed consistently for three bullets to second placed Under 16 Nathan Deng RSYS who won two races.

Thanks to the fabulous Belmont 16s club, to Sailing Manager Nadine Steenson and the volunteers, several of whom would normally sail in the event. Thanks also to the our R.O. Andrew McLachlan and to the club for allowing the event to proceed with COVID Safe rules in place.

The full results for the event are HERE.

Photographer Jon West has a huge number of photos which you can browse HERE and buy.

Mara Stransky with chasing Radial Fleet – Photo by Jon West

Due to COVID safe club requirements entries for the NB Sailsports NSW & ACT Laser State Championships at Belmont 5-6 December are capped at 120 and there will be no beach entries.

The event is fully booked and entries are closed as of 30 November.

You can see who has entered HERE

If any sailors cancel their entry we will offer their place in order to folks who register on the wait list HERE.

The NoR for the event is HERE and the SI are HERE.

Following is some information on the venue and the COVID safe arrangements we have.

On Arrival

• Please follow the direction of the club volunteers.
• Trailer parking is provided across the main road (Ross St).
• Trailer parking and coach boat logistics details are HERE.
• Registration will be at the Race Office on the waterfront side of the boatshed at the eastern end of the club grounds from 9.00am until 11.30am on Saturday. There you will need to confirm your entry details, in particular sail number, rig and age category.
• A limited number of printed Sailing Instructions will be available. To save some trees SIs will be posted on the notice board and are available online HERE and from the Australian Laser App.

Apple App Store
Google Play Store

• There will be a briefing at 11.30am on Saturday adjacent to the Race Office.
• There will be rigging area COVID marshals – please follow their directions.

Sign On/Off

• Sign on and off is online HERE. This link is also in Regatta Messages on the Australian Laser app and you can get the sign on/off page by scanning the QR code available at the Race Office.
• If you don’t have access to a net connected device some will be available to sign on/off at the Race Office.
• As part of their COVID plan the club asks that family, coaches and supporters who are on the club grounds register by scanning QR codes which will be placed around the site.  Sailors don’t need to register on the club’s QR codes just the sign on/off.

Keep Your Own Dolly

• This will be a keep you own dolly event.
• There is quite a long water frontage both east and west of the club so finding your dolly should not be a problem.

Results & Notices

• Results & notices will be posted on the notice board in the Race Office.
• These will also be on the Australian Laser app – Select the NSW & ACT State Championships in National & District Events.
• Results will also be on our web site HERE.

Club Facilities & Membership

• The boatshed, shower and toilet facilities will be available.
• A limited range of food and drinks will be available in the boatshed next to the Race Office.
• Due to COVID restrictions the main club, details of which you can see HERE, is only open to members.
• You can join the club for one year ($8). Join mornings only at the front desk.
• A better strategy if you want to avail of the club’s excellent facilities is to join online HERE and then just pick up your membership card at the front desk.