ILCA NSW & ACT

Mark Bethwaite on his way to GGM win – Photo Thom Touw

Australia and in particular NSW/ACT Laser Masters Sailors did very well in the recently completed World Masters in Hyères France. With 50 sailors among the over 500 competitors Australian had a strong team and came home with three wins and four second places in the various fleets.

The series was held over 7 days on two courses on the Mediterranean off the port of Hyères from 4th October. With two races per day scdeduled and few contrary breezes in the early days the lay day was cancelled. In the end all 12 races were completed on the Standard’s course and 10 on the Radial. Once the weather settled the breezes were excellent around 15-18 knots with a high steep Mediterranean swell making down wind rides exciting. You can see some of the action from photos taken by Thom Touw here.

Steve Walsh in the Mediterranean swell – Photo Thom Touw

Outstanding was Brett Bayer who won in the 116 boat Standard Masters not needing to sail on the last day. Other winners were Mark Bethwaite DBSC in the Standard GGM’s and Stephen Walsh Narrabeen Lakes SC in the 4.7′s. Steve had a tough start to his campaign when all his gear including his 4.7 bottom section went missing in transit. The gear was recovered just in time for him to complete measurement.

In the Radials Jeff Loosemore from MHASC was just pipped by 2 points by Kiwi legend Michael Keeton in the Grandmasters. Jeff has been a sailing grey nomad through the European summer competing in many of the big Laser events in that busy calendar. His performance reflected the work and experience gained. Vanessa Dudley MHASC was fourth in the GM Radial and was the first woman. Queenslander Mark Kennedy was just pipped on a coutback for the Radial Masters by Stephen Cockerill of Rooster fame.

Rob Lowndes MHASC was second in the Radial GGM’s which had 77 boats on the line for each of its 10 races. Rob sailed well to beat last year’s winner and Laser legend Peter Seidenberg from the USA but was not good enough this time to best Keith Wilkins from Great Britian. Kerry Waraker RQYS was second in the Legends (over 75) division.

The Australian Masters Team Hyères

The full results of the series are here

Vanessa winning in Oman

Vanessa Dudley was announced as Female Sailor of the Year at the YA awards night on 17th October.

Vanessa was honoured for her preformances in Laser sailing but also for her 18 Sydney Hobarts  and success on Ragamuffin 100.

Vanessa’s achievements in the Laser include her win the Grand Masters at the World Masters in Oman last year. She was fourth in the event this year in Hyères France. Vanessa is the current Australian Grand Master Women’s Champion and place third in the NSW Laser Radial Open Championship.

Congratulations to Vanessa – well deserved.

Stuart Penderleith leads the Radial Fleet on Sunday

The Coast Championship run at Gosford over 18th and 19th October saw 61 competitors (7 4.7′s, 25 Radials and 29 Standards). The weekend was bookened weather wise by two roaring southerlies around 25 knots on Friday and Monday but over the weekend in nice sunny weather the wind only hit around 12 knots on Sunday (NE) and 8 on Saturday (E). The conditions on Saturday were challenging for for sailors and for RO Peter Walsh and his team with the wind constantly moving 40 degrees over the course. Sunday, after a delayed start, was much kinder provided fairer and close racing on the tight course.

Scott Sydney on his way to another win in the Standards

Scott Sydney from Woollahra SC showed the Standard fleet a clean pair of heels winning five of the six races. Sean Feeney from MHASC was a comfortable second taking a win from Scott on Sunday. Third was local Jack Sprague returning from a stint in Europe and showing he has not forgotten how to sail a Laser fast. Thomas Vincent from McCrae YC Victoria who is a frequent competitor in our events was the first under 21 Standard and finished a creditable 4th in his first season after graduating from the Radial.

In the Radial Stuart Penderleith from MHASC was the clear winner with four bullets. Finn Alexander from Double Bay SC was second closely followed by Woollahra SC’s Zac Skulander. Annie Eastgate from Royal Queensland Yacht Squadron was the first female and seventh overall.

Nic Anderson from RPAYC won in the closely contested 4.7′s from fellow clubmate Nathan Bryant and local up and coming Laser sailor Ashleigh Robson.

Thanks to Gosford Sailing Club Sailing Manager Peter Walsh and his on water team for running this event. Thanks also to Kath Herrmann for the series scoring and Dave Edmiston for registration and logistics support.

The full results for the series are here

There are some photos taken on Sunday by Alison Meech which can be viewed here.

Final results are here.

The 2014/15 Coast Championship will be held on 18 and 19 October at Gosford Sailing Club.  Notice of race, sailing instructions and link to on-line entry on the Events page.

A reminder that 2014/15 membership is now due.  Click on the Enter or Join tab to join the Association.

60 Lasers and two Finns competed in the NBSS final three races at Double Bay SC.

The three races complete the NBSS Sprint Series with the overall winners being

• Sean Feeney MHASC in the Standards
• Vanessa Dudley also from MHASC Radial
• Jordan Makin Gosford SC 4.7

The full results for the NBSailSports Sprint Series are here.

There was plenty of wind , wind shifts and excitement on the day. The winners were:

Standard
1. Marcus Whitley 1,1,3
2. Matt Wenke 3,3,1
3. Mark Bethwaite 2,2,5

Radial
1. Stuart Penderleith 2,3,1
2. FinnAlexander 1,2,6
3. Dennis Kulmann 6,1,3

4.7
1. Jordan Makin 3,1,1
2. Nathan Bryant 2,3,3
3. Marlena Berzins 1,2,DNF

The full results for the day are here.

Thanks to Luke Parker and the team at Double Bay Sailing Club for the great organisation both on and off the water. Thanks especially to Ashley Deacon for managing the event desk.

Fittingly the draw for the new Laser trade in was won by Daryl Lawrence from Double Bay Sailing Club. Daryl’s current boat is 163892 and a new Laser will be  a long desired step up for him. The fitting name for Darryl’s old boat is Fluke.

Other draw winners were;

• New Laser Sail Peter Stephinson
• Top and Bottom Laser Sections Alan Downes
• Top Mast Section Ryan McLoughlan

The NBSailSports Winter Sprint Series concludes on Saturday 20^th September, 2014 at Double Bay Sailing Club, Bay Street Double Bay.

There will be three races with the first warning signal at 1.00pm. There will be a briefing at 12.00 noon. The Sailing Instructions are online here.  There are also links and information on the Double Bay Sailing Club web site here.

Entry is $20 which can be placed online by credit card with NBSailsports here or in cash at Double Bay Sailing Club on race day. You will need to sign on and off however DBSC will accept call on and off at the start boat for those sailors who are rigging elsewhere around the Harbour. You will need to have entered online if you plan to sail over to DBSC as there are no credit card payment facilities on the start boat and wet banknotes are not accepted either.

The results for the series after 9 races are here.

There will be a BBQ after racing and the presentation of prizes and the draw for the fabulous NBSailSports new Laser. Don’t miss it.

Online Registrations are now Open for the 2015 Australian Youth Championships to be run from 6^th to 10^th January 2015 at Fremantle Sailing Club. Registration can take place via this link 2015 Australian Youth Championships Online Entry.

Entries received before 5pm, 15^th October 2014 will go in a draw to win a Go Pro Hero3+ Black Camera.

The Notice of Race for the event is here.

Entry for the Laser Open and Masters National Championships at Mandurah Offshore Fishing and Sailing Club between 27 December 2014 to 4 January 2015 is also open here.

The Notice of Race for this event is here.

The Laser fleet at Narrabeen Lakes Sailing club is one of hundreds of Clubs around the world
participating in a global sailing race and fund raising event on Sunday 21 September 2014. One of the other aims is to get the Guinness world record for the Largest Sailing Race in 24 hours (Multiple Venues). Gold and Silver medalist Bart Simpson died in tragic circumstances during a training accident for the last America’s Cup. The Foundation is a registered charity and the money raised is to be used to transform the lives of young people through sailing.

Narrabeen Lakes Sailing Club considers Bart’s Bash a great event to be part of and has 15 Lasers, often with more women than guys sailing a mixture of radials and standard rigs and races on Sunday afternoons.

Refer to http://www.bartsbash.co.uk/ for more information. The Club would welcome any other Lasers that would like to join us on the day. Please contact Peter Chapman at laser_captain@narrabeenlakessailingclub.com and see Club information at   http://www.narrabeenlakessailingclub.com

Radial sailor Vanessa Dudley 199098 giving some hurry up to the Standard Rigs

On an uncharacteristic sunny day but with light winds 40 Lasers and a solitary Finn completed three races of the NBSailSports Series at Gosford on the last day of winter Sunday 31st August.

The start was delayed 30 minutes in the hope that the predicted 7 knot SE’er would kick in. It was a very slow first work but after that the light southerly (circa 6 knots) did grace us allowing, but just, the three scheduled races to be run. The last start at 3.00pm was achieved with the help of the black flag after two general recalls.

The Standard rigs were won on the day by Nicholas Skulander who had two wins from the three starts. Runner up on the day was Italian visitor Lorenzo Cerretelli with a 1,2 and 4 he was just in front of local Jack Sprague with three thirds. Sean Atherton retains his series lead going into the final three heats which will be held at Double Bay SC on 20th September.

In the Radials John Smidmore won narrowly from Zac Skulander with series leader Vanessa Dudley a few points back in third. Jordan Makin won the 4.7′s.

Results for the day are here and the almost final series results are here.

Thanks to Gosford Sailing Club and especially Brian Baker (organiser and course layer) and Bill Bollard (start boat).

The NBSailSports Winter Sprint Series continues on Sunday 31st August at Gosford Sailing Club. The first of three races will start at 1.00pm.

You can enter online on the NBSailSports web site here or $20 in cash at the Club on race day.

Courtesy of NBSailSports you have a chance to win a new Laser and other great prizes just for participating in the series. The draw for the prizes will be at the last event which is Double Bay on 20th September. The Notice of Race has the series details. The Sailing Instructions for the Gosford races are here.

You can see the results for six races at three clubs to date on the Results tab. The overall standings are here.

The South Pacific Laser Masters Championship is starts on Friday at Royal Queensland Yacht Squadron. The event runs from 25th until 28th July 2014.

The Notice of Race for the event is here and you can see who has entered here.

This is always a great event and RQYS will make everyone very welcome. Right at the Club there is motel and dormitory accommodation. Other accommodation options are in the guide here.

You can enter online here or fill out the entry form contained in the Notice of Race and mail to the address listed.

Rob McMillan leads series winner Sean Feeney

The Belmont leg of the NBSailSports Sprint Series on Sunday saw a SSW wind which was from 11 to 16 knots and nice sailing conditions except for the temperature of 14 degress and wind chill 11 degrees. Everyone was pretty well rugged up but still appreciated the beautiful hot shower at the end. Part of the fabulous Belmont 16′s sailing facilities.

Three half hour, two lap, windward and return races were completed with nearly all boats sticking it out despite the cold.

In the 4.7′s Noah Taylor surprised a few quick Radial and even some Standards beating them across the line. Noah won the 4.7′s on the day with two wins to series leader Jordan Makin’s one. Marlena Berzins was consistent with three third places and finished third.

Vanessa Dudley Radial winner

Vanessa Dudley showed the way in the Radials with a first and two seconds. She holds a clear lead in the Radials in the overall series. Adam French was second after winning the first race and Peter Heywood third.

In the Standard Rigs Sean Feeney had a clean sweep and leads the series overall as well. Marcus Whitley was second just a point in front of series sponsor Rob McMillan. No favours were shown to Rob on the water though he clearly enjoyed the conditions.

The full results for the event are here and the results to date for the NBSailSports Series to date are here.

Thanks to Belmont 16′s and to Jacqui Bell Sailing Manager and the volunteers who did a great job and who provide arguably the best sailing venue and facilities in the State.

The next Sprint Series will be at Gosford Sailing Club on 31st August with the first of three races at 1.00pm.

The NBSailsports Winter Sprint Series continues this Sunday 20^th  July at Belmont 16’s Sailing Club  which is located here.

The first start is 11.00am and three races are scheduled.

You can enter online on the NBSailSports web site at: http://www.nbsailsports.com.au/store/product-list.php?pg1-cid227.html or make a $20 cash beach entry at the club on Sunday.

About the NBSailsports Winter Sprint Series

The series will be held with 3 races at each of 5 venues. There will be three drops for the overall result so you can miss one venue and still get a respectable score. So far at Middle Harbour and Woollahra we have only completed three of the schedule races so the series is still wide open.

The participation raffle prizes include a free trade in on your old boat for a brand new Laser. Each race completed gains the participant a raffle ticket, the more races you complete, the greater your chances of being the holder of the winning ticket that will be drawn at the final event at Double Bay Sailing Club. Other prize draw prizes include; new spars, sails, tillers and ropes.

The Notice of Race for the Series is here.

The ILCA International Laser Class Association has sent a reminder about its earlier request asking district members to vote on eight Laser class rule changes. To me these rule changes seem to be non controversial, largely reflecting formally into the Laser rules arrangements or interpretations which are already in place.

Voting on these ILCA rule changes began on Tuesday, April 1, 2014 and runs until Tuesday, September 30, 2014. Voting is open to all district members – one vote per member. The results will be announced later in the year.

You can see the issues and vote online by clicking on the link here.

Thanks to Peter Heywood for the following report on the day.

A huge NBLaser regatta with the forecast wind arriving with readings over 32 knots calling a halt to the days racing in the second race of the day. It was a chilly day and with prospect of a building wind the course was contained from Rose Bay to Point Piper with a sandy downwind beach.

The first race finished successfully with a starts at around 10:00 for the Radials/4.7 and Standards in a building wind of around 15-20 knots. The westerly wind was swinging 10-20 degrees in the gusts making upwind a challenge.

The second race was abandoned when 30+ knots arrived. The sailors got a white knuckle ride back to the Club with the 1 metre wind waves and the strong westerly gusts.

A great day with many stories après velo at the Woollahra Club Café.

You can see the results for the day here and the results for the series to date are here. There are a few missing persons in the results. If you have any information or corrections please let us know.