ILCA NSW & ACT

Daniel Costandi & Sylvie Stannage Standard – Radial Winners in Action – Photos by Jon West

The Metropolitan Championships were held at Royal Prince Alfred Yacht Club over the weekend 5-6 March. There were 52 entries in the three fleets. It was great to see the roll up in the 4.7s.

There was some really close racing in conditions which started NE light and variable on Saturday and finished at 20 knots from the south on Sunday. All six races were completed with minimum use of the black flag by R.O. Andrew McLachlan.

In the 4.7 fleet the heat wins were shared around. In the end the the top two James Hayhoe (RSYS) and Ben Costandi (RSYS/GRSC) were the most consistent and finished in that order one point apart. Close behind was Harriet McLachlan (RSYS/DBSC). Harriet was the first Under 16 and first female. It is good to see a number of our 4.7 sailors entering for the Worlds in Vilamoura, Portugal in August.

In the Radials there was a great battle and close racing between the top four women. The top three finished just two points apart with Sylvie Stannage (HHSC/DBSC) prevailing over Evie Saunders (MYC/DBSC) and Paige Caldecoat (WSC/B16s/NCYC). Evie was first Under 17. The first male was GGM Jeff Loosemore (MHASC/GRSC) who was fourth. Jeff demonstrated the results of heaps of practice in all conditions with a first and second in the final two races when the wind was really up. Brooke Wilson (RSYC/DBSC) was first Under 19.

In the Standards it came down to the last race with Daniel Costandi (GRSC/DBSC/RSYS) winning the race and the series by a point from Alexander Bijkerk (RPAYC/DBSC). Both sailors are up and coming Under 21s. Not far back was local GM sailor Jan Scholten (RPAYC/ASC). Jan’s Laser sailing has been affected by his campaign with fellow Laser sailor Jules Hall in the inaugural double handed division of the Sydney Hobart which they won.

Thanks to RPAYC for their fabulous organisation of this event for us – much appreciated. It is a great club with first class facilities and equipment and great support staff. Thanks also to our RO Andrew McLachlan for giving us another weekend of his busy life.

Thanks to Jon West there are photos from the event which can be viewed and purchased Here.

The division and fleet winners are listed below and the full results are Here.

4.7 action James Hayhoe and Harriet Mc Lachlan – Photos by Jon West

 Final Results

The 2022 Metropolitan Championship is on at the Royal Prince Alfred Yacht Club Pittwater 5-6 March 2022.

The NoR is Here and you can enter for this event Here.

The Sailing Instructions for the event is Here.

This is a great club and always stages terrific events for us.

There is a Competitor Information Guide with location, parking, rigging and club facilities for the event outlined. The Guide is Here.

A reminder if you are bringing a support RIB overnight parking will be available on a first come first serve basis on the northern side of the services wharf. Check the Competitor Guide for more information and contact RPAYC Waterfront Team on 9998 3700 or waterfront@rpayc.com.au to arrange berthing for the weekend.

Jeff Loosemore ILCA 6 GGM and Brett Beyer ILCA 7 GM winners – Jon West Photos

The Australian ILCA Masters was run very successfully between 25-28 February at Westernport Yacht Club in Victoria. There were 106 entries with 31 ILCA 7s sailing in one fleet, 30 ILCA 6 Grand Masters in a fleet and the other ILCA 6 age divisions in a third 45 boat fleet.

The venue Balnarring on Westernport Victoria provided excellent open water and good clean winds. These combined with ocean and wind swells gave some exhilarating rides and fair racing. All ten scheduled races were completed with light breezes on day one followed by six races in 15 to 18 knots on days two and three and around 12 knots for the final two races. Tides were an issue in the second half of the series when they were pushing the fleet over the start line. On the final day the second ILCA 6 fleet managed four general recalls and three black flag starts before the final race got away minus the 25% of the fleet which were black flagged.

The Westernport Yacht Club did a fabulous job both on and off the water. Racing was run like clockwork and the logistics of launch and retrieval of the support boats from Westernport, Sommers and bay side clubs were run with military precision. Catering at the club after racing, the functions and free beer from an event sponsor Bright Brewery were all much appreciated by the sailors.

There was a two day coaching clinic lead by Brody Riley & VLA head coach Rhett Gowans  held before the series. This was fully subscribed and very successful.

The winner of the ILCA 7 fleet was Master Brett Bayer WSC/DBSC. Brett won six races edging out Apprentice Matt Blakey PMYC. Sommers YC Apprentice Sean Bly was third. In the ILCA 6 GM fleet John Jager McCrae YC won by a point from Sandringham sailor James Mitchell with David Early GRSC third.

The full results with age divisions scored separately are Here.

The age division podium places are listed below.

There are great photos by Jon West which you can view and purchase Here.

Rob Lowndes has put together a collection of Laser newsletters “Lasernews” starting with the first in September 1974 through to the last in 2007. This gives a superb account of the history of the class in Australia and especially in the NSW/ACT District.

As a Laser 50^th anniversary project Rob has had the Lasernews scanned and now posted on on this web site Here.  There is some background Here.

Rob has included a handy headline guide for each edition so you can browse though Laser history by subject as well as timeline. In compiling this collection and the guide I suspect that Rob has spent many hours combing the newsletters so, if he wasn’t before, he is by now the foremost source of factual Laser legend in the land.

Thanks to Rob for his work on this project and even greater applause for the authors and editors who compiled the newsletters over the years. Also thanks to Paul and Yoko Hargan who managed to collect and collate these pieces of history.

All you wanted to know about the class its rules and bylaws geography and news in one neat volume. The 2022 ILCA Handbook is now available online on the ILCA web site Here.

There are 10 years of Handbooks also available Here.

.                                                                 The State Masters at Bay Sailing Centre were a blast – well the wind was. Both days, 6 races in 22 gusting to 30 knots kept all the competitors on their toes and often on their centreboards.

There were 130 entries though not all made an appearance. Those that did enjoyed or endured some great sailing – many did both.

On Saturday racing was protracted due to the strong tide pushing the fleet over the line and the anchor on the start boat which would not hold despite having been used before with no problem. There were numerous U and black flag starts in the large Radial fleet of  over 70 boats – many times when the vast majority of the fleet was swept over the line.

On Sunday with a ginormous start boat anchor and the course moved south and less tide everything ran smoothly and RO Andrew McLachlan was a much less troubled  soul.

Needless to say the conditions were quite testing and many decided to take an early mark. Some normal Standard sailors decided to sail Radial which accounted in part for the unexpectedly large Radial fleet. Despite this there was some great racing.

The podium Division and Fleet places for the event are below and the full results are Here.

Thanks to the Newcastle Cruising Yacht Club and Sailing Manager Jack Buchan and his enthusiastic Port Stephens volunteers from the Bay Sailing Centre. Also thanks to our RO Andrew McLachlan who combines a busy paid job with being Commodore of Georges River Sailing Club and RO for us and other classes.

Special thanks to all the sailors who came out in great numbers to support the event and sailed their socks off with the aim to take home an acrylic cube. Thanks for following the COVID arrangements we put in place. Great to see turnout from smaller clubs like Northbridge who had 11 sailors and the larger clubs DBSC with 18, MHASC 17,  GRSC 13 and Vaucluse YC 10.

There are some great photos by Jon West which you can purchase from his web site Here. Photos on this post by Jon West.

Radial fleet and Standard rig winner Matt Blakey (above) photos by Jon West

In spite of some rain with the gusty wind a large field of 18 turned out for the annual Laser Masters  Tournament at Nelson Bay.

Convincing winner was team Marty Wilson, Dave Early, Steve McCulloch and Phil Ipsen with a mere 65 hits on the 17 holes.

Other teams:

David Page, Ian Young, Chris Severn 72 hits Greg Annesley, Rob Lowndes, Bruce Hilleard, John  Smidmore 76 hits Murray Stone, Mark Hooper, Tim Neale 77 hits Peter Doyle, Matt Faddy, Per Gustafsson 77 hits.

A fun day.

Laser Masters Golf Teams primed and ready to go.

Final reminder on the NSW & ACT Masters 5-6 February at the Bay Sailing Centre (previously Port Stephens Sailing & Aquatic Club) Soldiers Point.

The Sailing Instructions are Here. Enter online up until 11.30am 5 February Here, sign on and off each day Here.

There are 96 entries to 3 February. The Competitor List is Here.

With the current levels of COVID around we will be running the event as zero touch. The arrangements are.

• The club have booked the Kangaroo Point Reserve (to the north of the club) and George Reserve (to the south) to augment the space around the club so sailors can spread out along the shore. Map showing the locations is Here.
• There is no need to register and there will not be a briefing so there is no need to gather if you don’t choose to.
• Any notices will be posted at the club as per SIs but also on our web site Here and on the Laser app details of which are Here.
• The Bay Sailing Centre Café upstairs in the club will be open 7.00am to 2.00pm on Saturday and 7.00am to 12.00pm Sunday.
• The bar also upstairs in the club will be open post sailing from 4.30pm to 7.00pm on Saturday and Sunday.
• We will run a presentation outdoors at the club ASAP after sailing on Sunday. If it is raining it will be upstairs in the club.
• We will have a desk at the club to assist and to provide last minute entry and a PC for sign on/off if needed.

VLA Chair John d’Helin has announced that there has been a strong take of of places on the start line for the Australian Laser Masters. There are 93 entries so far.

The VLA and Westernport Yacht Club are looking forward to welcoming Master’s sailors at Westernport in a few weeks time.

Due to the uncertainties created by the current COVID situation and representations from a number of sailors John reports that the $100 late fee has been removed. The organisers also plan to apply a considerate entry fee refund approach where COVID impacts on a sailor’s choice to travel or not. This will be applied on a case by case basis on application to John d’Helin.

The revised NoR covering these changes is Here.

You can place your entry without the late fee Here.

A reminder this is the ranking event for the 2023 World Masters to be held in February in Pattaya, Thailand.

The National Masters is at Westernport Victoria is on 25-28 February.

Details and links to enter are in our post Here.

There is a $100 late fee for entries made after 28th January

The State Masters is coming up next month 5-6 February at the Bay Sailing Centre Port Stephens.

The BSC was the Port Stephens Sailing & Aquatic Club. It was renamed by Newcastle Cruising Yacht Club which is now managing the facility. The sailing water, access and accommodation is all as we have enjoyed over the years.

As we have done with our recent COVID era events sailors will need to be double vaccinated and follow the COVID safe plan including wearing masks, COVID check in and abiding by density limits. Sailors can sign on and off for sailing using the link in the SI’s and Here. Rigging can be spread along the Soldiers Point shore.

We will not be running a Saturday night dinner but the bar will be open at the club after sailing on Saturday and around the presentation on Sunday. Sailors should be able to dine in smaller groups at the nearby Bowling Club or other clubs and restaurants around Port Stephens. There is a wide range of accommodation available around Port Stephens and Soldiers Point.

You can enter the Masters online Here or until 11.30am on Saturday at the sailing office at the club. Entry is $60. The Notice of Race is Here.

Charters are available from NBSailsports Here.

The not-to-be-missed annual Masters Golf Tournament will be held again before the State Masters at Nelson Bay Golf Club on Friday 4^th February.  First tee time 12:44pm. Cost is $47 each plus $45 for two in a cart, payable at the pro-shop on the day.  It is worth letting the pro-shop know in advance if you want a cart (02 4981 1132).

It will be the usual Ambrose format which caters for all levels of golf ability.  Please arrive by midday to have lunch, select the teams and join in the usual banter.  Preferably advise Rob Lowndes at least a week before (text 0419 266 257 or lowndesr@bigpond.net.au) if you coming. If in doubt, just come!

The Laser Masters is at Westernport Yacht Club in Victoria 25-28 February 2022. The event will run as Australian Laser Masters irrespective of on again, off again WA Government determinations. There is information on the event and the venue on the Victorian Laser site Here.

The Notice of Race for the event is Here. You can enter Here.

Entry links, documents, updates and results for the event will be on the Australian Laser app. Select 2022 Laser Masters Australian Champs in National & District Events.

The Australian Masters will be preceded by a two day coaching clinic 22-23 February. Information on the coaching clinic is Here. You can enter for the clinic ($150) Here.

Information on PSA charters for the Masters event ($1,000) is Here and NBSailsports charters ($1,000) are Here.

This is the ranking event for the 2023 World Masters in Pattaya, Thailand 8-16 (ILCA 6) and 18-26 (ILCA 7) February 2023. Competing in this event will rank you ahead of applicants for 2023 World’s places who do not.

Kerry Waraker – World Laser Legend Champion

Ok this post is not about Laser sailing but about Laser sailors. Jules and Clogs are going to Hobart the hard way as the CYC Sydney Hobart site explains.

A Laser sailor these days, Jules Hall has been on and round boats his entire life, including doing some ocean racing through his twenties. All his boats have borne the name ‘Disko Trooper’, which comes from Rudyard Kipling’s Captains Courageous lead character, Disko Trooper. “We are proudly sponsored by Contender Sailcloth,” says Hall, whose side-kick is none other than Contender Sailcloth’s Jan ‘Clogs’ Scholten, a highly respected veteran sailor who Hall met racing his Laser.

“With twice the crew that we have on our Lasers, we’re both looking forward to having someone to cook our dinner,” Hall says, tongue in cheek. The pair has been training on Hall’s J/99, which was designed for double-handed racing, but is equally at home in fully crewed mode. 

They have had great results in the two handed lead-up events and are leading the division with only 580nm to go. Follow the progress of Disko Trooper on the Sydney Hobart Tracker Here.

Photo above shows Clogs making afternoon tea on the leg out of the Harbour – Perhaps that is why these guys aren’t leaning out?

The Annual General Meeting of the Association was held at Georges River Sailing Club on 5th December.

The minutes and reports tabled at the meeting are Here.

Below is a Jon West photo which could contest action shot of the year. It is of Scott Farley on Sunday at the States when the wind had eased up a little but was still enough to blow Scott’s visor off.

Jon West retrieved the visor and, reunited with its owner, it will see many more Laser race days as we are sure will Scott and his son Tom. Father and son finished 12th and 5th respectively in the GRSC event.

You can see many more of Jon’s States photos on his web site Here.