ILCA NSW & ACT

A nice piece on 7th January by Luke Parker from Double Bay Sailing Club caught our eye. Luke reported;

A few lucky members were present for the most wonderful of surprises last night when Mark Bethwaite set a club record which is unlikely to be beaten.

Showing his trademark speed off the line, commitment and determination, Mark announced his engagement to the wonderful Jill Blaufelder at 6.50pm and they were married by 6.54pm!!!!

A 4 minute engagement is a target to aspire for.

To be honest, I’ve had first tacks off the start line that have taken longer.

Along with all the well wishers present, all at DBSC wish Mr & Mrs B a long and happy life together.

It’s Arnold Metcalf’s 90th birthday on the 12th December. He’s absolutely amazing, and is still regularly sailing his Laser at Lane Cove 12ft SSC.

The club are planning to celebrate with a short tribute and slide show on Saturday 14th December. Following the 6pm presentation there will be a BBQ.

Any past or present Laser sailors that may know Arnold are welcome to come and join the fun.

Photo right of Arnold Lasering on the Lane Cove River.

Maybe we need a new age division Grand Legend for Arnold.

Photo by Jon West – Campbell Patton Standard Rig Laser State Champion

98 Lasers competed in the NB Sailsports NSW & ACT State Championships at Georges River Sailing Club over the weekend of 9-10 November.

The six scheduled races were completed in nice SE breezes ranging between 8 and 14 knots.

The small but competitive fleet of 4.7′s had some great racing with the ultimate winner Ethan Lozevski from Woollahra SC and Dobroyd AC. Second was Xavier McLachlan from RSYS and Double Bay SC and third a visitor from Blairgowrie Yacht Squadron Hamish Cowell. First female was fourth placed Olivia Williams from RPAYC.

The Radial fleet of 52 saw some very tight racing and lots of black flag starts. The winner by just two points was Jack Littlechild from RSYS, DBSC and RANSA. Second was Daniel Costandi RSYS, DBSC and GRSC and third was Sofiane Karim a visitor from   Société des Régates d’Antibes - Côte d’Azur France. First female was fifth place Marlena Berzins from RSYS and DBSC.

The convincing winner in the Standards was Campbell Patton from DBSC. Campbell won five of the six races and dropped his worst place 2nd. Second was Gavin Blake also from DBSC followed by a strong supporter of our events Victorian Steve Gunther from Port Melbourne YC. Behind Campbell there was very close racing with just six points between 2nd and 6th place.

The full results for the event are:

4.7

Radial

Standard

There are lots of photos of the event by Jon West HERE.

The smiling Radial winners – Photo by Jon West

The NSW & ACT Laser Association AGM was held at the State Championship venue Georges River Sailing Club at 9.00am  on Sunday 10th November 2019.

The minutes of the meeting and Chairman’s Report are HERE.

Congratulations  to the newly elected executive of the Association who are listed in the minutes and on this web site on the Contacts tab.

The NSW & ACT Laser States are 9th and 10th November at Georges River Sailing Club.

This is always a hotly contested event with over 100 sailors competing. This year on the open waters of Botany Bay it will be a cracker.

This year’s event will be a great lead up to the incredible series of Laser National, Regional and Worlds in Victoria early in 2020. These events are listed on our Events Page HERE. All the information about them is on the Laser 2020 web site HERE or from the Laser 2020 app (Android and iOS).

Another lead up event is the Victorian States (Open and Masters) 23 & 24 November at the Worlds venue Sandringham YC – full details are HERE.

For the NSW & ACT States the Notice of Race is HERE and you can enter online HERE or at Georges River SC on Saturday until 11.30am.

Sailing Instructions for the event are HERE.

Photo by Jane Humphris  above shows some of the close racing in the Radials

71 Lasers competed in the Coast Championships at Gosford Sailing Club over the weekend 12-13 October.

The winds tested both the sailors and the race officials however in the end five of the scheduled six races were completed with some great tight racing in all three fleets.

In the 4.7′s Xavier RSYS sailors Xavier McLachlan and Kane Sablatnig finished level on 8 points with Xavier winning on a count back. Olivia Williams from RPAYC was not far behind in third.

It was almost as close in the Radials with Otto Henry from WSC beating Jordon Makin from Belmont 16′s by just one point. Daniel Costandi from RSYS and GRSC was third.

Brett Beyer WSC convincingly won the Standards from Jan Scholten RPAYC and Avalon SC with Luke Parker DBSC in third.

The full results for series are HERE.

Some.photos from the event by Jane Humphris are HERE

We have to change the dates for our Metropolitan Championships at Double Bay Sailing Club from 29 February – 1 March 2020 to 1-2 February due to SailGP’s  late arrangement to run their Sydney leg on 28-29 February 2020.

SailGP recently gained approval from RMS to close the Harbour on their race days and despite RMS having approved our event and date almost a year ago we have to move to accommodate the (not so well organised) multi-million dollar event.

Sorry for the inconvenience and thanks to Double Bay Sailing Club for their making the change which itself had to fit around the busy Harbour schedule at the time including the RANSA regatta and the 18 footer’s JJ Giltinan Worlds.

Jordan Makin Radial Winner at Coasts Gosford 2017

With a big year coming up for Laser sailing our NSW & ACT events kick off on 12-13 October with the Coast Championships Regatta at Gosford Sailing Club. The Notice of Race for this event is HERE , The Sailing Instructions are HERE and you can enter HERE.

Our State Championships are at Georges River Sailing Club 9-10 November. The NoR for this event is HERE and you can enter HERE.

These events along with the State Masters at Lake Jinbabyne Sailing Club 8-9 February will be great preparation for the Australian, Regional and World Championships coming up in Victoria in 2020. Dates, venues and web links for all the events are on the Events Page of this site.

Don’t forget to enter in any or all the Laser events anywhere in the World you need to renew your district membership (it runs from 1 October 2019 to 30 September 2020). Our membership fee ($20 for sailors under 21 and $40 above 21) goes mostly towards the International and Australian Laser Class Associations and the more members we have in Australia the more places we are allocated in the limited entry World championship events. You can renew or join online HERE.

The Women’s Laser Regatta last weekend hosted by Double Bay Sailing Club was again a great success and was fully subscribed.

Eminent coaches included Karyn Gojnich, a triple Olympian; Krystal Weir, a double Olympian, and Katie Spithill were joined by DBSC’s Marlena Berzins and Charlotte Alexander. Louise Davis, an experienced International Race Officer from Brisbane, flew in to preside as Race Officer.

The two-day event comprised yoga each morning; an on and off the water coaching clinic; debrief and Q&A; dinner at DBSC; racing all Sunday and the prize giving.

Well done the top organising team of Clare Alexander, Christine Patton, and Christine Linhart at DBSC and to all the participants.

There is a great post on the event by Di Pearson on the DBSC web site HERE.

For full results of the regatta please click HERE. Check out the international coverage HERE and HERE.

Jon West has a web site with some terrific photos of the event HERE.

After much ado the World Sailing Council last month approved the International Laser Class Association’s bid to be retained as equipment for the 2024 Paris Olympics, with 30 voting in favour, 0 against.

There is more information on the ILCA’s web site HERE.

Part of the new arrangements leading to the Laser’s Olympic retention will see some new class builders appointed – all following the strict one design principles of the past.

More information on this is in an ILCA post HERE.

Entry numbers for the NSW Youth Championships proudly presented by the Central Coast Council is building to be another great regatta at Point Wolstoncroft with many clubs organising accommodation on site.

For all the latest information on the regatta please visit AS website

Online Registration

Race Documents

Competitor Information

New add-ons at the NSW Youths are;

Race Official Seminar 4 October @ 7pm in the Lakeview Building at Point W

With Peter Merritt – Chair of the Nationals Racing Rules and Officials Committee presenting on the latest trends from WS, scenarios and Q & A.  No need to register for this event it’s free to all interested in Race Management.

She Sails – Race Officials Course 6 Oct 12:30 – 15:30 hrs at Point W

This course for women who have a keen interest in sailing and want to participate in another facet of the sport.  Those who may be interested in becoming a Race Officer include parents who may have limited experience with sailing and want to contribute to the sport.  Limited spots available.

>> Click Here to register

RSYS has invited all Laser Youth sailors to a 2.5 day camp starting Monday Sept 30 1200 - Wednesday Oct 2 1630.

This will be a great opportunity to hang out with your friends at RSYS and have a great time on the water.

Its a great chance to get a final tune up and last little bit of practice from some great coaches in Mike Leigh, Marlena Berzins and Oskar Hansen depending on numbers.

Any questions contact Locky

locky.pryor@rsys.com.au

You can register HERE.

“Fiji is very excited to host the Fiji Oceania Masters out of the stunning Sofitel Resort and Spa on Denarau Island from the 12th to the 18th of October 2019.

Due to popular demand and to assist Fiji Laser sailors with exposure to international competition the event is now open to all age groups.

Come and sail in the Masters and bring your family to compete as well. The regatta will consist of 10 races with a compulsory lay day on Wednesday the 16th. On the lay day all competitors and family members are invited to Malamala Beach Club for a day of relaxation and to rest the body and mind before the final two days of racing.
The Sofitel has great deals for competitors and there is a wide range of accommodation options in the area to fit every budget.
Further details can be found on the web site www.oceanialaserchamps.com We look forward to welcoming you all in the Fijian Bula Spirit – don’t miss out.

Some women sailors have expressed interest in training and coaching.

If you feel you need some coaching in particular leading up to the Women’s Regatta  at Double Bay Sailing Club 28-29 September then check the flyer HERE or contact Christine Patton  at christine@bermudamarine.bm

80% of sailors voted “Yes” in the recent class rule change ballot. A 2/3rd vote for the change was required for it to be carried.

The turn out was particularly high in all the Australian Districts with 2/3rds of members casting a vote – so thanks to everyone who took the trouble to vote.

Information on the ballot outcome is on the ILCA web site HERE.

As was predicted the Laser builders and trade mark holders, due to their divergent commercial interests, did not reach any agreement to World Sailing’s new FRAND supply arrangements by the WS deadline 1 August. Thus the change to the class rules (ILCA’s Plan B) and the “Yes” vote have saved the day for Laser Olympic retention.

Following is the text of a post on the position “World Sailing (WS) can confirm the International Laser Class Association (ILCA) has signed the required Olympic Classes Contract by the 1 August deadline and has also submitted additional information about the arrangements for the Class. The position has been discussed at a recent meeting of the World Sailing Board and it has requested clarification from ILCA in a small number of areas. The WS Board will then officially communicate to WS Council its position.”

ILCA still has a mountain of work before it to deliver on the new WS Olympic agreement and the FRAND equipment supply arrangements however barring any last minute hiccups our Olympic status should be retained.