ILCA NSW & ACT

It was a frustrating day at Middle Harbour on Sunday for the first races in the NB SailSports Winter Sprint Series.

The wind went through every point on the compass and never got above 5 knots.  Nevertheless two races were completed and they were real sprint races as the wind made sure the competitors never had a decent beat to windward!  It was a great turn out with 51 boats coming from as far as Canberra for the day and most harbour clubs sending boats, including a growing Manly YC fleet.

Click here for the full results.

We were not able to get every skipper’s name because of the relaxed sign on procedure with boats coming from so many directions on the water.  If you see your number but not your name and want to be in the draw for a new Laser, please send your details to RO and honorary  scorer Rob Lowndes masters@laser.asn.au. He will then update the results.

A big thanks to NB SailSports  for this series and the generous prizes. Thanks also to all the MHASC folks who ran the series and to Ian Alexander from DBSC who was a great help on the water.

The next race in the series is at Woollahra Sailing Club on 29 June 2014.

The NB SailSports Winter Sprint Series kicks off this Sunday at Middle Harbour. There will be three with the first warning at 1pm.

The series will be held with 3 races at each of 5 venue 12 will count for the overall result so you can miss one venue and still get a respectable score.

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.

Entry is $20 which can be placed online by credit card with NB SailSports here or in cash at the venue. If you are sailing over from another club best to enter online as notes can get pretty soggy on a Laser and the starters don’t have have EFTPOS. You can call on and off at the starters boat.

The Notice of Race for the Series is here. Sailing Instructions for Middle Harbour are here.

The 2014 Laser 4.7 Youth World Championships will be held between 8 to 15 AUGUST 2014 in Karatsu, JAPAN.

The event hosts in Japan have sent information about the regatta and invite you to apply before the Application Deadline of 1 JULY 2014. Their letter is below:

Dear Youth Sailors,
Greetings from the city of Karatsu, Saga Prefecture, Japan. It is with great pleasure that we invite you and your sailors to participate in the 2014 Laser 4.7 Youth Worlds Championships.

You are invited to come and pit your skills against some of the world’s best youth sailors in great sailing conditions and nice summer weather at Castle Bay, Karatsu.
Enjoy wonderful Japanese hospitality, experience Japanese culture and traditions, and be immersed in the warmth and friendliness of Karatsu people. It will be an unforgettable championship!

The blue links below will take you to the applications and provide more information about this championship, including the Notice of Race and the country entry allocations.

2014 Laser Youth 4.7 World Championships

• Dates: Friday 8  August – Friday 15 August 2014
• Venue: Karatsu,  JAPAN
• For Information, visit the Official Event website HERE
• OR see the ILCA website for info HERE
• BOYS click HERE for Youth Worlds Application
• GIRLS click HERE for Youth Worlds Application
• Notice of Race please click HERE
• Charter Terms & Conditions please click HERE

Should you require any other information about the event, please contact us at: 2014laser4.7worlds@laserjapan.org

Takao Otani

Peter Heywood advises the following winter activities at  Woollahra. Check Peter’s Woollahra SC Facebook here.

Winter Series at Woollahra

Sunday racing at 10:00am. As there is usually no afternoon in Winter the racing is timed to get the morning westerly wind.
Café open for Coffee and a Bite for après voile.
Notice of Race and Sailing Instructions on the WSC web site here.

Race Training Course for Up and Coming Youth and Intermediate Seniors

This course provides young up and coming sailors the skills required to move into an advanced racing environment. During the program, they will have the opportunity to train with specailist class coaches, start on a regular training regime, and gain the skills needed to adminstrate their own training program.

• 2 parts – Saturday Session from 9:00am-12:00noon and the Wednesday Session from 4:00pm-5:30pm.
• Coach Nic Skulander
• Cost $500.00 (that works out at $25 for a 3 hour session and there are combo deals that make it more affordable)
• Contact Sailing Manager Adam South 9371 9805 or adam@woollahrasailingclub.org.au for further details and combo membership deals, family deals and youth scholarships.

Date/Time
10 May 2014 09:00 AM – 12:00 AM
17 May 2014 09:00 AM – 12:00 AM
24 May 2014 09:00 AM – 12:00 AM
31 May 2014 09:00 AM – 12:00 AM
14 Jun 2014 09:00 AM – 12:00 AM
21 Jun 2014 09:00 AM – 12:00 AM
28 Jun 2014 09:00 AM – 12:00 AM
5 Jul 2014 09:00 AM – 12:00 AM
12 Jul 2014 09:00 AM – 12:00 AM
19 Jul 2014 09:00 AM – 12:00 AM

Applications for entry for the 2014 Laser Masters’ World Championships will open Friday, 11 April 2014 (3.00 pm Aust Eastern Standard Time).

The deadline for receiving entry applications for initial allocation of places is 18 May 2014 at 23:59 Central Daylight Time.

You are encouraged to complete the entry application as soon as possible once it becomes available. Please be aware that if you do not apply by 18 May 2014, you may have very little chance of attending this championship.

The links below will take you to the applications and provide more information about this championship, including the Notice of Race and the country entry allocations.

2014 Laser Masters’ World Championships
• Dates: Fri 3 October – Sat 11 October 2014
• Venue: Hyeres, France
• Click HERE for Masters’ Application

For more information about the ILCA application and entry process, please refer to the ILCA website pages at the links below:

Information for Sailors
Information for Districts

The International Sailing Federation ISAF have announced new plans for the ISAF Sailing World Cup.

The new arrangements address the main concerns which the Laser Class had with the radical concept discussed last November.  Changes to the previous concept include classes will retain their world championship titles, more entries in the grand final for each class, retaining the name ISAF Sailing World Cup and having entry flexibility with wild cards.

You can see how the new Sailing World Cup will operate and how the circa 20 finalists will be selected on the ISAF web site here.

The NB SailSports Winter Sprint Series is on again this year. The venues and dates of the series are:

18 May: Middle Harbour Amateur Sailing Club – First warning 1pm, 3 races
29 June: Woollahra Sailing Club – First waring 10am, 3 races
20 July: Belmont 16ft Skiff Club – First warning 11am, 3 races
31 August: Gosford Sailing Club – First Warning 1pm, 3 races
20 September: Double Bay Sailing Club – First Warning 1pm, 3 races

There will be race prizes for Standard, Radial and 4.7 rigs provided five or more boats compete. There will be 15 races with 12 to count for the overall result so you can miss one venue and still get a respectable score.

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.

Entry is $20 which can be placed online by credit card with NB SailSports here or in cash at the venue.

The Notice of Race for the Series is here. Sailing Instructions will be available at the venues.

Below is the schedule of our NSW/ACT Laser events for next season.

You can see the Notices of Race by clicking the links in the table above.

These should be great events at fabulous venues.

We are always on the lookout for good event venues so if your club is interested in running an event in future seasons let me know. Most clubs have adequate facilities to meet our needs for these events. We pay $2,000 for the two day regatta to offset the club’s running costs.

There is a list here of all the local, national and international Laser events that we are aware of for next season.

Marlena Berzins one of the WSC 4.7′ers

Peter Heywood has a great youth 4.7 program going at WSC. He is looking for a coach. His advertisement for the position follows:

A laser coach is required primarily to train a group of young competent Laser sailors at Woollahra.

Training occurs during School Holiday Camps and weekly training sessions during winter and summer.

This would suit an accomplished sailor who is interested in coaching and extra income.

Assistance would be given to gain instructors certificate.

The coaching position can be augmented with weekend Race Management duties to provide a useful income.

Contact: Peter Heywood M: 0413758769

James Burman HHSC on his way to a convincing win in the Standard Rig

Lane Cove 12ft Sailing Skiff Club hosted the Metropolitan Championship on March 8 and 9 with 67 sailors entered.
The weekend’s racing started on Saturday with the Lane Cove Club running the Dash for Cash from the club-house in the Lane Cover River to the main race area near Clarkes Point Woolwich.  Winners were Jordan Makin in the 4.7, Shane Conly 1st in the radials (and 2nd overall), James Burman in the standard rigs. Full results of the dash for cash are here.

RO Col Chidgey ably supported by the large team from Lane Cove Sailing 12′ SSC had some work to do as the wind clocked right then left. They had the added challenge of fitting the standard Laser trapazoidal course into the relatively confined space between Long Nose Point Birchgrove and Cockatoo Island and as far as possible away from the ferry and power boat lanes.
Six races were conducted over the two days, challenging the sailors in the variable and shifty moderate winds.  On Sunday the boats were held on shore until 12.30 until the sea-breeze had worked its way up the river.  To ensure each fleet sailed 6 races, Col Chidgey started the last race of the Standard rigs under black flag, with 5 seconds to spare before the 3.30 race start cutoff.

In the Metro Series the easy winner in the Standard Rig was James Burman who won all but one of the six races. Second was Sean Feeney from MHASC and thrid William Dargaville from MHASC and RPAYC.

The Radials was a shoot out between Double Bay sailors Finn Alexander and Dennis Kuhlmann. They each posted two wins however Finn was a tad more constent and finished three points ahead of Dennis. Third was Ashely Stoddart from Royal Queensland Yacht Squadron.

In the 4.7′s Jordan Makin from Gosford Sailing Club posted four wins to take the title follwed by Marlena Berzins from Double Bay and Great Grand Master David Adams from Dobroyd Aquatic Club. David despite his not so tender years sails a Mac 2 foiling moth when he is not Lasering so probaly found the going at the Metros rather tame. The full results of the event are here.

You can see some photos of the action on Sunday here

Corinna Hartas took some more action shots including the foiling Laser which you can see here.

Thanks must go to the Lane Cove 12′ SSC and its army of on and off the water helpers. These folks looked after sailors before during and after racing. The Club also donated the “Dash for Cash” prizes and arranged for donations of door prizes from MonkeyFist.com.au and a Laser sail donated by NB SailSports which was a door prize at the presentation. Thanks to those generous sponsors.

There is a chance to win a cash prize of $100 for the race from the Lane Cove Sailing Club to the start of the Metropolitan Championship near Clarkes Point Hunters Hill on Saturday 8th March.

In terms of reward for distance sailed this prize is among the best you will see. There are $100 prizes for each rig Standard, Radial and 4.7.

The basic rule is pretty simple you have to sail a Laser (of any rig) and the race starts at 12.45pm. If you need more detail please consult the race documents here.

On Saturday after racing there will be a sausage sizzle at the Lane Cove 12’SSC and a draw for prizes to be won by sailors present for:

• A Zhik Backpack
• A ZhikGrip II Laser Hiking Strap
• 3 Zhik visors

On Sunday after racing there will be a presentation at the Lane Cove Club with finger food and $3 kebabs & salads & Lebanese bread.
There will be a new Laser sail given away from a draw of the sailors who are present at the club for the presentation on Sunday.
There will be prizes for all divisions and the open event plus encouragement awards. For the encouragement awards again you will need to be at the presentation at the Lane Cove 12′SSC to get the prize.

Come along enjoy the racing and maybe take home the big prize.

Congratulations to Victorian Laser Association and Gippsland Lakes Yacht Club for the running of the National Masters at Paynesville. The event went without a hitch and the venue proved to be a hit with the sailors and partners. Good sailing waters, friendly club, plenty of coffee shops and restaurants – what’s not to like.

Well done to all competitors. There were 143 entries (54 Standard, 82 Radial and 7 4.7′s) most of whom braved the circa 25 knot Sunday winds completing three races in conditions which were described as “character building”. Not bad for old B’s!

There are a couple of photos above including the latest innovation square rigged Laser – don’t think it will catch on though. Clear Masters winners David Early (Radial) and Brett Beyer with ALCA Chair Ken Hurling (Standard) are pictured. There are lots of photos of the event whch are linked at the GLYC site here.

The final results are at:

Standard and 4.7
Radial

The Metropolitan Championship is on the 8-9th March at Lane Cove 12 Foot Sailing Skiff Club.

Notice of Race and Sailing Intructions  are available online. You can enter online here or at the Lane Cove 12 Footers Club between 9.30 and 11.30am on Saturday.

The racing will be out in the open area between Hunters Hill Greenwich and Balmain. Our RO Col Chidgey identifies it as Mocooboolah which is the aboriginal name for the area around Hunters Hill and means “meeting of the waters”.

There is plenty of room for good Laser racing. Fleets of up to 50 and 60 yachts from Drummonyne, Greenwich Flying Squadron and Balmain regularly race here. There have been 12 footer’s Interdominion and 16 footer’s Nations on the same stretch of water. There is fantastic spectator viewing over the race track from Clarkes Point Hunters Hill.

Rigging will be at Lane Cove and if you like lots of space at Hunters Hill Sailing Club. Registration and beach entry will be at Lane Cove 12 footers Club as will the presentation ASAP after racing on Sunday. There will be a sign on and off sheets at Hunters Hill Sailing Club on Saturday and Sunday.

Don’t forget to come to Lane Cove 12 Footers for the presentation and sausage sizzle after racing on Sunday.

As an extra encouragement for sailors to rig at and enjoy the hospitality of the Lane Cove 12′SSC the club is running a dash for cash starting at 12.45pm on Saturday at the Lane Cove Club and finishing near the Metros start line. There will be prizes for this and of course the main event. Metro prizes will be awarded for Open, Youth, Women and Masters categories.

Come along and enjoy the racing and support the Laser sailors at Lane Cove. These folk are some of the keenest Laserers around attending Masters State National and Worlds in numbers.

The Laser Open National Championship next season is at Mandurah, Western Australia 72km South of Perth, The Venue is the Mandurah Offshore Fishing and Sailing Club (MOFSC) and racing will be held on the Indian Ocean a 10 minute reach to the start line from MOFSC. The Preliminary dates are the 27th Dec 2014 to the 4th January 2015.

Performance Sailcraft Australia are arranging a limited number of Laser charters for this event as well as the Youth Nationals at Freemantle and Sail Melbourne at Sandringham.
Prices for the charters these events are:

• Sail Melbourne ( Sandringham Yacht Club, Vic ) – $1300 AUD
• Australian Laser Nationals / Masters Nationals ( Mandurah, WA ) – $1800 AUD
• Australian Laser Youth Nationals ( Fremantle, WA ) – $1500 AUD
• Sail Melbourne + Aus Nationals – $2600 AUD
• Aus Nationals + Aus Youths – $2500 AUD
• Sail Melbourne + Aus Nationals + Aus Youths – $3400 AUD

For the Nationals and Youth Nationals expressions of interest must be received by PSA by 31st May 2014 to allow for planning and logistics. You can see more information here  and submit an expression of interest via the PSA on line contact form here.

It is understood that NB Sailsports will also be offering charters and possibly boat transport for the WA events. As soon as we have confirmation and details we will post these on this site.

The States where held at Georges River Sailing Club on 1st and 2nd February. The series saw a high class fleet of 70 boats (17 4.7′s 33 Radials and 20 Standard) competing.

Saturday saw a fading southerly going to the east at around 8 to 12 knots. Sunday presented a nice 18 knot NNE breeze and sizable waves. The tide was mostly strong run out causing sailors to think a lot to avoid over (or under) laying the marks.

RO Col Chidgey set the course off Ramsgate a little (but not much) out of the Georges River tide. On the Sunday with a NNE breeze and a strong tide running from the opposite direction there were numerous general recalls. The black flag start following the first general usually tamed the fleet.

Blake Shelley from Double Bay SC and WoollahraSC won the 4.7′s in a close contest from Peter Charlton South Lake Macquarie and Jordan Makin Gosford SC.

In the Radials Finn Alexander also from Double Bay won with three bullets in the last three races and discarding a 12th in race one – a race I am sure he would be happy to forget. Second was Nicholas Connor from RPAYC and MHASC and third was World Grand Masters Champion Vanessa Dudley.

Sean Atherton from MHASC in a commanding display won every race in the Standard Rig with Marcus Whitley from DBSC second and visitor Brent Morris from Port Melbourne SC third.

Thanks very much to all competitors for the spirit of the racing and skill exhibited and to Georges River Sailing Club volunteers and RO Col Chidgey and assitant Leanne Narborough for their running a great series.

The final fleet results for the event are here. The results for the Divisions which were scored separately are here.