ILCA NSW & ACT

52 sailors enjoyed the sunshine at Sunshine over the weekend 15-16 October at the Coast Championships sailed from South Lake Macquarie ASC.

Race Officer Andrew McLachlan managed to get all six scheduled races competed for each of the three fleets.in 7-12 knot dominantly, but variable, easterly winds which prevailed each day. Racing concluded very close to cut off time of 1530 on Sunday as the fleets were AP’ed ashore until the light sea breeze stabilised.

Racing in the largest ILCA 7 fleet  was really close in all races, as were the final results. Will Sargent who hails from Sandy Bay YC and Derwent Sailing Squadron in Tasmania  posted two wins and two seconds was the ultimate winner by one point from 2021 runner up in NSW & ACT State Championships Daniel Costandi from GRSC and DBSC. A further one point away was 2019 NSW & ACT State Champion Campbell making a welcome return from his sometimes home Bermuda.  There was a big contingent of Masters in the ILCA 7s won by Nick Alexander from MHASC.

The Radials were dominated by Brooke Wilson RSYS/DBSC. Brooke won four of the races and had a second and third. Martin White DBSC/WSC had an very consistent series posting three second place finishes and two thirds. Third in the Radials was Grand Master Bruce Paine from Canberra YC.

Healy Ryan HHSC/DBSC proved too good in the strongly contested 4.7 fleet winning four of the races and the series from Miles Greenwood GSC sailing in his first season in the 4.7.  Benjamin Costandi GRSC/RSYS/DBSC was a close third counting a win and two seconds in his consistent placings.

The full results are Here

Thanks to SLMASC who did a grand job hosting this event for us. It is a great club well located with lots of parking rigging and one of the few venues where if you choose you can camp on site for a regatta. Thanks also to our RO Andrew McLachlan for his efficient management of the racing.

a There are lots of photos of the event on Jon West’s web site at https://jonwest.photography/2022-nsw-act-ilca-coast-championships.

Evie Saunders in Action on Galveston Bay in ILCA 6 Women’s Worlds – ILCA Photo

The Women’s ILCA 6 World Championships have just concluded at the Texas Corinthian Yacht Club sailed on Galveston Bay. There were 86 entries from 40 countries.

Tokyo 2020 Olympic gold medallist Anne-Marie Rindom from Denmark took out the Championships by a commanding 20 points. The Silver was won with a strong series finish by Swiss sailor Maud Jayet two points ahead of the 2021 World Champion Belgium’s Emma Plasschaert.

Five of the six Australian team finished in the Gold Fleet a very strong performance. Mara Stransky was the best-placed Australian in 13th place with Zoe Thompson 18th, Casey Imeneo 21st, Elyse Ainsworth 26th, Evie Saunders 41st and Sylvie Stannage 49th.

Full results are Here.

Australian Sailing High-Performance Director Michael Blackburn said of the team’s performance “The Aussie ILCA 6 squad have taken on a big program to gain experience in tough fleets – experience is key and this fleet had in it all the 2020 Olympic medallists, along with all World Champions since 2011.”

Next for the group is the European Championships in Hyeres, France where ILCA 6 where co-coach Carolijn Brouwer is hopeful of continued improvement and personal best results.

Legends all Jacques Kerrest (USA) Peter Heywood (AUS) Mike Kinnear (GBR)

After 10 scheduled races over five days the 2022 European Masters Championships have just wound up in L’Escala, Spain. The 10 race series over 5 days saw 256 sailors in 13 categories competing in light to medium winds.

EurILCA was kind to invite our small travelling band of Masters Sailors to compete even though their series was pretty much fully subscribed.

Current World GGM Champion Jeff Loosemore comfortably won the ILCA 6 GGM gold medal while Peter Heywood won the Legends. We are hoping EurILCA will invite us again next year.

The Event Web Site is Here and the full results are Here.

The Coast Championships are on at South Lake Macquarie Amateur Sailing Club 15-16 October.

This is a great venue and we and the SLMASC are keen to make this a great event after the disappointment of having to cancel the event there last year due to COVID (remember that).

The Notice of Race for the event is Here. You can enter online Here or at the club on 15th October. The Sailing Instructions are Here.

With the big events coming up like the State Open and Masters Championships at nearby Wangi 19-20 November, the Nationals at Georges River 1-8 January and the National Masters at Port Stephens 10-13 March this event is a good way to shake out the cobwebs in preparation for large fleet racing.

ILCA are proposing two minor changes to the class rules in 2022.

1. To allow the use of heatsrink tube to bind sheets and secure shackle pins and clips.
2. To allow new vang cleat block units to be introduced without delay once they are approved. The current rules already allow alternative “builder supplied” vang cleat fittings.

The reason for the changes and their detail wording is Here. You can vote at any time in October Here.

ILCA have announced the 2024 ILCA 7 Men’s World Championship 24-31 January 2024 and the 2024 ILCA 6 and ILCA 7 World Masters 2-9 February 2024 will be held at Adelaide Sailing Club. The Men’s Worlds will be an Olympic qualifying event for Paris 2024 (Marseille) with 7 of the 40 Olympic spots determined by results at this event.

These events will be preceded by the 2024 Oceania & Australian Open and Youth Championships in their normal rotation and timing 1-8 January 2024.

There was some considerable toing and froing in negotiation for these ASC Worlds events and it is pleasing to see the end outcome will lead to a number of great events at what is a world class venue.

For longer term planning the venues and dates for all the ILCA World Championship events are now posted on the ILCA web site’s World Championships Here.

The Travelodge Hurstville is offering 20% discount to sailors and families for the Oceania & Australian Open & Youth Championships 1-8 January 2023 at Georges River Sailing Club.

To access the discount for stay dates between 30 December 2022 and 9 January 2023 book Here  and use the promo code: TH15013197.

Alternatively you can  call the hotel directly (02 9171 2555) to book and quote the promo code: TH15013197.

While you are in the making arrangements mode there are links below for NoR, Entry and if you need one for boat charters.

• Notice of Race
• Enter Here
• Boat Charters NB Sailsports and Performance Sailcraft Australia

The ALCA has launched a ‘Youth Solidarity’ program. This program is designed to encourage clubs to choose the ILCA 4 (Laser 4.7) for girls & boys transitioning from junior training classes & will be rolled out Nationally.
A similar program has been running in Europe since 2018. It is designed to encourage more girls & boys into Laser sailing via the ILCA4 pathway.
Our initial launch will be at the upcoming Nationals to be held in Sydney at GRSC. This year the focus will be on female sailors.

Each Australian Laser district (5 states + NT) will be asked to select a young female sailor to compete at the Nationals. The selected sailors will receive the following support from the ALCA:

• Free entry into the championship.
• Free ILCA 4.7 charter boat in race condition.
• Free squad coaching during the regatta.
• Free Solidarity squad T-shirt

They will be supported throughout the event by a suitable mentor & will get the chance to meet & chat with members of the Australian Sailing Team & Australian Sailing Squad.
The selections will not be limited to sailors currently in the Laser class. Female sailors considered to have potential can come from any class if they meet the selection criteria. We plan to caste a wide net advertising this opportunity to the broader sailing community.

Any enquiries about this initiative should be directed to solidarity@laser.asn.au

Application forms can be downloaded PDF Word or complete the online application form Here.

Application forms should be submitted by October 25^th. Successful applicants will be notified on first week in November.

We have a great season for Laser events coming up.

The season’s regattas being run in NSW & ACT are listed below along with links to their Notice of Race, Online Entry and Event Web Sites.

And if too much sailing is never enough there are many other national and international events listed on our Events Page Here.

Current State Under 21 Champion Daniel Costandi in flat out and wet mode

Australian Sailing along with local clubs Mannering Park, South Lake Macquarie and Wangi are running Youth Sail NSW at Point Wolstoncroft

The event will comprise coaching 28-30th September and racing 1-3rd October. The event will comprise 5 two person boats and 8 one person boats plus windfoils. Laser Radial and 4.7 are included. Participants must be under 23 years of age at 31 December 2022.

The Notice of Race for the championship racing is Here. Registration and information is on the Australian Sailing web site Here.

To assist with planning the annual masters golf tournament, which precedes the State Masters each year is on again this year on Friday 18 November. As the States this year combine Open Youth and Masters the golf will be open to all ages.

The venue is just 10 minutes drive from Wangi at the Toronto Golf Club, 122 Wangi Road Toronto.  The plan is to gather from 1200 over a quick lunch with first tee time at 1:00pm.   Cost will be $32 per head plus $20 for half share of a  cart.

It would help if you send a message to Rob Lowndes (0419 266 257) at least a week in advance to advise numbers.  Always heaps of fun and hackers welcome for the usual Ambrose format.

We are looking for volunteers to help make the Laser Open and Youth Championships at Georges River Sailing Club a success.

We need on and off water help over the 1-8 January dates of the event. If sailors or parents/family/friends of those competing can help out in the areas named for any of the days please fill out details on the web form Here.

If anyone has any specific things they would like to do, or discuss, they should feel free to call or email Georges River Sailing Club Sailing Manager, Andrew Hawkins, on 0457 152 168 or at grscsailingmanager@gmail.com.

The 2023 Oceania & Australian Open and Youth Championships will be held at Georges River Sailing Club on Botany Bay 1-8 January 2023.

After the disappointments of cancellation of the event scheduled in Fremantle, WA in 2021 and 2022 it will be great to stage these championships in 2023.

Botany Bay is a great venue for big sailing events with lots of open water and clear winds. The club is near to the airport and the surrounding suburbs have lots of accommodation options.

There will be great lead up events with the NSW & ACT Laser State titles at Wangi A.S.C. on Lake Macquarie in November 2022 and Sail Sydney on Sydney Harbour from Woollahra S.C. 13-18 December 2022.

The Notice of Race for this event is Here. There is more information on the Australian Laser Championships web site. It will be the reference web site for the event.

Entries can be placed $350 until 30th November 2022 Here and may be accepted with an additional $80 late fee after that date.

Charters will be available from NB Sailsports and Performance Sailcraft Australia.

Request for Volunteers

We are looking for volunteers to help make the regatta a success! We need on and off water help over the 1-8 January dates of the event. If you can help out in the areas named for any of the days please fill out your details on the form Here.

Matt Wearn current Australian and Olympic Laser Champions – Photo by Jesus Renedo

The 2023 Oceania & Australian Masters Championships will be held at the Bay Sailing Centre Soldiers Point on Port Stephens 10-13 March 2023.

This event is a little later in the year than normal and was re-scheduled to avoid clashing with the ILCA World Masters Pattaya, Thailand 8-16 (ILCA 6) and 18-26 (ILCA 7) February 2023.

Port Stephens is our favourite venue for Masters events with great sailing winds and water and lots of accommodation in all price ranges.

The Notice of Race for this event is Here.

Charters will be available from NB Sailsports and Performance Sailcraft Australia.

Jeff Loosemore ILCA 6 GGM and Brett Beyer ILCA 7 GM Current World Masters Champions – Photos John West

This is a must read for all Laser sailors younger than 50 or new to the class.

“If you have not already become aware of it there is an art to wearing the right clothing at a sailing regatta.  I am not talking about your Brian Rockford tracksuit or your Polo shirt (Lacoste is old hat) but your humble T-shirt. You can tell everything about the sailor by the T-shirt he wears.”

These are the opening words of Laser legend Andrew York’s seminal light-hearted 1985 article ”T-shirt etiquette” which set the standard for regattas for the last 40 plus years.  Click here to read the full article.  You’ll never feel embarrassed again.

Click here to access the full archive of Lasernews containing other priceless information by legends of the class.

Photo right – A seriously impressive T-shirt by Yorkie’s rules.