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2019 ILCA Laser Handbook
Wed 16 Jan 2019 4:54pmThe 2019 ILCA Laser Handbook is now available online: http://www.laserinternational.org/wp-content/uploads/2019/01/Handbook_21...
2019 NZ Laser Nationals Report & Results - Final Day
Mon 14 Jan 2019 8:59pmProvisional results after final day 4 - 8 pm 15th Jan 2019.
Barfoot & Thompson Laser Nationals Day 4 - Snakes and Ladders
The final day of the Barfoot and Thompson NZ Laser Nationals featured some great contests for the final honours. Conditions on the day were gusty and very shifty with an offshore 10 to 15-knot southerly peeling around the cliffs between the bays. This caused problems for many, with frequent OCS's as the wind swung on several occasions as fleets started and many place changes during the beats as the lines of pressure came through. Both the Opens and the Radials sailed an extra race to make up for the races lost on Sunday so all fleets ended with a full complement of races.
In the Open Standard fleet world No 8 Tom Saunders wrapped up the title with wins in the first 2 races. Unfortunately, neither Sam Meech or Phillip Buhl were able to sail the final day, they were both attending former national champ Andy Maloney's wedding (congratulations Andy!). This left Josh Armit and George Gautry to fight it out for the minor placings, with Josh getting the bullet in the final race to take second and the U21 title with George third and consistent Luke Deegan and U21 Alistair Gifford 4th and 5th.
In the Radials youth, Harrison Baker was the star of the day with two wins and a third, more than enough for him to overhaul overnight leader Luke Cashmore (Y) and take the title. Luke held on for second place ahead of leading woman Olivia Christie, who tied on points with Caleb Armit (Y) but took third place on countback thanks to her two wins on Monday. Olivia's Worser Bay teammate Albert Stanley's 3rd in the final race secured 4th overall for him while Scott Leith (O) was a point back in 5th. Samantha Stock had a really consistent day to consolidate her place as the top youth woman.
In the 4.7's Daniel Brodie won a tight battle with Aidan Gordon to take out the title with a strong 2/1 day, with James Goodall from Napier ending up third after a really good contest between the trio. Ryker Green from Manly also had a great day, taking out the first race and following that up with a 3rd in the second race.
In the Masters Standard overnight leader Dave Ridley (A) only needed one decent result to secure the series but had to settle for second after a nightmare day, letting expat Matt Blakey (A) through to take the title. Continuing the expat invasion Gavin Dagley won the last race to finish 3rd overall and leading Grand Master, followed by leading Master Cris Brodie in 4th and defending champ, master Andrew Dellabarca in 5th. Gary Lock was the leading GGM in 13th overall with a couple of good top 10 finishes on the last day securing his position ahead of New Plymouth GGM John Pitman, one of the sufferer of a BFD in the days first race.
Speaking of black flags an unfortunate Richard Blakey, brother of Standards winner Matt, in the Masters Radials crossed the line first in the last race only to find he too had succumbed to the dreaded black, handing the title to defending champ Ed Tam (M) with leading GM Werner Hennig in second and Richard ending up third. GM's Kevin Jenkins from Whangarei and Hamish Atkinson from Christchurch ended 4th and 5th, with Kevin in, particular, enjoying the day with a first and 3rd in the two races.
So another Nationals is wrapped up after superb on and off the water organisation by Manly Sailing Club. Next year we head to New Plymouth, which is sure to offer a whole set of different challenges, with everyone looking forward to surfing the Tasman's ocean swells.
Nick Page
Barfoot & Thompson Laser Nationals Day 3 - Enjoyable Endurance Test
Day 3 of the Barfoot and Thompson Laser Nationals at Manly provided a bit of everything but in the end, delivered a fantastic days sailing for all. The fleet left the beach just after 11am in the rain with a 15 knot NW that then freshened to gusts of 25 knots as they did their pre-race preparation in the strong wind and rain. Come start time at midday things had changed, blue sky and flat calm and everyone wondering if we were in for another frustrating day. But just as depression set in so did a nice gusty, shifty 15-knot offshore breeze and it was all go, with the breeze holding for the rest of the day and fleets eventually completing not only their scheduled race but also a catch up one to make up for yesterday. So after about 7 hours on the water and tons of top quality racing, there were lots of smiles in the boat park, even if half the masters could hardly walk!
In the Standard Opens the 3 top 10 world ranked sailors; Sam Meech, Tom Saunders and Germany's Philipp Buhl, traded the top 3 spots all day, with Sam ending up on top overall, two points ahead of Tom with further two back to Philipp, although Philipp actually had the best of the day with 2 wins and 2 seconds. Fourth overall and leading U21 sailor is Josh Armit, who spent the day battling with Muritai's George Gautrey just behind the 3 leaders.
In the Radial Olivia Christie had a stunner of a day in the first three races (2,1,1) but had a hiccup in the days' last race to lie 4th overall and first Woman. Overall star of the day was Luke Cashmore (Y) who was super consistent (1,4,2,1) to take the overall lead by 4 points from Harrison Baker (Y), who also had a consistent day but could not quite match Luke and Olivia. Scott Leith (O) was his usual solid self to hold 3rd overall while Samantha Stock is the leading Youth Woman in 15th overall. Several other sailors including Annabelle Rennie Younger (WU21), local Matthew Rist (Y) and Bay of Islands James Sheldon (Y) managed one or two top results but found consistency challenging in the conditions, with the big shifts and pressure variations making staying at the top very challenging.
The 4.7's is coming down to a very close battle between Wakatipu's Aidan Gordon and Manly local Daniel Brodie, with Daniel holding a single point lead going into the final day. Jacob Goodall from Napier remains in contention but will need top performances tomorrow to have a chance of unseating the leading pair, while hopefully more moderate conditions tomorrow will be more to the liking of some of those who found todays condition arduous.
in the Masters Standard Dave Ridley (A) continued to show the fleet how its done, with his only blemish being in the first race of the day when he had to settle for second to Aussie expat Matt Blakey. These two sailors have established a significant lead on the balance of the fleet, with defending champ Andrew Dellabarca (M) and ex-World Grand Master titleholder Gavin Dagley (GM) a little way back but having a great tussle for 3rd place. US visitor Mike Matan had a much better day to rise out of the pack and hold 5th overall while many others struggled for top results in a very tightly packed bunch. Leading GGM is New Plymouth's John Pitman, who is narrowly leading Gary Lock.
In the Radial Masters there is a great battle for the title between defending champion Ed Tam (M), and Tamaki's Blakey clan Radial rep Richard (M), who trails Ed by a single point. Hamiltons Werner Hennig (GM) is 7 points back in third but pleased to have navigated the finish line successfully all day after yesterdays masters brain fade moment. The contest for the women's crown is also coming down to the wire, with Hamiltons Lucia Chagas (M) and Napier Gill Waiting (GGM) tied on points going into tomorrows races.
The forecast looks promising for tomorrows final day, with moderate SW offshore winds sure to again provide interesting conditions.
Nick Page
Barfoot & Thompson Laser Nationals Day 2 - Weather Frustrates
Day 2 of the Barfoot and Thompson NZ Laser Nationals dawned with a 10 knot easterly promising a great days sailing. Race 3 started bang on time at midday in a good 8-knot breeze and all 5 fleets completed the race while the breeze held. However, a rainstorm was on the horizon. By the time it arrived and passed through after the first divisions had started race 2, the wind had boxed the compass and then died completely, resulting in Race 4 being abandoned with the fleet becalmed. After a frustrating 3 hour wait, with the breeze repeatedly filling in over parts but not all the course and then dying again, the committee called it a day and the fleet returned to shore.
In the one completed race, the results followed yesterdays form in most fleets. In the Standards Tom Saunders again had the best of a close battle with Sam Meech, giving him a slim 2 point lead over Sam overall. German visitor Philipp Buhl and NZ squad member George Gautrey (U21) were very close behind the leading pair today and now sit 4th and 5th overall as they still carry UFD's from race 1 to sit behind a consistent Luke Deegan in 3rd overall.
In the Radial fleet Caleb Armit (Y) managed to squeeze past Scott Leith (O) right on the finish line to claim the bullet, with a 3rd place for Harrison Baker (Y) sufficient to keep him in the overall lead ahead of Caleb and Scott. The leading woman remains Annabelle Rennie Younger in 4th overall. She was 9th today after taking a dip off the wind but keeps a 6 point buffer from her leading competition for the women's title, Olivia Christie. Luke Cashmore, Albert Stanley and Thomas Mulcahy were all consistent again today to all stay well in contention.
In the 4.7 local Daniel Brodie had a good win to take the overall lead from yesterdays leader, Napier's Jacob Goodall, while Wakatipu's Aidan Gordon also stayed well in contention with a second.
In the Standard Masters Dave Ridley (A) continued his excellent form, taking his third bullet ahead of defending champ Andrew Dellabarca (M), with Matt Blakey's (A) 3rd keeping him in 2nd overall. In the Radial Masters defending champ Ed Tam (M) continues to hold the overall lead after a 3rd today. GM Werner Hennig took out today's race in spite of almost forgetting to go through the finish line, realising his mistake just in time to get back and hold off Richard Blakey (M) in second and Ed in a photo finish. Stew Taylor (M) and Kevin Jenkins (GM) both got top 6 results to round out a closely bunched top 5.
After today's postponement, an extra race is scheduled for all fleets tomorrow so hopefully, conditions will be favourable and allow a continuation of the top quality racing we have enjoyed to date.
Nick Page
2019 Barfoot and Thompson NZ Laser Nationals - Day 1
Three of the worlds top 10 ranked Laser sailors joined 112 others for two great races to kick off the 2019 Laser Nationals at Manly Sailing Club in Auckland. The first race was held in a light SE breeze, which faded and shifted during the race, to be replaced by a lovely 8 to 10 knot NE sea breeze for the second race of the afternoon.
Kiwi Olympic bronze medallist and world No 1 ranked Sam Meech took out the first race of the day, but had to settle for 2nd overall after the days second race, with compatriot and world No 8 Tom Saunders win in the second race of the day going with his second in race 1 to narrowly lead from Meech. Several of the other favourites including World No 2 Philipp Buhl suffered UFD's in race 1 so they will be looking to keep clean for the rest of the contest and get into the mix.
In the Radials, three sailors stood out with consistent results in both races. Youth Harrison Baker had a really strong day, backing up a runaway win in race 1 with a 3rd in race 2 to lead overall. Women's U21 Olympic hopeful Annabelle Rennie Younger, with a win in race 2 coupled with her 6th in race 1, holds second overall by 1 point from 14-year old rising star Caleb Armit, whos pair of 4th put him well and truly in contention. All the others struggled for consistency but it's early days and the likes of Women's Olympic campaigner Olivia Christie, 2nd in race 1, and this seasons leading Youth to date Luke Cashmore are sure to push the current leaders hard in coming days.
The Standard Masters fleet suffered the brunt of the dying breeze in race 1 before the sea breeze filled in, leading to many sailors having at least one dodgy result. Apprentice Dave Ridley, however, mastered the conditions all day and had a blinder with 2 bullets to lead from AusKiwi visitor Matt Blakey (A). Leading Master is Cris Brodie in 3rd overall, leading GM Gavin Dagley in 5th while Gary Lock is the leading GGM in 9th. Defending champion Andrew Dellabarca had a tough start to the regatta with a 16th in the opening race so has some work to do to defend his title.
In the Radial Masters defending champ, Ed Tam (M) carried on from last year with a pair of seconds to lead from Onerahi's Kevin Jenkins (GM), with a consistent Stew Taylor in third. Both race winners, Steve Harris (M) in race 1 and Richard Blakey (M) in race 2, struggled in the days' other race to finish the day a bit further down the order. Leading GGM is Gill Waiting from Napier.
It was great to see a 4.7 fleet on the water for the first time in several years, featuring several graduates from the host club commodore Russell Coutts O'pen Bic initiative, but it is Napier sailor Jacob Goodall who leads after day 1 from Manly's Daniel Brodie while Aidan Gordon all the way up from Queenstown in 3rd.
Tomorrow looks promising but challenging for the race committee with a moderate but clocking breeze forecast.
Complete results are on the NZLA website http://www.nzlaser.org/content/2019-nz-laser-nationals-results
Nick Page
The Barfoot & Thompson 2019 NZ National Laser Champs - Manly
Thu 10 Jan 2019 8:22am
Manly SC at Whangaparaoa turns on some great racing at a beautiful location. So we are excited to be there for the 2018 NZ Laser Champs, kindly supported by Barfoot & Thompson.
- Notice of Race
- Sailing Instructions
- Entry Form
- Entries
- Manly Club Event Notes - Boat, Car & Trolley Parking, Registration, Monday Night Meal, Bar, Food & Beverages
- Friday to Tuesday 11th to 15th January 2019
- Registration and Measuring Fri & Sat 11th and 12th
- 4 days racing Sat to Tues 12th to 15th
- There may be early measuring on Thursday afternoon
- Free coaching Thursday & Friday - 11 am start
- Regatta entry $200. NZ sailors must belong to the NZLA. If you need to join it's an additional $60.
- Monday Night Meal - 6:30 pm Gourmet Pizza at Manly Bowling Club, $20 (or $12if under 14)
- Notes on getting your boat measured
- Volunteers Needed
- T-Shirts
- South Island sailors - see the YNZ Bluebridge Ferry Discount
Judging Notices
Schedule
| Thursday |
11am - free coaching rigged and ready. Early measuring Thursday afternoon. |
| Friday |
11am - free coaching rigged and ready. 10am to 5pm measuring Registration in the afternoon |
| Saturday |
8am to 9am - late measuring (but try to avoid this time) 11am briefing Racing - 1pm first warning |
| Sunday |
Racing - 12 noon first warning |
| Monday |
Racing - 12 noon first warning 6:30pm Gourmet Pizza meal at the bowling club |
| Tuesday |
Racing - 12 noon first warning Prize giving |
2019 NZ Laser Champs Entries
Thu 10 Jan 2019 8:19amUpdated 8am 10 Jan
| First Name | Last Name | Sail Number | Fleet | Nationality | Yacht Club |
| Max | Beck | 190321 | Laser 4.7 Under 18 | Muritai Yacht Club | |
| Jacob | Goodall | 196410 | Laser 4.7 Under 18 | Napier Sailing Club | |
| Cameron | Holding | NZL 42618 | Laser 4.7 Under 18 | Manly Sailing Club | |
| Pann | Lastennet | NZL 19883 | Laser 4.7 Under 18 | Thai-French | Manly Sailing Club |
| BLAKE | NELSON | NZL44238 | Laser 4.7 Under 18 | MANLY SAILING CLUB | |
| Jayden | Abbott | 205920 | Laser Radial Open | Torbay Sailing Club | |
| Rachel | Glenn | n/a | Laser Radial Open | American | Encinal Yacht Club |
| Jason | Hewitt | n/a | Laser Radial Open | HYC | |
| Scott | Leith | 208521 | Laser Radial Open | Murrays Bay Sailing Club | |
| Brad | Salthouse | 192642 | Laser Radial Open | Torbay Sailing | |
| Alex | Wood | n/a | Laser Radial Open | Manly | |
| Olivia | Christie | 209279 | Laser Radial Women | Worser Bay Boating Club | |
| Julia | Francis | 208518 | Laser Radial Women | Murrays bay sailing club | |
| Sally | Hill | 197253 | Laser Radial Women | Naval Point Club Lyttelton | |
| Annabelle | Rennie-Younger | 211516 | Laser Radial Women | MBSC | |
| Courtney | Reynolds-Smith | 208359 | Laser Radial Women | MBSC | |
| Caleb | Armit | 209259 | Laser Radial Youth | MBSC | |
| Harrison | Baker | 199215 | Laser Radial Youth | Torbay Sailing Club | |
| Jack | Bennett | N/A | Laser Radial Youth | QCYC | |
| Isabella | Boyd | 208341 | Laser Radial Youth | Wakatere | |
| Luke | Cashmore | 212257 | Laser Radial Youth | Wakatere Boating Club | |
| Chester | Duffett | 192303 | Laser Radial Youth | MCC | |
| Chester | Duffett | 192303 | Laser Radial Youth | MCC | |
| Henry | Elworthy | 206381 | Laser Radial Youth | MBSC | |
| Laura | Erichsen | 177768 | Laser Radial Youth | Manly Sailing Club | |
| Jaime | Framis Harguindey | 150057 | Laser Radial Youth | Spain | Bay of island yatch club |
| Fin | Georgeson | 199211 | Laser Radial Youth | Plimmerton Boating Club | |
| Josh | Gilmore | 214440 | Laser Radial Youth | Napier Sailing Club | |
| Ollie | Gilmour | 185805 | Laser Radial Youth | RBC/PCYC/MBBC | |
| Henry | Goodall | 210160 | Laser Radial Youth | Napier Sailing Club | |
| Aidan | Gordon | 148935 | Laser Radial Youth | Wakatipu | |
| Ryan | Harden | 211559 | Laser Radial Youth | Wakatere Boating Club | |
| Noah | Hengst | 195540 | Laser Radial Youth | Napier Sailing Club | |
| Quinn | Kusanic | 210823 | Laser Radial Youth | Bay of Islands | |
| Jack | Lee Rush | 210821 | Laser Radial Youth | Wakatere Boating Club | |
| Nicholas | Mannering | 162135 | Laser Radial Youth | Napier Sailing Club | |
| Max | McLachlan | 195544 | Laser Radial Youth | NPCL | |
| Thomas | Mulcahy | n/a | Laser Radial Youth | Murrays Bay Sailing Club | |
| Greta | Pilkington | 211574 | Laser Radial Youth | WBC | |
| Matthew | Rist | 170546 | Laser Radial Youth | Manly Sailing Club | |
| James | Sheldon | 196868 | Laser Radial Youth | Bay of islands yacht club | |
| Albert | Stanley | 209281 | Laser Radial Youth | Worser Bay Boating Club | |
| Samantha | Stock | 210825 | Laser Radial Youth | MBSC | |
| Ryan | Tait | 136709 | Laser Radial Youth | Paremata BC/Worser Bay BC | |
| Blake | Wood | 161589 | Laser Radial Youth | Manly | |
| Josh | Armit | 212259 | Laser Standard Open | MBSC | |
| Philipp | Buhl | 191131 | Laser Standard Open | GER | SCAI |
| Andrew | Child | 187890 | Laser Standard Open | Taipa sailing club | |
| Luke | Deegan | 214992 | Laser Standard Open | Pupuke BC | |
| Dean | Drummond | 181944 | Laser Standard Open | Pupuke | |
| Teakuao | Framhein | n/a | Laser Standard Open | RSC (Rarotonga Sailing Club) | |
| george | george | 211664 | Laser Standard Open | Muritai Yacht club | |
| Alastair | Gifford | 212252 | Laser Standard Open | QCYC | |
| Mark | Hodren | 208523 | Laser Standard Open | Queen Charlotte yacht club | |
| Jin Hwan | Lee | 206034 | Laser Standard Open | Chungnam Yacht Club | |
| JinHwan | Lee | 206034 | Laser Standard Open | Korea | Chungnam Yacht Club |
| Rohan | Lord | Na | Laser Standard Open | Pbc and tbc | |
| Sam | MEECH | 214435 | Laser Standard Open | TYPBC | |
| Tim | Pitcaithly | 181965 | Laser Standard Open | Naval point club | |
| John | Pitman | 211512 | Laser Standard Open | New Plymouth | |
| Ross | Roberts | 187891 | Master Radial Apprentice (35-44) | Tamaki Yacht Club | |
| Ross | Roberts | 187891 | Master Radial Apprentice (35-44) | Tamaki Yacht Club | |
| Hamish | Atkinson | 199057 | Master Radial Grand Master (55-64) | Npcl | |
| Ian | Dobson | 170538 | Master Radial Grand Master (55-64) | Point Chevalier Sailing Club | |
| Robert | English | 174322 | Master Radial Grand Master (55-64) | Vauxhall Yacht Club | |
| Mark | Hursthouse | 163947 | Master Radial Grand Master (55-64) | Pupuke Boating Club | |
| Jo | Jackman | 167047 | Master Radial Grand Master (55-64) | Napier Sailing Club | |
| Kevin | Jenkins | 186656 | Master Radial Grand Master (55-64) | Onerahi | |
| Helen | Spencer | 171132 | Master Radial Grand Master (55-64) | HYC & TYPBC | |
| Rick | Spencer | 193138 | Master Radial Grand Master (55-64) | HYC & TYPBC | |
| Chris | Trudgen | 205848 | Master Radial Grand Master (55-64) | muritai yacht club | |
| Georgi | Yankov | 210822 | Master Radial Grand Master (55-64) | Pupuke Boating Club | |
| Bob | Blakey | 212260 | Master Radial Great Grand Master (65+) | Tamaki YC | |
| Gill | Waiting | 188800 | Master Radial Great Grand Master (65+) | Napier sailing club | |
| Dragos | Blaga | 186660 | Master Radial Master (45-54) | Vauxhall Yacht Club - Dunedin | |
| Richard | Blakey | 212249 | Master Radial Master (45-54) | Tamaki Yacht Club | |
| Mike | Knowsley | 202918 | Master Radial Master (45-54) | Tamaki YC | |
| Edmund | Tam | 202441 | Master Radial Master (45-54) | Worser Bay Boating Club | |
| Stew | Taylor | 192278 | Master Radial Master (45-54) | Worser Bay Boating Club | |
| Simon | Beck | 161275 | Master Standard Apprentice (35-44) | Muritai Yacht Club | |
| Matt | Blakey | 197259 | Master Standard Apprentice (35-44) | PMYC | |
| dave | ridley | 215052 | Master Standard Apprentice (35-44) | pbc/ mcc | |
| Ric | Carr | 198106 | Master Standard Grand Master (55-64) | Port Ohope Yacht Club | |
| gavin | dagley | 210818 | Master Standard Grand Master (55-64) | Port Melbourne YC | |
| Lachlan | Hill | 197253 | Master Standard Grand Master (55-64) | NPCL | |
| David | Lowe | N/a | Master Standard Grand Master (55-64) | Pupuke boating club | |
| Mark | Macintosh | 196879 | Master Standard Grand Master (55-64) | Port Ohope Yacht Club | |
| Mark | Patterson | 162087 | Master Standard Grand Master (55-64) | Pupuke BC | |
| Chris | Sadler | 210816 | Master Standard Grand Master (55-64) | Tamaki Yacht Club | |
| Paul | Thomas | 198105 | Master Standard Grand Master (55-64) | Worser Bay Boating Club | |
| Roger | Winton | 202689 | Master Standard Grand Master (55-64) | Onerahi Yacht Club | |
| Richard | Dreverman | 202583 | Master Standard Great Grand Master (65+) | Australian | Vaucluse Yacht Club |
| Sandy | Grigg | 188808 | Master Standard Great Grand Master (65+) | Tamaki Y C | |
| Garry | Lock | 196909 | Master Standard Great Grand Master (65+) | RNZYS | |
| Ian | Wallace | 192308 | Master Standard Great Grand Master (65+) | PLSC | |
| Doug | Anderson | 195538 | Master Standard Master (45-54) | PCSC | |
| Robert | Anderson | 168881 | Master Standard Master (45-54) | KYC | |
| Ken | Atchison | 192705 | Master Standard Master (45-54) | Hamilton Yacht Club | |
| Cris | Brodie | NZL 174323 | Master Standard Master (45-54) | Manly Sailing Club | |
| Charlie | Buckingham | 183898 | Master Standard Master (45-54) | USA | NHYC |
| Don | Christie | n/a | Master Standard Master (45-54) | Worser Bay Boating Club | |
| Andrew | Dellabarca | 214438 | Master Standard Master (45-54) | Worser Bay Boating Club | |
| Michael | Gray | 161265 | Master Standard Master (45-54) | Worser Bay Boating Club | |
| steve | harris | 208790 | Master Standard Master (45-54) | wbbc | |
| Mike | Matan | 208838 | Master Standard Master (45-54) | USA | RYA |
| Tony | Nicholson | n/a | Master Standard Master (45-54) | Pupuke | |
| Greg | Wilshire | 210507 | Master Standard Master (45-54) | Pupuke | |
| Rob | Woodward | 208529 | Master Standard Master (45-54) | Worser Bay Boating Club | |
2019 Barfoot & Thompson Laser Nationals Preview
Wed 2 Jan 2019 9:35pm
Entries are still open but with less than 2 weeks to go until racing gets underway at Manly Sailing Club in the 2019 Barfoot & Thompson Laser Nationals a large fleet is expected, with strong fields shaping up in all divisions.
In the Open Standards 2016 Olympic Bronze medallist and current World No 1 ranked San Meech must be the favourite but he will face challenges from several other NZ aspirants for the 2020 Olympic spot. These include Tom Saunders, also currently ranked in the World Sailing top 10, last years World Youth Champion Josh Armit, who has moved into the Standards for the first time this season after dominating the Radial in recent years and Wellingtonian George Gautry.
Excellent Radial fleets at this season's early regattas show that the Radial division is extremely strong and promises to be a close and interesting battle. Recent Sir Peter Blake Trophy winner and women's Olympic aspirant Olivia Christie will probably rank as favourite but is facing strong challenges from many directions including fellow women's Olympic hopeful Annabell Rennie Younger, top youth sailors including Luke Cashmore, Harrison Baker, Caleb Armit and Samantha Stock and multiple World Masters champion Scott Leith, who has again chosen to sail in the open division and keep the younger sailors honest.
In the Masters Standard a strong local contingent led by 2018 winner Andrew Dellabarca (M) and runner-up in the recent Fiji Oceania Master Championship Dave Ridley (A) will be facing multiple international challenges. Top expat AusKiwis Matt Blakey (A) and ex-Grand Masters World Champion Gavin Dagley (GM) are entered together with a couple of top US Masters sailors, Charlie Buckingham and Mike Matan, who have obviously decided summer racing at Manly is just too good an opportunity to miss!
In the Masters Radial 2018 champion Ed Tam is back to defend his title and is sure to be well prepared and hard to beat as usual. He is again expected to face challenges from several of last years top 5 including South Island Radial GM Hamish Atkinson and fellow top Masters Mike Knowsley and Werner Henig.
The contest will be preceded by a two-day free coaching clinic open to all contest entries. With coaches including World No 1 Sam Meech and top women's sailor Olivia Christie its got to be a once in a lifetime opportunity to get the winning formula from the best Laser sailors in the world right now so get your contest entry in and get to Manly Thursday morning to be part of the coaching clinic.
Nick Page
Coaching - 2019 NZ National Laser Champs
Sun 30 Dec 2018 6:05pm
There will be free coaching and practice racing at the 2019 NZ National Laser Champs.
Come and learn from New Zealand's top Laser sailors. It's a fast an efficient way to push yourself and get tuned into the Manly venue conditions.
Thursday 10th January - rigged and ready by 11 am.
Provisional coaches, winner of the Sir Peter Blake regatta Olivia Christie and George Gautrey.
Friday 11th January - rigged and ready by 11 am.
Provisional coaches, Olympic medalist Sam Meech and Matt Kempkers.
2018 Canterbury Laser Champs Results & Report
Wed 19 Dec 2018 3:35pm
On the weekend of 15th,16th December, we had 21 Full rig Lasers, 3 Radials, and two 4.7’s racing on the Christchurch estuary for the Canterbury Laser Champs. The Fleet launched from both CYC and Mt Pleasant Yacht Club.
Saturday and Sunday saw light NE winds of between 5-8 knots. There was a tidal window to get the 3 races in each day. Races were around 35 minutes length and outer 2 courses were sailed.
Competitors were from CYC, Mt Pleasant, and Naval Point.
2018 South Island Laser Champs Report & Results
Sun 9 Dec 2018 5:56pmThe South Island Laser Champs were held at Nelson Sailing Club on December 1st and 2nd.
There were 18 Radials and 4 Full rigs entered from Dunedin, Christchurch, Nelson and Picton.
On Saturday, sailors were held on shore until about noon (beats sitting on a millpond!). We then sailed out to the start line which felt like a race and a half in itself. The winds were 3-5 knots WSW moving to WNW later in the day and then dying away altogether after 3 races were done and dusted.
