New Zealand Laser Association

The Queensland Laser Association in conjunction with Australian Sailing is running two Coaching Clinics with Brett Beyer in the lead up to the Australian National Masters at Mooloolaba. The two camps will run from the 3rd to the 4th of February 2018, and from 6th to the 7th of February 2018 and will be held offshore at Mooloolaba.

More Details

Sam Meech narrowly beat Tom Saunders by just 2 points after the medal race for 3rd place at the world champs test event in Aaarhus, Denmark.
Sam has his worst day on the first day - before regaining his composure to catch up over the rest of the regatta.
Yachting NZ Article

Thomas Saunders - care of YNZ
 

The Australian and Oceania Laser Masters is being held

• at Mooloolaba on the Sunshine Coast
• from the 9th to 12th February 2018
• www.lasermasters2018.com

"We have organised Brett Beyer to hold a Laser Master Class coaching clinic for two days at Mooloolaba on Tuesday 6th and Wednesday 7th immediately before the Masters. Cost will be $250. Max 10 entries - if more we will get Mitch Kennedy from the Australian Laser Sailing Team as an assistant coach and then expand to max 20."

If you are interested contact Queensland chairman Michael Wilson, Michael Wilson <wilsomichael58@gmail.com>, 0417 758 859.

They have confirmed that Kiwis are very welcome and they won't even include too many false tips!

Congratulations to Murray's Bay sailor Josh Armit who won the under 17 division of the 2017 Laser Radial Youth Worlds
The Murrays Bay sailor came remarkable 4th overall in the regatta which was sailed this year at Medemblik, in the Netherlands.

This fine result is not too much of s surprise for those of us who have watched and occasionally sailed against Josh (well were in the same race).

• 2017 Laser Radial Youth Worlds Results
• And on Facebook
• Yachting NZ Article on Josh's win

Did you know the NZLA is on Facebook?

Hi Everyone

Firstly thanks for the great turnout at the WMG and what a fantastic event, both on and off the water.

So many Lasers, such beautiful weather, such great racing and fantastic apres-sailing made it one of the best regattas I have been to and I hope all of you enjoyed it as much as I did.

So before you mothball the boat for the winter I thought I would rattle everyone's cage and get you to think about some opportunities to build on all you learned at Torbay.

1. Club sailing - keep the boat warm, make the effort and sail regularly at your club and keep the momentum going, which will get others to follow in your footsteps.

2. Next up - Queens Birthday Regatta at Port Ohope - 4th and 5th of June

3. Take a holiday South Pacific Laser Masters, Royal Queensland, Brisbane July 21st - 24th. Forget the dreary NZ weather, pop over to Brisbane for a long weekend in the warmth for what is always a good fleet, close racing and a great social program at one of the neatest venues in this part of the world. Charter boats will be available.

4. If you thought 170 Lasers at Torbay was good and the competition tough why not try 350 Lasers in Split, Croatia in September at the Laser Masters Worlds. If you want to go you need to get on and register smartly on the ILCA website as the event will be fully subscribed but hopefully all Kiwis that want to go will get a slot.

5. Forget the winter and start to plan for next summer, it's not that far away. There will be many great events but a few big ones to think about and to put in the diary;

• North Island in Napier, last weekend of November (25th & 26th) - always a warm welcome and a good fleet.
• NZ Nationals in Christchurch, Naval Point,  17th to 21st January. Plenty of SI sailors made it to Torbay so let's return the favour and all get down to Christchurch.
• Australian Laser Masters Nationals - Mooloolaba, Sunshine Coast, 9th to 12th February. Plenty of Aussies made the effort to come here for the WMG so let's return the favour. I believe they are targeting a fleet of 250 and need a few Kiwis to keep them honest. Charter boats will be available and the sailing conditions on the ocean off Mooloolaba promise to be awesome.

There will also be the usual range of local and inter-club regattas to get your teeth into. Check the NZLA website regularly.

So plenty of places to build on what you learned at Torbay and plenty more fun to be had. 

See you on the water somewhere.

Regards

Nick Page

2017 NZ Laser Rankings for all divisions excluding Masters.

Any questions please;

• first check the Selection Policies
• then contact Nick Page

PSA will have the long awaited class legal Laser carbon top section available from 1st February 2017.
They are AUD850 in australia - with preorders accepted for AUD100 online at the PSA site.
 

In NZ they will be available from Dan Slater at The Watershed.

We are now taking pre orders for Feb delivery total cost is $1042 and the deposit is $200.
Sailors can call and make a CC deposit and the freight we will discuss at Nationals when we have more details but  would like to combine areas orders and freight.
- Dan Slater
 

The official word from the ILCA below:

Long waits then light and tricky breezes at the 2017 Sir Peter Blake Regatta on 3rd & 4th Dec.

All Results

Dear Sir/ Madam,

On the 19th of November 2016 at the International Laser Class Association “ILCA” annual general meeting the World Council voted to change the geographic boundaries of the Asia Pacific region into Asia and Oceania.

There are many reasons for this decision but the main one was to be geographically inline with the International Olympic Council “IOC” and their view on the five Continents around the World as described by the five Olympic rings in the Olympic trade mark logo. Oceania is one of those rings.
This new region for laser, Oceania will incorporate all Pacific Island Nations and Australia and New Zealand. While it is early days the Oceania Laser Committee will work out the best way to run a viable Oceania Laser Continental Championships annually that will gain the respect of the IOC and World Sailing “WS” and set a bench mark for other ILCA regions to follow.

In the future it is hoped that this Event will attract WS points and eventually be an Olympic selection Regatta for Oceania and ILCA member Countries.
This initiative will create an opportunity for increased participation in Youth, Open and Master Sailing that will lead to stronger laser class racing in the Region.
In the mean time all Oceania Countries not registered or financial with the peak body ILCA should become financial and compliant. Details ILCA Web site.
Things like web sites and better communications will be resolved over time and I will send information when it comes available, so be proud and be involved and we all will be winners.

Thank You
Ken Hurling
OAM ILCA Oceania Chair
LASERSAILFORLIFE