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2018 Auckland Laser Champs - Torbay

Mon 19 Feb 2018 8:00am
Results

Nice sea breezes and a particularly strong youth Radial fleet were the features of the 2018 Auckland Laser Champs held at Torbay on 17th and 18th February.

Saturday saw the sea breeze fill in early, with 10-15 knots for the 3 races and a decent chop. Sunday was overcast and the breeze never really got above about 8 knots but still provided good racing.

In the 30 boat Radial fleet, Luke Cashmore had an excellent weekend, winning 4 of the 6 races to take out the championship. Behind him Torbay local Harrison Baker had was also exceptionally consistent, particularly on the Sunday with 3-second places. Third overall was Master Phil Wild, keeping the youth fleet honest, as did Susannah Pyatt who had two good wins on Saturday but was not able to sail Sunday. The Torbay youth squad stood out overall with Jayden Abbott, Ryan Harden and Logan Beckman in 4th, 5th and 6th all having a good weekend on the water.

In the Standards there was a repeat of the contest from the recent Nationals in Christchurch with National Masters Champ Andrew Dellabarca making the trip up from Wellington worthwhile, taking out the contest from local Ian Baker with Cris Brodie third. GGM John Pitman from New Plymouth had an exceptional Sunday, winning two of the races to come in 4th overall, clearly preferring Sundays lighter condition.

 

Ed's Wellington Laser Sailing Update - February 2018

Tue 13 Feb 2018 3:28pm
Hello All,
 
Here is a quick update to keep you informed on recent news and also a few details about the forthcoming events.
 
The Wellington Laser Champs will be hosted by Muritai Yacht Club as part of the Wellington Centreboard Regatta on the 10th of March 2018. The notice of race will soon be available on the WAY website: http://www.sporty.co.nz/wya
We are hoping to have this event added to the overall NZ ranking ladder for both the Masters and Open divisions.
The 2018 Laser Nationals were held at the Naval Point Club in Lyttleton. The regatta was held in spectacularly warm conditions with a predominately moderate easterly breeze and big waves. The Wellington fleet was well represented with podium results in the Youth, Open, Women, and Masters categories. Here is a summary of the Wellington sailors results:
  • Don Christie                                        7th Laser Standard Masters
  • Olivia Christie                                      7th Radial 3rd Radial Woman
  • Andrew Dellabacca                             1st Laser Standard Masters
  • George Gautrey                                  2nd Laser Standard Open
  • Bruce Jones                                        7th Radial Grand Masters
  • Albert Stanley                                      5th Radial Open and 2nd Radial Youth
  • Edmund Tam                                       1st Radial Masters
  • Paul Thomas                                      3rd Laser Standard Grand Master
  • Jack Tripe                                           9th Radial Open and 5th Youth
  • Rob Woodward                                   2nd Laser Standard Masters
Check out the following link for further results and a post-regatta report from the NZLA President -Nick Page: http://www.nzlaser.org/content/sheffield-2018-nz-national-laser-champs-naval-point
 
3. Oceanbridge NZL Regatta Murrays Bay 3 – 4th February 2018 results:
 
Laser Standard:
  • 4th George Gautrey
  • 9th Andrew Dellabacca
 
Laser Radial
  • 5th Albert Stanley
  • 11th Jack Tripe (6th Youth)
  • 4th Olivia Christie (2nd Female)

4. International Events and applications for entry:
  • Laser Masters World Championship- 7 -15 September 2018. Entry applications are open from 1 March 2018
  • 2018 Laser Radial Youth Championships – 18 – 25 August 2018. Entry applications are open from 1 March
  • 2018 Laser & Laser Radial Under 21 World Championships – Poland 1 – 8 July 2018. Entry Applications are now open.
Check on the laserinternational.org site for further details
 
5. Attention Worser Bay Laser sailors -The 2nd Worser Bay Beach Carnival is set to be held on Sunday the 4th of March 2018. In order to prepare for this event the WBBC laser fleet has been tasked with assisting to set-up the tents prior to the start of the carnival @ 8am and also to help pack up at 3pm. If I could please get some WBBC laser volunteers to assist it would be most appreciated – It was a fantastic event last well worth attending with a wide variety of water and land-based events as well as some great food.
 
6. Boats wanted / for sale. There are a couple of people that are currently in the market for boats. If you are thinking of selling a boat please let me know and I can refer you on to the interested parties.
 
7. Zephyrs National Championships - 22 – 25 February 2018 Worser Bay. Rob Bryant is still looking for a few volunteers. If you are available to help please email Rob at robdebbryant@gmail.com
 
8. Events in Auckland:

9. Be sure to check out the ‘Wellington Laser Masters’ facebook page for local and international events and news as well as the odd repost of any useful sailing tips and articles. Please feel free to click ’like’ on any content that you find useful or interesting so we can continue to put up relevant material and stop posting items that are not of interest.
 
If you have any feedback or suggestions then please let me know.
 
Regards,
Edmund Tam

Oceania & Australian Laser Masters - Mooloolaba

Tue 13 Feb 2018 3:24pm
Well if you ever get an opportunity to sail a Laser regatta in Mooloolaba in the future TAKE IT.
 
Blue skies, beautiful 10 to 15 knot onshore winds everyday, real ocean swells, 30+ degree air temperatures, 160 odd boats (even if they were mostly Aussies!), excellent race management and easy rigging and launching in the estuary combined to deliver a near perfect regatta. The Standards all sailed as a single fleet, 70 boats on the start line posing some interesting starting challenges, while the Radials were split with the GGM's and Legends sailing in a separate fleet from the rest
 
The Kiwi contingent of 9 all enjoyed the regatta, why wouldn't you, and left with a few Aussie cubes in hand after 10 races over the 4-day long weekend. A standout was Matt Blakey, sailing under NZL even though he is currently resident on the wrong side of the ditch. He just missed winning the Standards on count back to the legendary Brett Bayer but took home the Apprentice champions cube. I managed to put together a consistent regatta for 12th overall and collected a cube for 4th placed GM. Cris Brodie also had a strong regatta for 13th overall, including what was almost an all the way win in race 9, just getting pipped at the post by Aussie Apprentice Nick Skulander. The other kiwis in the Standard fleet battled for consistency and ended up mid-fleet although all had races in the top bunch.
 
In the Radials, Hamish Atkinson was the standout kiwi and ended up 7th overall and winning a cube for 4th GM, with a win in race 8 being the highlight of his weekend. Roger Winton started the regatta on fire, being in the top 5 after 2 days, but found the slightly windier conditions on days 3 and 4 more challenging and ended up 9th overall.
 
Nick Page

Auckland Laser Champs - Torbay - Saturday 17th and Sunday 18th February 2018

Wed 7 Feb 2018 2:18pm
Well if you sailed in the Nationals and Oceanbridge you will be all warmed up and if you missed them you have missed some fantastic sailing so this is your chance for some quality big fleet racing this summer.
 
We all know Torbay is a great venue so the Auckland Champs on the 17th & 18th of February will be a great opportunity for everyone to get together and enjoy two days of quality racing. So wash the car and mow the lawns on the Friday, cancel the wedding, ignore the homework and get to Torbay and enjoy two days of quality racing at the last of the big 3 Laser events for this summer. 
 
See the Notice of Race and entry is on the day.
We look forward to seeing you all there.
 
Nick Page

The Sheffield 2018 NZ National Laser Champs - Naval Point

Tue 6 Feb 2018 5:12pm

A great regatta with excellent sailing conditions, expertly run by Naval Point Club Lyttelton.

We were generously supported by Sheffield - sourcing, selecting and shaping leaders - sheffield.co.nz

Report - Final Day - Sheffield 2018 NZ National Laser Champs

Sun 21 Jan 2018 8:37pm
Favorites Bring it Home
 
The final day of the 2018 Laser Nationals at Naval Point Club Lyttelton was another ripper, with a nice 10-12 knot sea breeze arriving on schedule just before midday, allowing the scheduled 2 races to be completed in short order and the winners crowned in all divisions.
 
In the Open Standards, Andrew McKenzie (Akarana) made it a triple by winning both races to win his third NZ Laser Championship in a row in emphatic fashion. He battled with George Gautrey (Muritai) all day, with the two closer than Siamese twins much of the time, but George was, unfortunately, UFD in race 9 ending up 2nd overall and winning the U21 trophy. Alastair Gifford (Queen Charlotte) and Matt Kempkers (Wakatere)  continued their battle with Alastair doing enough to hold off Matt for the 3rd slot in spite of Matt having the better of the day. 
 
In the Radials Josh Armit (Murrays Bay) continued his emphatic domination of the series, winning both races to finish unbeaten in the regatta. It was a fine performance by the World U17 Laser champion Josh who was simply too good for the opposition this week. Second on countback was World Laser Masters champion Scott Leith (Murrays Bay), who's 3/2 results today were just enough to overhaul Women's title winner, club mate Susannah Pyatt. Annabel Rennie-Younger, also from the strong Murrays Bay squad had a consistent series to capture 4th overall ahead of Youths Albert Stanley (Worser Bay) and Luke Cashmore (Wakatere) who both showed a lot of promise with strong series overall. In the very tight battle for supremacy in the Women's Youth division Elly Warren's results today were just good enough to take the title, sneaking past Samantha Stock who had led from day 1.
 
In the Masters Andrew Dellabarca (M, Worser Bay) scored a  2/1 today which was well and truly enough to secure the title ahead of Ian Baker (AM) from Torbay, who again showed his strength upwind in the sea breeze to take out race 9 and be close to Dellabarca again with a second in Race 10. Behind these two it was a close battle with the order of the next 6 Masters all depending on the result of the last 2 races. In the end it was Master Rob Woodward from Worser Bay who edged ahead of the pack to take out a well deserved third spot ahead of a rapidly improving Kent Copplestone (AM, Rotorua) in 4th and Pupuke's Tony Nicholson in 5th. Nick Page was the leading Grand Master in 7th overall.
 
In the Masters Radial Ed Tam (M) put the contest beyond doubt with two bullets today to win from local GM Hamish Atkinson. In third place was Jenny Armstrong (M) from Ravensbourne, competing in her first Laser Masters nationals and certainly showing the fleet she will be a force to be reckoned with in future. Mike Knowsley (M, Tamaki) had a consistent day to hold onto 4th overall from Hamiltons Werner Hennig in 5th. Another successful Radial Master today was Werner's club-mate Scott McDougall, who took out the major spot prize of a new sail thanks to Dan at Watershed.
 
So another really successful Laser Nationals is complete, with all races completed to schedule and wonderful regatta and race management thanks to the efforts of the Naval Point Club and their band of volunteers. Next year the contest will be at Manly so we look forward to another strong fleet there.
 
Nick Page
NZLA
 

Photos - Sheffield 2018 NZ National Laser Champs

Sun 21 Jan 2018 8:35am


Andrew McKenzie


Susannah Pyatt


George Gautrey & Rohan Lord

Report - Day 3 - Sheffield 2018 NZ National Laser Champs

Sun 21 Jan 2018 8:35am
Leaders Consolidate
 
Day 3 provided a classic day with a bit of everything weather wise giving everyone a chance at a top result. It was another hot Christchurch day with temperatures in the early 30's and the fleet was initially held ashore waiting for a breeze but by midday, a light southerly had set in so PRO Ross May got the fleet on the water and headed over to Charteris Bay for the start of race 6. The breeze was a patchy 5 to 8 knots with an outgoing tide, which proved a challenge to many, although the top Open and Radial sailors showed their class, consolidating their positions at the top of the fleet. The Southerly then died and after an hour or so wait a really solid sea breeze blowing up to about 20 knots accompanied by a good seaway came in for the subsequent two races of the day.
 
In the Standard Open fleet, last years champion Andrew McKenzie and Muritai's George Gautrey were in a class of their own, with Andrew (2/1/1) again just taking the honours for the day from George (1/2/2) to consolidate his claim to this year's title. Alastair Gifford and Matt Kempkers continued to fight it out for the third spot with Alastair holding a nice 5 point margin over Matt going into the final day tomorrow while a consistent Rohan Lord managed a 4th in race 7 to break the monopoly of the top 4.
 
  
 
In the Radial, World Youth champion Josh Armit continued his seemingly unstoppable progress to the title, winning all 3 of today's races convincingly to retain his perfect score. In contrast, the contest for second is extremely close with Susannah Pyatt holding just a 1 point lead over Scott Leith. Scott had a shocker in race 1 today so now both Scott and Susannah have serious discards so both will be looking for 2 good races tomorrow as they endeavour to secure second spot. Behind then everyone had a bit of a mixed day, with Albert Stanley continuing to hold 4th spot and second in the Youths while Annabel Rennie Younger is second in the Women's and 5th overall. In the Radial Youth Womens Samantha Stock holds onto a two-point advantage over Elly Warren, with tomorrows two races critical to deciding the winner and who will go into the NZL regatta in front in the World Youth Womens selection contest.

   
 
In spite of "observations" from a few Masters about how to survive 3 races a day both Masters fleets again enjoyed excellent racing. In the Standard Masters Andrew Dellabarca (M) had a hiccup in race 7 with an OCS but a 1/2 in the other two races still has him in front of Ian Baker (AM) by 6 points going into the final day in spite of Ian winning both today's windy races. Rob Woodward (M) moved into a clear third overall while Nick Page continues to lead the GM's but slipped to 5th overall after a poor effort in race 7  to sit just a point behind Pupuke club mate Tony Nicholson (M) who moved up to 4th overall. 
 
All the leaders in the Masters Radial found the light race a challenge but the status quo was re-established with the onset of the sea breeze to leave Ed Tam (M) leading from Hamish Atkinson (GM) with yesterdays star Jenny Armstrong  (WM) holding 3rd after posting the most consistent 3 race results for the day with a 4/2/2.
 
With only one discard allowable everyone will need at least one good result tomorrow. The forecast is again looking a little tricky tomorrow but hopefully, the predicted sea breeze will eventuate early enough to allow the final 2 races to be completed as scheduled before the 15:30 cutoff time.
 
Nick Page 
NZLA

Report - Day 2 - Sheffield 2018 NZ National Laser Champs

Fri 19 Jan 2018 8:27pm
Weatherman and weather agree
 
The supercomputers agreed with the weather gods today and we enjoyed 3 great races in a lovely 10-15 knot sea breeze, pretty much what was forecast. Everybody was ready to go at the midday start time but the PRO decided to wait half an hour for the sea breeze to settle in. There was a bit of ebb left in the tide when race 3 started at 12.30, enough to catch bag a few OCS's, but from then on the sea breeze settled, the tide turned, the cloud cleared and we enjoyed a beautiful day's sailing on excellent courses.
 
In  the Open Standards Andrew McKenzie (Kohi) and George Gautrey (Muritai) continued to battle it out at the front of the fleet with Andrew again winning the day with a 1/2/1, but having had to conceded one to George, who sailed a blinder to take out Race 4 and log a 2/1/2 for the day. The extra breeze today suited Matt Kempkers (Wakatere) who put together a 4/3/3 for the day but still trails 3rd placed Alastair Gifford from Queen Charlotte in the overall standings.
 
In the Open Radial fleet, there was no stopping Josh Armit (Murrays Bay) who really showed why he won the U17 worlds, being dominant in all 3 races today to reach the halfway point of the contest with a perfect score. Behind him, his Murrays Bay teammates, Women's Olympic hopeful Susannah Pyatt and Masters champion Scott Leith, had a close battle with Scott's 2/3/2 just pipping Susannah's 3/2/3. With the discard getting rid of Susannah's OCS from yesterdays race 1 these two are only separated by a single point going into day 3. Annabel Rennie Younger again had a solid day to hold 4th overall although Albert Stanley and Olivia Christie both had great days and are not far behind 5th and 6th. Samantha Stock continues to lead the Youth Women although Elly Warren found the conditions much more to her liking and closed the gap on Samantha considerably.
 
In the Masters Standard, the extra breeze was to the liking of Finn convert Ian Baker (Torbay), who flew upwind to take two Masters wins and jump up to second overall. However also enjoying the conditions was Wellingtonian and past champ Andrew Dellabarca, who scored a 2/1/2 to continue to lead overall. Behind these two there is a close group of aspirants, currently led by Nick Page (Pupuke) in 3rd overall, despite his succumbing to the outgoing tide start line trap in race 3, with a consistent Rob Woodward (Worser Bay) in 4th, while Cris Brodie (Pupuke) is now 5th after suffering speed wobbles and joining the Lyttelton Swimming Club in the last 2 races of the day.
 
In the Masters Radial local hero Hamish Atkinson found conditions a bit tougher today, scoring a 3/3/2 to sit equal on points with Ed Tam, who's 2/2/1 for the day looked impressive. However undisputed Radial Masters star of the day was ex-Olympian Jenny Armstrong (Dunedin) who gave the guys a sailing lesson and took out the first 2 races  of the day and now sits 3rd overall, tied with a consistent Werner Hennig (Hamilton) on points, just one ahead of Mike Knowsley who also had an extremely consistent day.
 
With the contest now at the halfway mark, it is difficult to think of any more ideal sailing conditions than we have enjoyed so far. The one thing all the forecasts agree on for tomorrow is that it will be hot, 31degrees predicted, but the wind is a different story with a range of possibilities proposed. Hopefully, we will again enjoy a solid breeze and continue the exceptional conditions we have enjoyed to date.
 
Nick Page
NZLA
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