Top Photographer Richard Langdon

World March 2012 © Richard Langdon, Ocean Images

A MINUTE WITH: Top photographer Richard Langdon

2012 SOUTH & CENTRAL STEP BY STEP AS YOU GROW RULE CHANGES EXPLAINED AMERICAN CHAMPIONSHIPS

COPYRIGHT AND LIABILITY No part of this publication may be reproduced without prior permission of the publishers. The articles and opinions in LaserWorld may not represent the official views of ILCA. The publishers do not accept any liability for their accuracy. Step By Step As You Grow

Follow the route through from Junior to Youth to Olympic Classes! by Jon Emmett

At first glance the connection between an Lijia Xu from China is a great of example Optimist and a Laser may seem a small of someone who made the transition. A one. They are very different boats, but past Double Optimist World Champion actually this is a very common progression she also went on to win the Radial Worlds for young sailors, as they follow the single and is now campaigning for the 2012 hander route through from Junior to Youth Olympics hoping to improve on her Bronze to Olympic classes. at the 2008 games. For many sailors it comes as somewhat The Laser has many advantages as a © Lijia Xu of a relief finally not having to control their class. It is a low cost investment into weight to stay competitive. In fact one of Olympic sailing where there is no technical the biggest transitions will be going from knowledge loss as there would be with Lijia Xu in her Optimist, 2004 being heavy in a class (and maybe having other transitions to more technical boats. to keep their weight down) to being light in All the boats are the same, so it is the skill a class and having to put on weight. of the sailor which makes the difference, Naturally the more mature sailors will which is why Laser sailing so rewards time always have an advantage over the in the boat. younger sailors in terms of skills and Also the logistics for Laser sailing make it experience, but these sailors will tend to very easy for everyone to get to regattas. be towards the upper end of the weight The option to travel around the World range. So maybe this suits those of with just some ropes, blocks and a tiller naturally slight build or those who put on certainly makes life easier. This gives a lot weight later. of opportunities for attending international © Rolex / Daniel Forster Indeed trying to control your weight at regattas. such an important developing age can One of the key differences in the transition lead to its own problems. So when you are is the very physical nature of the Laser. the correct weight to move to the Laser, This is probably exaggerated as many why not do so? Optimist sailors will leave the class being The direct move to the Laser is now right at the upper end of the competitive even easier with the huge increase in the weight range (or possibly over) and then popularity of the 4.7 rig in recent years join the Laser class being towards the meaning that there is no need to wait. bottom end of the weight range. This is Indeed some of the mature sailors who are why it is well worth considering stepping already too heavy would be better to move into the Laser 4.7 to make the transition sooner rather than later, so as to get the easier. © Rolex / Daniel Forster best possible start in their Laser careers. Therefore getting Laser fit becomes one of Now many sailors are supported heavily the key priorities, but actually this can be improved at the same time as working on 2012: Lijia at Rolex Miami by the federation so may need to wait to gain the most from the Optimist class, the boat handling techniques. Compared which is an ideal launching base for any to an Optimist the Laser is a much bigger hull which is steered by a much smaller © Rolex / Daniel Forster sailor’s career. Towards the end of your time in the Optimist you are obviously rudder. So body movements become racing against much younger and less absolutely crucial here. experienced opponents, so this is where When first stepping into the Laser it is you are most likely to gain your best perhaps sensible to go out in light to results. For this reason most people will moderate winds to start with and then aim to race their last major championship progress naturally from there. You learn in the last year that they are eligible to do very little when you have your centreboard so. in the air and your mast in the water, and However losing weight for young sailors you obviously do not want to damage is a hard job and if possible it is sensible yourself or your equipment. to follow the boat for your correct body The skills you need will come very quickly weight. This logic remains true as you although they are of course hard to master, work your way through the Laser family, but it is these invaluable skills learned always trying to be in what is the right boat in the Laser class which lead to many for you at that moment in time, so maybe if top sailors (the list is far, far too long to On the podium with you are of a naturally lighter frame you just mention here) continuing to have success progress more slowly. in every class that they race.

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M MAX 1067 Richard Langdon’s Ocean Images

Conrad Rebholz, winner of the new 200,000 Laser, explains why you should always listen to your mother! A minute with .... RichardInterview by Ferdinand Langdon Ziegelmayer

Why Photography? Best Sailing Photograph? I was in my early teens when I had my There’s not really a “best”. But thinking first SLR camera, bought for me by my about Lasers, I would have to say that parents. But I was also very interested the Europeans in Cartagena, Spain in other forms of art too, not only was great because the day I went was photography. amazing conditions. Huge long swells and lovely sunshine. Why Yachting Specifically? Favourite Venue? Sailing photography was never my Richard Langdon intention whilst studying photography. You would assume I would say the It just happened right at the end of my Caribbean of somewhere like that. But course. the UK can be the best…..when it’s at its best… the low light in an evening, the Have You Ever Considered Other cloud formations and great backdrops Subject Matter? all make for a great place to take sailing I would love to do other areas of photographs. photography. But I’ve been lucky enough Favourite Class of Boat? to be so busy with the sailing that there never seems to be time to move into I prefer dinghies. A maxi in 20 knots of other areas. breeze hardly creates a wave or ripple, let alone spray. But a dinghy in 10-15 Photographic Inspiration? knots has movement, power, spray and © Richard Langdon Alastair Black first caught my a human element. imagination. Then after that it was Favourite Laser Photograph? Olympics in Qingdao, China images from Kos and Carlo Borlenghi. Probably a shot in Cartagena….or Favourite Photograph (Sailing or perhaps some Sail For Gold images… Non Sailing)? on those windy days. I have several photographs that I quite Top Tip For Sailing Photgraphy? like. But I’ve never taken the perfect shot. Any other good photographer will Practice, practice, practice!! Keep your agree that you never actually reach gear dry in a big cooler. Spend as much perfection. When that day comes, you money on the lenses rather than the go and do something else! body……and just have a pre planned concept you want to achieve. You don’t First Major Laser Event? need huge telephoto lenses either. I covered the Laser Nationals at Parkstone Yacht Cub, Poole (UK). I think it was in 1991.

Key West 2010

Has Technology Changed Your Work Have You Ever Had Any (internet, digital cameras, websites, Accidents Whilst Up A galleries, downloads, video, etc) Mast Or Hanging Off A Boat? I hated digital when it first came out. Now I love it. There are so many advantages Touch wood nothing and with Photoshop it’s brought me back more than being hit by to darkroom proceedures….without the a windsurfer. I was in the darkroom. But with digital, I have also water with my camera seen a huge revolutiion in distribution and housing and he was social media. So whilst digital images jumping over me. Once are instant, our clients expectations have he got it wrong! I gained © Richard Langdon changed with it. conciousness underwater… not knowing which way Sail For Gold, Weymouth 2009 How Do You Achieve Clear / Stable was up…slightly concussed. Images Whilst On The Water? But I still take risks. Last That’s even more about practice….and year I videoed a 66 foot catamaran simple things like sitting at the back of the (Gunboat 66) whilst I was in the rib rather than the front. Then there’s an water. I let them sail over me and adaquate shutter speed. Say 1000th of a went between the hulls! second or less. Any Funny/Amusing Stories How Have The Different Photo Web From Photo Shoots? Services Effected You eg. Flickr/ Nothing specific. Every job is Facebook/Picasa different. That’s why I like being It’s changed my client’s expectations. a freelancer. You meet so many Slowly they are taking the place of different people and no job is the © Richard Langdon traditional media like newspapers etc. But same. But I can assure you I’ve sailing websites don’t pay. So commercial met great characters and been clients are needed. It’s harder to turn up at entertained throughout an event on spec now and make money. my career. Gunboat 66 Have You Ever Dropped / Lost A Major What’s New And Exciting On The Piece Of Camera Equipment? Horizon For Ocean Images? Considering I’ve done the job for 20 years Video is my new latest thing. I it’s not too bad. I’ve fallen in once and love doing it and clients really trashed a £5000 camera. I was insured. want it at the moment. I started But it’s the daily wear and tear that’s early (about 2 years ago) and now expensive. It’s intense and obviously not about 50% of my business is video. insured.

For further information and to view more of Richard’s amazing images, please go to: www.oceanimages.co.uk

Carlos Palombo reports on the Fifth Central and South American Masters Laser Championship 2012

The fifth Central & South American Laser Hector Longarela. Alejandro Cloos had Championships, organized by the Club already secured his first place and was Náutico Mar del Plata, has once again in no danger of being caught. © Matias Capizzano given the sea an exceptional nautical Meanwhile, in the much larger Radial landscape. fleet, Master Carlos Palombo of CNSE With 40 participants, including many had already secured his first place foreign helmsmen, the racing was before the rest of the positions had been supposed to start on Saturday but was established. These ended up as follows: not possible due to the bad weather second place for Luis Andre Castro from conditions. However, on Sunday and Brazil and third for Alberto Larrea of Monday, the course area saw perfect CPNLB, who ranks first in the Grand conditions. Master Category. On Tuesday, the conditions were Once the daily social activities (organized tougher: 1.50m. high waves, SE wind by the Club Náutico Mar del Plata) had © Matias Capizzano gusts of 15 knots, a partially clear sky finished, the awards ceremony took with a temperature of 23 degrees. This place attended by the race authorities, combination led to the Race Committee the organizing club, the competitors and having to change the course area and the general public. set a windward-leeward circuit closer to The VI Central and South American Playa Grande. Masters Laser Championship 2013 will The two last races were then sailed, take place in February 2013 in Punta del completing the eight race schedule for Este, Uruguay. this Championship. These last two races For the complete results, please go to: were critical, as the results decided second place in the Standard fleet http://www.cnmp.org.ar/panel/ between Leslie Jenkins, who was first archivos/425_RESULTADOS%20 in the Apprentice Master Category, and SERIES.pdf © Matias Capizzano

Hermann Cornelius 1927 - 2011

displayed at the Olympic harbour thanks the class seeing the Laser to be a great to Hermann! benefit to developing countries, many of For 35 years they, together, ran the whom he fostered during Kiel Week. German Laser Class Association from Hermann and Katrin retired from their their home making it the largest National position in the Laser class in 2007. Class Association on mainland Europe. Their last official duty for the Laser class During this time with the class Hermann was to introduce their successor to the served as Chairman of the European European Committee of the Laser class Hermann & Katrin Cornelius Laser Class Association and also as at its Annual European Meeting at the Vice-President of the Laser Class World Royal Thames Yacht Club in London, Hermann Cornelius was the Sailing Council with special responsibility for Great Britain. During the meeting Laser Director for the 1972 Olympic Games ISAF matters, consequently attending a Class Executive Secretary and ISAF in Kiel, Germany. In the same year he number of ISAF meetings. Council member, Jeff Martin, presented became the inaugural Chairman of the Hermann and Katrin each with an ISAF Between them they organised the Silver Medal for their dedication to the German Laser Class Association and second Laser World Championship in his wife, Katrin, became the secretary. sport of sailing. A well deserved award 1974 at the Kiel Olympic Centre. that meant a lot to both of them. As soon as he first saw the Laser he Apart from their Laser work they have Hermann slipped his anchor on 11 developed a strong belief in the class both helped in every Kiel Week since and what it could offer the sport of December. The memory remains strong the early 1970s. Hermann worked hard with all his many Laser friends. sailing. Laser made it’s first appearance at Kiel week and in ISAF to promote at the Olympics in 1972 when it was www.laserinternational.org