World March 2009 DOUBLE ISAF WORLD CUP VICTORY FOR © Brett Crockford, Sport the Library TUNNICLIFFE

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• Rolex Miami OCR

• New 2009-2012 Racing Rules of

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. 2 LaserWorld March 2009 Sail Melbourne 16th-21st December 2008, Melbourne,

and two, before recovering with a Mihelic of Croatia led a close battle for third second place finish in race three, place, just ahead of Sara Winther (NZL) ending the first day in seventh place and Andrea Brewster. Matias del Solar overall on 26 points. picked the perfect time to find his best form After some good weather conditions as he took a major step towards an ISAF and more intense racing on day gold medal with two three, Tunnicliffe worked her way great results. Scoring second and first place through the field to post a third, finishes in races nine and ten of the Laser second and first respectively to series, del Solar extended his overall lead lead the regatta on six points. to 13 points with just one race remaining. She was closely followed by Croatia’s Tina Mihelic, the 2006 Michael Bullot lost ground on the leader winner of the Volvo Youth Sailing after scores of 8 and 3 in the day’s two ISAF World Championship, on races. Bullot had a fight on to maintain 9 points. Australia’s new young second place overall with Leigh just four star Gabrielle King, a double points further back. (2007 and 2008) Volvo Youth Sailing There was no surprise finish at the end © Brett Crockford, Sport the Library As the first of seven ISAF World Champion, got her series off of the final day. After dominating the events in the inaugural ISAF Sailing to a solid start with 8, 12, 3 scores putting week’s racing with five wins from 11 starts, World Cup series, Sail Melbourne brought her fifth overall, behind Andrea Brewster of Tunnicliffe held off a late charge from together a combination of Olympic stars Great Britain. Gabrielle King to win her class on 25 points, and 2012 hopefuls to Port Phillip Bay for six In the men’s, Bullot continued his strong nine points clear of King, with Andrea days of intense racing. start and maintained his position at the Brewster coming in third with 40 points. After dominating the week’s proceedings in Despite the first day of sailing being top of the leaderboard, with Chile’s Matias del Solar one point behind after impressive the Laser class, Matias del Solar showed postponed for the class due to his form in the crucial final races. After light winds, improved conditions on day two 4,1,4 scores. Milan Vujasinovic of Croatia came third, whilst Leigh began his fight a fourth place in the final race, del Solar of Sail Melbourne saw some impressive ended the regatta winning with 30 points, racing. Olympic gold medalist Anna back and moved to fourth overall on the back of 8, 4, 5 scores. an impressive 17 points clear of Mike Bullot Tunnicliffe (USA), made the most of the who came in second. Milan Vujasinovic three races in the Laser Radial class to pull Tunnicliffe revelled in the stronger conditions came in third on 53 points, just beating out a three-point overall lead. In the Men’s on day four, winning all three races to take Mike Leigh to the final podium position. One Person Dinghy – Laser fleet, Michael a commanding lead into the second half Bullot of New Zealand led on nine points, of the regatta. King also put in a strong The next stage of the ISAF Sailing World with Matias del Solar of Chile a single point performance, with two seconds and a Cup moved to North America, for the behind and James Sandall, also of New fifth helping her jump from fifth to second second event, the Rolex Miami OCR - full Zealand, coming in third with 18 points place overall, four points ahead of Croatian report on page 7. overall. It was a disappointing start for world Mihelic and Britain’s Brewster. Find out more about the ISAF Sailing World Cup, including more on the seven events, number four skipper Michael Leigh (CAN), Day five saw Gabrielle King achieve who was twelth in races one the scoring system and the Notice of Series two second places in the day’s races, at www.sailing.org/isafsailingworldcup. © Bill Bell closing the gap on overall leader to just seven points. Tina

© Brett Crockford, Sport the Library

Matias del Solar. Anna Tunnicliffe. www.laserinternational.org LaserWorld March 2009 3

ILCA Membership © Thom Touw

Our class President, Heini Wellmann, discusses why LaserWorld was made available on the ILCA website and what ILCA members get for their money. editions of LaserWorld on the website. However, we have received a number of negative reactions from ILCA members who felt that a publication that was only exclusively available to its members before can now be read by anybody free of charge, and therefore we were taking away an important attraction the one design of becoming a member of ILCA. For some of the class through the maintenance members – in particular the “weekend sailors” of the Laser Construction Manual and At the World Council meeting in October - LaserWorld was perceived to be the only periodic factory visits by the Technical 2008 it was decided to put all old issues of concrete benefit from ILCA against the £5 Officer; maintaining the class rules; LaserWorld on the ILCA website. This was membership fee the Districts send to ILCA measurers training. every year. part of an overall communication strategy - Representing the three Laser classes – review for ILCA’s three main publications: This argument leads to two questions: Laser Standard, Laser Radial and Laser LaserWorld, the website and the yearly 4.7 - within ISAF (International Sailing Handbook. What else does ILCA do for its members in addition to LaserWorld, and why should Federation). There were three reasons for this decision: a Laser sailor become a member of the - Maintaining the ILCA website, editing the - LaserWorld often contains very interesting Association? yearly handbook and finally producing articles, which can still be of interest a What does ILCA do for its members? the quarterly LaserWorld. few months or years later, for example Remember that ILCA is much more than just Why should a Laser sailor become a member tips on sailing and rigging techniques. of the Association? Most sailors however do not keep the the offices in Falmouth/UK and in the USA. Its old printed editions of LaserWorld and heart and soul are the hundreds of volunteers The majority of Laser sailors are not interested are therefore pleased if they can find the worldwide, who give their time and energy in participating in World Championships. Many old articles in the “information archive” of for the class. It is in the Districts where it are weekend sailors and only occasionally the website. all happens, where the bulk of the regattas participating in a local regatta. Nevertheless, are organised with the help of the local they should become a member of the - Another reason is the distribution of sailing clubs. Each District collects its own Association by supporting the volunteers who LaserWorld. The publication is prepared membership fees to finance its activities, and make it all happen. Even the small local by the ILCA office and sent to the the £5 it sends to the international office in regattas need to be organised. Districts for distribution to their members. Falmouth per member makes up only 10% to Many Districts have their own newsletter 25% of the fee it collects from its members. The big attraction of the Laser is its strict one which they send out with the latest design aspect. Only in the Laser class can issue of LaserWorld, while others make But what else does the ILCA international you go to a foreign regatta, rent a boat locally a separate send-out. However, this is office do in addition to LaserWorld? The main and be competitive. The maintenance of the costly and time consuming, so they just activities are in a nutshell: one design is in the interest of everybody – be pile-up in the District office and never get - Regattas for eight Laser World it an Olympic or weekend sailor. to the members. Often they arrive up to Championships per year: establishing Show your solidarity and become a member six months later and many articles have the calendar, selecting venues, drawing of the class! lost their relevance. Hence it is important up contracts with organising clubs, to be able to find the most recent issue assisting and supervising on site, the I wish you happy Laser Sailing! of LaserWorld on the website. administration of championship entry and - And finally, a new member can easily charter boats and publication of results. find the current edition, as well as old - Technical and Measurement: assuring

The winner of the Laser Standard fleet was of the Grand Master class Lennart Eriksson. Victor Västernäs, with Peter Andersson as Swedish the first Masters sailor. In the Laser Radial In the Laser Radial class there were three fleet, Yvonne Malmsten finally made it women at the top with Agneta Jonsson to the gun in less than 1 knot of wind as winner. Winner of Great Grand Master after several changes during the race. class was Curt Blidner. For full results Masters and photographs from the regatta, please The weather for the first race day on go to www.norderviken.se. The Swedish Masters Championship took Saturday was sunny with light wind place in Fjällbacka on the beautiful Swedish conditions of 5 to 8 knots. Thanks to these © Kristin Ulfstad west coast archipelago in October 2008. conditions, the sailing committee managed This was the first Swedish National qualifier to run all planned races for the day, with for the World Laser Masters Championship, only minor changes of the race course. which is taking place in Canada at the end of August 09. There was a huge amount of interest, with 119 participants from Sunday was the last day, with Easterly winds Norway, Finland, Germany and Sweden. of around 15 knots for the 2 first races and around 8 to 10 knots for the last race. The predicted rain and 20 knot westerly The day before the regatta began, Swedish wind thankfully came after the last race. Masters sailors were invited to participate in the “Around Valö Race”. The wind was 12 knots at the start, but after about an hour The winner of the Laser Standard class the wind decreased and changed direction, and the first apprentice was Niklas Edler leading to a lot of changes within the fleet. from KSSS. Winner of the Laser Master class was Christian Gunni Pedersen and

www.laserinternational.org 4 LaserWorld March 2009

Is Your Rudder Angle Correct?

© ILCA Technical Officer Clive Humphris discusses the rudder angle and passing inspection.

At championships, measurers are often wear on the pivot bolt hole and the contact asked what angle the rudder should be set area to the spacing pin (figure 3). at, how this is measured and, if it is wrong, With the recent availability of new fibreglass how it can be fixed. This article is intended to skinned rudders, both Performance Sailcraft answer these questions. Australia and Laser Performance inform Using a measuring gauge (figure 1), the us that the incidence of rudders being angle is measured between the bottom edge significantly below 78 degrees (in conjunction of the rudder box and the front edge of the with a modern rudder head) is extremely rudder blade. low. So, if the front edge of the rudder exceeds 78 If required, the gel coat can be wet sanded to degrees, it is more vertical than it should be. fine tune the angle. The sanctioned method (Rule 15(e) of the However, sanding into the laminate will Laser Class Rules) to correct this is to wind weaken the blade and is not advised. plastic tape around the front lower rudder box spacer pin (figure 2). Note: you are not allowed © ILCA Figure 1. to add material to the front of the rudder to achieve the same effect. If the rudder angle is significantly less than 78 degrees, you may cut away the rudder where it touches the spacing pin (see Rule 15(d)). Be careful though, as just 1mm of cut away will result © ILCA in about 1 degree of rudder movement. You are always safer to Figure 3. Figure 2. make it slightly less than 78 degrees to allow for © Thom Touw Captain’s Log Record World Championship Entries

The world may be in recession but so competitors to cope with the increasing far this has not affected interest in all demand. Sixty countries participating is our 2009 World Championships that the highest country participation ever at are standing at record levels for their this point in the Olympic quadrennium! In respective continents. The Laser 4.7 the following week the 400 Laser Masters Worlds in Buzios, have applications expected from 34 countries will be the from 230 competitors from 37 countries largest Laser fleet ever gathered in North Future ISAF Youth Worlds requiring a fleet of 140 charter boats. The America! Laser Radial Women’s Worlds fleet in The ISAF meeting also selected Dublin Karatsu, Japan will be up to the 120 boat as the venue for the ISAF Youth Worlds in limit with entries from 37 countries. The Olympic Equipment 2012. With the Laser Radial being used in in 2010 and probably Croatia in same number of countries have entered At the annual ISAF meetings the Laser the Laser Radial Youth Worlds and the 2011, hopefully it will not be a very difficult and Laser Radial were re-selected as the decision for Dublin to also choose the 120 charter boat fleet has had to be men’s and women’s one person dinghy expanded to 160 to cope with increased same single handed equipment to provide equipment for 2012 in a block vote with the important long term planning and entry numbers in the week following the the men’s and women’s windsurfer, and women’s worlds! continuity that many countries ask ISAF the men’s one person dinghy (heavy), two for when selecting equipment. person dinghy, two person dinghy (high performance), keelboat. This selection will Later this year, demand for places at the also provide a positive lead for regional 2009 should be a great year for Laser. Laser Standard Worlds, Canada has games over the next 4 years where the been so high that, for the first time since Laser and Laser Radial are normally the the Laser became an Olympic class, the strongest classes. Jeff Martin entry limit has been increased to 180 www.laserinternational.org LaserWorld March 2009 5

Rule Changes - Vote Now!

The following five proposed changes are Rule 3(b) Control lines and Rule 14 Centreboard housekeeping. They are considered minor fittings and have no effect on performance. The Modify rule 14(d) to deregulate rule changes 1, 2, 3 and 4 are clarifying 3 Add new rule 3(b)(xii): 5 the tape material as follows: questions from measurers. Rule change Reference points (marks) may be One layer of general purpose self 5 provides a more practicable solution to placed on the deck, spars and ropes. centreboard slot wear. adhesive plastic tape (includes duct EXPLANATION: The inclusion of and gaffer tape) any material of specific wording removes any doubt maximum 2mm thickness and of a The rule changes have been approved by about legality. the World Council. maximum size of 30mm x 30mm may be applied at the top front corner of They are now referred to all members of the centreboard case. the ILCA for acceptance. EXPLANATION: This was originally The rule changes also have to be approved introduced so that sailors can protect the by the International Sailing Federation gel coat in what is normally a high wear (ISAF). In this process some minor point of the boat. Sailors have found that rewording can occur without changing the it is not easy to find a general purpose principle. tape that will last very long. One example of a material that is durable is the loop side of self adhesive tape Velcro. Rule 13 Self Bailer Modify rule 13 to add the following 1 sentence: © ILCA © ILCA The builder supplied o-rings may be substituted with non builder-supplied alternatives provided the basic function of the bailer is unchanged. Rule 26 Repairs and maintenance EXPLANATION: A common sailor complaint centres on the maintenance 4 Add new rule: 26(f): of the o-rings responsible for the proper The use of lubricants is unrestricted operation of the self bailer. In particular except that they shall not be used on they seem to need frequent replacement the hull (below the gunwhales). and often sailors can’t easily find builder supplied replacements. EXPLANATION: The inclusion of specific wording removes any doubt about legality.

Rule 3(f) Outhaul Modify rule 3(f)(v) to add the Only fully paid class member votes will Please vote using the voting slip below 2 following sentence: be counted. Please take advantage of or online at: The blocks in this rule may also be your right to be part of this democratic www.laserinternational.org/rules2009 attached to the gooseneck with a bolt process. Your vote is important. or a pin. EXPLANATION: Rule 3(a)(vi) currently ILCA RULE CHANGE VOTING FORM reads:- “When an optional block or shock cord is attached to a fitting, Please complete and return to arrive before 1 September 2009 to: line, mast, boom or the sail, it may be ILCA, PO Box 26, FALMOUTH, attached either with or without a shackle, Cornwall TR11 3TN, UK clips, balls, hooks and/or a tie line.” This or by fax to: +44 1326 318968 makes it illegal to bolt the blocks using the hole in the gooseneck. The use of a bolt or a pin at the gooseneck is similar Name ______Membership No______to using a shackle and is more readily available. Country ______© ILCA

Email ______

For each proposal, please DELETE as appropriate:

1 - Self Bailer YES / NO 4 - Repairs YES / NO 2 - Outhaul YES / NO 5 - Centerboard YES / NO 3 - Control Lines YES / NO

www.laserinternational.org 6 LaserWorld March 2009 Changes to the Racing Rules Introduced by Jeff Martin

boat was required to ‘give room’ at a mark, give room from the time the overlap began. the amount of room was ‘the space a If she can’t then the inside boat has no right boat needs in the existing conditions while to room. (Rule 19.2(a)). manoeuvring promptly in a seamanlike way’. The position at which an outside boat had to start giving room was a little vague. This will be particularly important the last Now, as soon as one of the boats is in the seconds before a start when a boat astern zone (three hull lengths) then the outside tries to get between two other boats; the boat must give sufficient room to the inside leeward boat is an obstruction so the test will boat to ‘sail to the mark’ in a seamanlike be ‘can the windward boat keep clear from manner. Then, at that moment, the outside the time the overlap was established?’ must give room for the inside boat to sail her proper course around the mark. It is now clear that when a right-of-way boat establishes an inside overlap at an Normally the obligation starts when either obstruction, she has the right to room. boat has reached the zone. But there Typically the two boats are running beside is an important exception. If boats are an obstruction, with the boat astern on overlapped, and the outside boat will need starboard tack and the boat ahead The International Sailing Federation publish to change course before the zone in order on port tack. The port-tack boat updates to the Racing Rules after an to give room, then she must do so; she can’t must keep clear and give room. . It is also a time when wait till the zone and then claim the three Two boats approaching a mark the various writers of books on the Racing lengths was not enough distance to change must be left to starboard. Rules update their publications. One of course to give room. This is important for my favourite rule books is “The Rules in asymetrics or catamarans on opposite tacks Practice” by Bryan Willis. at a starboard-hand leeward mark, but may This section is taken from Wiley Nautical’s apply to keel boats or even dinghies in light latest publication, ‘The Rules in ” Practice winds when there is a strong tidal stream 2009 - 2012’ by Bryan Willis. Bryan has written his book in the order of taking them towards the mark. Priced at £14.95 the ‘The Rules in Practice’ how situations arise as you progress round is available to order from the Laser Library. a race course. He starts at the start and then moves upwind, around the first mark Another important change is that www.laserinternational.org/library and then downwind. So if you have an mark-rounding rules do not apply between incident you can easily look it up according a boat that is leaving a mark and one that to where it took place. Using diagrams is approaching it - the normal right- showing Laser boats, Bryan then gives of-way rules apply you an opinion and the rules involved, between them. depending on which boat you are in the diagram! It continues to be the case that at a The book also includes a full copy of the port-hand windward new Racing Rules. As well as being a good mark a boat tacking reference it is also a very useful and easy to onto starboard tack follow, learning and revision aid. in the zone must not ‘cause the other boat to sail above close-hauled With the kind permission of the publishers, to avoid her or prevent Wiley Nautical, we have re-printed below the other boat from Bryan’s comments on the Racing Rule passing the mark’ and changes from “The Rules in Practice” ‘shall give mark-room if copyright Bryan Willis. the other boat becomes overlapped inside her’ but with the increased The size of ‘zones’ at marks size of the zone, it makes has been increased to three hull a layline approach when lengths. There is no longer a you have to tack even ‘Two-Length zone’, just a ‘zone’ more difficult. which is defined as ‘The area around a mark within a distance of three hull lengths of the boat nearer to it. A boat is in the zone when Under the old rules having any part of her hull is in the zone’. ‘Sailing an overlap at two lengths “ from a non-continuing instructions may change to ‘two’ or ‘four’ the number of hull lengths determining the zone obstruction (such as a big around marks, provided that the number is mooring buoy, or a right- the same for all boats using those marks of-way boat, or a shoreline) and for all the marks on the course’. (Rules: was as important as it was definitions & 86.1(b)). at a mark. But no one took much notice. The new rules remove the requirement It will be interesting to see how many for a boat needing room organizers take up the opportunity of at an obstruction to be overlapped at a particular Under the old rules, Yellow broke a rule (at position 2) by increasing or decreasing the size of the sailing below her proper course when Blue was steering zone for the races under their jurisdiction. distance from it. Now the only criteria for a keep-clear a course to leeward of her. That rule has been deleted in boat astern trying to get an the new rules. It is still true that when there is an overlap There is a new definition called ‘mark-room’. inside overlap, is whether the windward boat must keep clear. Under the old rules, when a right-of-way the outside boat is able to www.laserinternational.org LaserWorld March 2009 7

© Rolex/ Dan Nerney US Sailing’s 2009 Rolex Miami OCR It’s not often in a sailing regatta that a single a gold medalist from Qingdao who has been 30-minute race decides the outcome, but named US SAILING’s Rolex Yachtswoman that’s exactly what happened on the last day of the Year, finished third to Railey’s fourth, of competition for US SAILING’s Rolex Miami leaving Railey the silver medal. “Paige had a OCR, serving as the second of seven stops on good start,” said Tunnicliffe, with a nod to the the 2008 - 2009 ISAF Sailing World Cup tour. 15-18 knot winds. “My plan was to be top-three The event, which ran from 25th – 31st January and at worst be two boats behind her. I had a 2009, hosted 444 sailors from 41 countries in decent start and was fourth at the top mark with ten Olympic and three Paralympic classes. Paige in front of me.” Tunnicliffe explained Nine of the Olympic classes participated in a that one of the Danish team fell back and spectacular finale in which the top-ten sailors, she split at the gates with Railey. “That put determined from scores after five days of fleet me ahead of Paige, so I just covered her © Rolex/ Dan Nerney racing, competed in medal races for double from there.” About this event being part of points which could not be used as a discard. the inaugural ISAF World Cup, Tunnicliffe said: “There’s a bit more pressure to perform. In the 63-boat Laser class, the largest of the It was a nice way to start the quadrennium.” regatta, (GBR) had to keep Pavlos Cumulative points Kontides (CYP) at bay to tallied from the inaugural win the gold. “First I pinned There’s a bit ISAF Sailing World Cup him to the left and then I more pressure 2008-2009 will determine pinned him on the right,” to perform. It was a World Cup champions in said Thompson about his nice way to start the each of the 2012 Olympic tactics on two different and Paralympic classes. upwind legs, which left quadrennium The series started with Anna Tunnicliffe, & Jennifer Spaulding. Kontides to settle for silver.“ Sail Melbourne (Australia) “It was good fun, very shifty,” last December and rounds ” said Thompson, “but I wasn’t out with the Trofeo SAR really playing shifts; I was spending so much Princess Sofia (Palma, ) and Semaine time looking behind me”. Another one he Olympique Française (Hyères, ) in loosely covered was Brad Funk (USA), who April; (Medemblik, The took bronze and is now on the U.S. Sailing )” in May; Kieler Woche (Kiel, Team AlphaGraphics. “Brad had to beat me Germany) in June; and Skandia or finish within four boats, but I had more (Weymouth, Great Britain) in September. of a speed edge on him,” said Thompson. Regatta results, photos and updates The top battle in the 41-boat Laser Radial fleet are posted at www.rolexmiamiocr.org. was between long-time U.S. Sailing Team © Rolex/ Dan Nerney AlphaGraphics members Anna Tunnicliffe (USA) and Paige Railey (USA). Tunnicliffe, Brad Funk, Nick Thompson & Pavlos Kontides.

Central & South American Championships 2009

sailors and race committee. Finally, after a strong “mano a mano” battle, Alsogaray (ARG) prevailed and claimed his A total of 109 entries included Laser 4.7, first South American title ever, followed by del Laser Radial and Laser Standard rigs coming Solar Goldsmith (CHI), whilst bronze went to from Argentina, Brazil, Chile, Colombia, an outstanding (yet not unexpected) Matias Ecuador, Peru, Venezuela, Mexico and even Seguel (CHI). Finland. From shining international stars like Olympians Julio Alsogaray and Matias del At the Laser 4.7 class, the racing was tough Solar Goldsmith, to new and promising Laser as well, with three sailors in the running for 4.7 entries, not to mention a large number the title on the last day. Thanks to a very of boys and girls at the Laser Radial fleet, consistent final day, Tomas Dietrich (ARG) passionate amateurs, local sailing legends took the title, followed by Andres Ducasse like “Tito” Gonzalez and even some masters (CHI) and Bruno Lossio (BRA). sailors ready to battle. © Matias Capizzano Whilst For full results please go to www.laserchile.cl. the European The Laser Radials started the event. After season slows down due to a total of 11 races, and a final protest the winter break, January is the highlight of to decide the podium, Argentine Federico the Laser sailing season in South America. Buiatti claimed early title with one race to This year is no exception, as the best sailors spare, followed by Luis Horacio “Dingo” of the continent met once again for the Laser Canuto (ARG) and Juan Pablo “Chompi” Central and South American 2009, from 8th Bisio. Finishing 7th place overall, the Female to 18th January 2009. title went to Aranxta Gumuncio (CHI). This year’s event was hosted by Chile, at the The weather conditions remained breezy wonderful Lake Vichuquen, located 300 km for the Laser Standard and Laser 4.7 south of the capital city Santiago de Chile. championships. Surrounded by mountains and yet located The battle for the Laser Standard title was only 25 km distance from the Pacific sea, exciting, as Julio Alsogaray and Matias del Vichuquen offered a quite reliable sea breeze Solar Goldsmith performed an impressive © Matias Capizzano ranging 6-15 knots every day. Complex gusty and consistent series right down to the and shifty conditions created a very technical match-race on the last day of the event. racecourse and a true challenge for the

www.laserinternational.org 8 LaserWorld March 2009

2008 Laser Europa Cup Review

The Laser Europa Cup & Youth Grand Prix able to discard a 26 point score from a regatta this a perfect venue for the Laser Europa Cup is a highly contested series of regattas run in Italy earlier in the season and so managed circuit. through-out the year in Europe. Encompassing to slip past her into first place with 2 points all Laser rigs and age ranges and with a diverse difference. To find out more about the 2009 Europa Cup range of venues and challenging competition, series, visit the new Laser Europa Cup web the Laser Europa Cup is a rewarding annual In the Laser Radial rig, full time sailor Jon pages at www.laserinternational.org/ecup2009/ challenge for Laser sailors. Emmett from Great Britain took the overall index category by storm, attending and The Cup is open to any Laser sailor as winning 4 events in a row. Hot on long as they are members of their national his heels was Viktor Teplý with only 8 class association. The 2008 series attracted points. The 18-year old from the Czech 1278 competitors. The majority of sailors Republic who had won the Laser were of course European, however, as the 4.7 boys category the previous year, sailing season wound down in the southern moved to the Laser Radial rig for the hemisphere, competitors from overseas joined 2008 series and had a fantastic debut in to battle it out in Europa Cup regattas like with a second place overall as well as Hoorn in the Netherlands and Warnemünde winning the Youth Under 19 category. in Germany. In particular Olympic sailors like Another smooth and successful Canadian Mike Leigh, Dominican Republic’s transition from the Laser 4.7 to the Raul Aguayo and Malaysia’s Kevin Lim Laser Radial rig was showcased by were participating in Europa Cup regattas in Tajana Ganic from Croatia, who had preparation for Quingdao. won the Laser 4.7 Girls category in the previous year, and finished in the Sailors can participate either in the Laser top spot of the Laser Radial Women Standard, Laser Radial or Laser 4.7 rig. In category. 2008, the Radial rig accounted for almost half the entries to the regattas, while the Laser In the Laser Standard rig, Croatian ©Roberto Vuilleumier/Assolaser 4.7 rig attracted nearly as many sailors to the Ivan Taritaš beat last year’s winner Europa Cup as the Laser Standard rig, a tell Dany Stanisic to the top spot by tale sign that the 4.7 rig is becoming more and finishing on 30 points overall. more popular. Thirteen venues are taking The 2008 series proved as exciting as part in the 2009 series of the ever, showcasing real sailing talent and Europa Cup which will kick off some nail biting finishes to the series. in Lugano Switzerland from 19th In the Laser 4.7, Giovanni Coccoluto from Italy to 22nd March and finish with a showed skill and determination with 5 out of bang in Hvar, Croatia from 28th the 7 regatta wins. As only the best 4 results to 31st December. Balatonfüred in are included in the overall scoring, the 15-year Hungary, a popular resort town on old finished the series on 4 points, the best the north shore of the Balaton Lake possible score. In the Laser 4.7 girls category, is a new addition to the cup. Superb Croatian girls Antea Kordic and Matea Senkic water quality and temperatures were battling yet again for the top spot. Senkic above twenty degrees Celsius had already beaten Kordic to the second from May to September make this place at the 2008 World Laser 4.7 Youth a beautiful spot for sailing. Another Championship and went into the last regatta new addition is Vigo in Spain. The in Hvar, Croatia with a good chance of taking host club Real Club Náutico de Vigo the top spot. But even though she finished 5 lies approximately 150km north of ©Roberto Vuilleumier/Assolaser points ahead of Kordic in Hvar, Kordic was Matosinhos in Portugal and so makes

7th Annual Caribbean Midwinters

The 7th Caribbean Laser Midwinter Other Masters category winners included: Regatta was held in Cabarete, Dominican th Republic on 16-18 January 2009. The Apprentice Master: Mike Matan (GBR) event was hosted by the Laser Training Grand Master: Ken Brown (CAN) Center and was sponsored by Palmera Radial: Peter Seidenberg (USA) de Cabarete, a new luxury development Women: Judith Krimski (USA) in Cabarete. The overall Masters group was won by former With over 60 sailors with a wide age range Olympic Bronze medalist Terry Neilson (CAN) competing, the fleet featured some of who donated his $1,000.00 prize money to the today’s top Laser sailors from legends Dominican Youth Sailing Program. He was to future superstars straight out of the closely followed be Peter Vessella of the USA, Optimist program. who finished just one point behind to take 2nd place overall. © Robert Alvarez Eric Holmbom from the Dominican Republic won the top honors in the In the open category Nick Thompson of the Laser 4.7, beating fellow Dominican took away $1,750.00 in prize Republic sailor Sebastian Bros by just money followed by 2nd place Javier Hernandez 1 point overall. of Spain who received $1,250.00, and 3rd place Brad Funk of the USA, who went home with At the other end of the age spectrum $1,000.00. the Great Grand Master fleet included legends Dick Tillman and Peter For full results and pictures: Seidenberg and it was a surprise to see www.midwinterregatta.com this category won by new Laser sailor, © Robert Alvarez 70 year old Jan Salin of Sweden. www.laserinternational.org