June 2008 World Laser Radial Women’s 2008 Sarah Steyaert sailed to victory in the World due to illness. The Belgian demonstrated Laser Radial Women’s Championship 2008, that she’s back on form with a stunning start © www.oceanphotography.co.nz a great result for the French sailor whose to the regatta. Despite traditionally previous best was a 6th in the 2006 Worlds. being more of a light air The world title seemed to be going China’s specialist, Van Acker’s way until series leader Lijia Xu was disqualified recent training paid off from the final race when she was given a and she won the first race ruling on body movement by the on-water in the blue fleet. judges. As this was her second offence in the Sari Multala (FIN) had an series she was required to retire immediately, equally good start to the and she sailed off the course after the first regatta, finishing 2nd in race beat. one in the yellow fleet and The championship, hosted by the Takapuna then following up with a win in Boating Club, New Zealand, commenced on race two. Both Sarah Blanck Saturday 15th March with a frustratingly long (AUS) and Paige Railey (USA) day for competitors waiting on the water. The also started strongly and were sailors left the beach around 10am when a joint third just two points behind light south-easterly appeared to be building. the overnight leader. A course was laid but the wind dropped away, Just one race was sailed on day forcing race organisers to shift the fleet and 3 with a postponement due to hunt for breeze which just never came. A lack of wind. A light north easterly decision was made at 5pm to abandon racing breeze gradually filled in and the for the day and the fleet made their way fleet left the beach in the afternoon. ashore. The day undisputedly belonged to Thankfully, a 20 knot south-westerly greeted Anna Tunnicliffe (USA) and Lijia Xu sailors on day 2 of the regatta allowing (CHN) who both brought home a racing to begin on time. Evi Van Acker (BEL) race win with a solid leading margin © www.oceanphotography.co.nz definitely seemed to enjoy being back on the in their respective fleets. water after having spent recent months out Continued on Page 3. World Laser Masters 2008 The World Masters counted over 350 championship and provided some exciting competitors from 18 nations with a racing. strong presence from Australia, This year’s top places were filled with some New Zealand and the USA. The entry list was filled in record time. familiar faces but also with a few newcomers Sailors from as far afield as Japan, to the Master Worlds. Defending World Zimbabwe, Dominican Republic and Champion Brett Beyer (AUS) claimed the Thailand gathered at the Gosford Standard Apprentice title for an unbeaten 5th Sailing Club in Terrigal, Australia year in a row with a remarkably consistent for the event that is renowned for performance throughout the championship; its high quality racing, post-racing his final score of 10 was made up of 6 wins, camaraderie and varied social 2 second places and one discarded OCS program. Competitors and score. He said: “I’m very happy. There wasn’t their accompanying partners much wind, maybe 10-12 knots, and the were welcomed in traditional racing was very close as usual”. Aboriginal fashion during the Since the Sydney sailor joined the Masters in opening ceremony. 2001, he has always finished in the top three, Despite expectations of missing the top spot only twice in 2002 and 2003. Was it a tough win this year? “Well, this © C & C Images an Australian summer, the weather turned out to be more of a is my best scorecard, so I guess that makes mixed bag of sunshine and rain while shifting it look easier than it was. It was hard close breezes tested the skill and concentration of racing, so the scorecard is a bit deceptive,” sailors and race committee alike. Fortunately, said Beyer. conditions picked up towards the end of the Continued on Page 2. MASTERS PAUL GOODISON WORLD LASER SMALLTALK ARTICLE RADIAL YOUTH Page 8 Page 4 Page 7 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 June 2008 World Laser Masters 2008 Continued from Page 1 He was joined on the podium by New Zealand’s A disappointed Taylor explained: “I got to third it was mostly light, otherwise I know I wouldn’t Rohan Lord with 20 points and Taiminen Jyrki place in Race 8 and had a close tussle with have won,” he said. (FIN) with 22 points. Jyrki commented: “I Jan – we had a great tacking duel. I tried to get am happy with my series; it was close all right, but he held me to the left and I finished He was joined on the podium by John Jagger the way through and a lot of fun. The racing fifth. In the second race I had a good start and (AUS) with 30 points and Richard Bott (AUS) was especially close with Brett and Rohan. went right, but there was more pressure on the with 41 points. I haven’t done a Worlds for three years. left. I did well to get back up to sixth. I had a Yet another newcomer to the Masters The first one I finished sixth, then fifth, really good regatta though.” Worlds, Alison Casey (AUS), finished then fourth. Now I am third, so next time I In the Standard Grand Master fleet, it was eighth overall in the Radial Apprentice fleet should be second,” he laughed. to claim the Women’s World Championship an exciting finish with only two points Casey, not having sailed much over Brad Taylor (AUS) had been leading the separating winner and runner-up. Leaders title. Standard Master fleet all week and went into of the fleet Mark Bethwaite (AUS) and the last six years, came to the event with the last day of racing with a five point lead. But Wolfgang Gerz (GER) went into the last day no expectations yet ended up posing some his luck ran out on day 6 when second placed of racing with only 1 point between them. Gerz serious competition to fellow Apprentices, at Jan Scholten (AUS) snatched the lead with a beat Bethwaite in the first race which meant one stage holding third place overall. With 3rd and 1st place. they were now on equal scores. But the last a final score of 60 points, she beat second race saw the Australian claim back the lead: placed Justine Ella (AUS) by 26 points. Third Scholten finished just 2 points ahead of Taylor “Wolfgang was after me at the start of the first place went to last year’s runner-up Yvonne with a final score of 18. A newcomer to the race”, 59 year-old Bethwaite said. “It was a Malmsten (SWE) with 139 points. Masters, he said of winning: “I stuck to my day of trying to stay clear at the start. It was New Zealand’s Mark Orams lead home the program. My starts were conservative. I got exciting racing. I turned the tables on him and to know my rig and got better boat speed Radial Master fleet on the last day. With the hunter became the hunted. He came at a final score of 12 beating British Stephen as the week went on, which allowed me to me again on the last run, but I got him on the then concentrate better on what was going Cockerill (17 points) and Australian Greg last reach. I gave him dirty air to hold him out Adams (25 points) to the title. “I feel relieved. on around me. I was basically confident I had and put two boats between us by the finish. a chance after sailing at the Australian Laser It’s been tough sailing all week,” Orams That enabled me to win. Of course I am very said. “It’s nice to win with a win! It was a bit Nationals and Asia Pacific Championship, but happy”. I didn’t know the internationals and I didn’t stressful, because I couldn’t find the bottom know Brad. Having the breeze pick up in the Bethwaite retained the championship title on mark. I stood up in the boat for a while looking last couple of days helped too”. 20 points, closely followed by Gerz on 22 for it. I had a huge lead at the time, but the points. swell was so big, that unless you and the mark were on top of the swell at the same time, you “I couldn’t find the Jack Schlachter (AUS) just couldn’t find it. It didn’t help that the mark finished third with 31 points was orange and sun was right in your face”. bottom mark. I stood after winning Race 8. Just up in the boat for a behind him came regatta In the Women’s fleet, 2006 winner Christine organiser Rob Lowndes Bridge (AUS) beat defending champion while looking for it.” (AUS) who was thrilled with Lyndall Patterson (AUS) to the Radial Master his second place in Race Women’s title. With 75 points, Bridge finished 8 that brought him home 9th out of 48 in the overall fleet. fourth overall on 39 points.