LASER STATS AND FACTS: Number of hull plates issued as of March 1 2007: 189,489 >> Number of countries where fleets exist: 122 >> Country with the largest

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B Y BRUCE KIRBY into the design formula as This figure brought the boat’s ments were aimed at reducing mum on the racecourse, too. Laser sailing is a global And crew weight was 200 pounds, sail area-to-displacement weather helm because I hadn’t But with 180 pounds as the phenomenon, and now, with but after continued “think ratio to 24 and the displace- gotten the relationship be- ideal, anyone weighing less three different sail sizes, the experience is universal. hen the Laser adults, father and daughter, time,” that number was re- ment-to-length ratio to 82— tween lateral plane and center than 160 or so was at a dis- Then was designed man and wife. duced to 180. I felt it would be good numbers to produce a of effort right at the first stab. tinct disadvantage in strong area and, of course, a lower in 1969 we I had decided early on that better to have the boat float a light and lively little boat. All that seems like ancient winds. And certainly the 180- center ofeffort. (Later the Ra- really had the waterline length would be little low in the water with 250 During the refinement history today, nearly 37 later. pound optimum discouraged dial was refined to its present There no idea how 12.5 feet, as I felt that was the pounds aboard than float too SEE/DPPI process after the boat’s first But by guess and by God, by most women from racing configuration by Perfor- Wthe boat would be used. So in minimum for satisfactory per- high and be tender with 150 outing the rig was moved for- trial and by error, and even the boat at the highest level. mance Sailcraft Europe work- choosing a crew weight to be formance. A sail area of 76 pounds of crew. SEA & ward, mast rake was reduced, with a little simple math With this in mind, the origi- ing with British sailmaker Were applied to the displacement square feet was tossed into the So 180 it was and with the and the sail was given a slight- thrown in, we got it right. nal sailmaker, , and Eddie Hyde.) calculation, I didn’t know if mix with the idea that it could hull, rig, centerboard, rudder, ly higher aspect ratio.These One of the more satisfying re- builder, Ian Bruce devised the The Radial came at a time this car-topper—for that’s be altered at any time, but in and sail coming out to close to ORLENGHI/ alterations moved the center sults of all this was discover- Radial rig,which has a short- when the Laser was spreading what I had been asked to de- the end remained 76. another 180, we had a sailing O B of effort 7 inches forward. ing that the crewweight of er and more flexible lower rapidly to countries outside ARL

Three sign—was to be for kids, The first number that went displacement of 360 pounds. C These step-by-step enhance- 180 turned out to be opti- mast section, 14 sq. ft. less sail North America and Europe,

Reprinted from S AILING W ORLD A p r i l 2 007 Reprinted from S AILING W ORLD A p r i l 2 007 concentration of Laser sailors: England >> Most recent nation to join the class: Tanzania >> Greatest recorded distance sailed in a Laser: Sami Koohejiichael’s circumnavigation

so the new rig,which was with friends. When I got big really influenced by his train- concentration. The important considerably easier to handle Master enough to sail the boat on my ing style and routines. difference is to sail well for a in a breeze was not only right own I had my father’s, and Has your approach to sail- long period oftime. for smaller males and most just really started sailing that ing the boat more physically You have to do a lot of ad- women, but also better suited boat a lot and enjoying it be- changed the way the boat is justing. Sometimes people to the huge numbers of Of cause my body fit well with it sailed today? leave the outhaul too loose Asians who were thronging and I liked to hike and the fast What I’ve seen over the past and it’s makes the sail into a into the sport. reaches. I just really enjoyed 10 years is that more people bag and they lose sail area, Almost before the Laser The sailing that boat and that’s are sailing full time. The top sometimes the vang is too Class knew what was happen- why I’ve stuck with it for so 20 guys in the Laser are always tight so you can’t go by the lee ing, a new class was born, and many years. With good results sailing and training.So now as well, and sometimes the one that appealed to enor- Domain I naturally kept at it because I you must be fit, but also men- vang is too loose and when mous numbers of people was enjoying the fruits of tally sharp and more consis- you surf the wave on a broad throughout the world. One of INTERVIEW training, preparing, and try- tent in your tactics. The races reach there’s not enough pres- its great strengths was that a B Y DAVE ing to get better day-by-day. nowadays are shorter and you sure on the leech. It’s especially single family Laser, with cen- Many of the people you’ve have fewer opportunities to important to adjust all the time terboard, rudder and mast REED sailed against over the years catch up because everyone is downwind.The wind changes, step unchanged, could accom- say what separated you are sailing so well downwind. the waves change, and the an- modate either rig and thus your fitness and the intensity What is it about the down- gles change all the time by as satisfy not only the strapping of your training; is that true? wind sailing that’s different? much as 40 to 50 degrees. sons, but also smaller siblings, n 1991, , Fitness is 70 percent in the This goes back again to In the boat park before a or perhaps even parents who a young steely-eyed Laser because on a long re- Peter Tanscheidt. When I day ofracing you’re said to be had decided that less sail went Brazilian Laser champi- gatta like a world champi- started in , people were very intense and focused, well with advancing age. on stepped into the in- onship or the Olympics you already pushing very hard mainly keeping to yourself. Following on the success of ternational spotlight have so many days of racing with their downwind sailing, I’m a quiet guy and don’t the Radial, the 4.7 rig was de- Ifor the first time in , Ger- and if it’s a windy venue, peo- but when I went to Europe like to talk too much before veloped in England in 1989. many, after trouncing the fleet ple start to wear out after the people didn’t care much about the race. I try to concentrate What made it work was a per- at the ISAF Youth World third or fourth day. If you’re it. The Brazilians were work- on the day. I try to keep to my manent aft bend in the lower Championships. Many great fit enough, you’re concentrat- ing on surfing and working routine before the race: wash- mast section to bring the sail’s junior sailors come and go, ing on the racing and the the boat really hard in the ing the boat, checking the center ofeffort aft to nearly but Scheidt was far from ordi- things that matter because waves—using your weight gear and going to the course the same point as it is in the nary. In his hometown of São you know your body will and using the sheet a lot—so early to check the conditions. other rigs. There were doubts Paulo, his celebrated status respond to the demands. they were managing to make After each race I relax, have a whether 100-pound (or less) was materializing with early I always focus on the fitness big gains. Today, the biggest quick discussion with my youngsters would find the successes in the Optimist and part with swimming,biking, gains are made downwind in coach, and not think too hull too large to handle in . Over the next two years and sailing in strong winds. the Laser. The differences are much about the race. I try to heavy air or after a capsize he stormed to the top of the That was never my problem. amazing between a guy who not bring bad feelings into the even if the 50.5 sq. ft. sail was Laser class, winning his first My problem was always in can sail downwind and a guy next race or the next day and truly “kid size,” but when the in light winds because I enjoyed who cannot. deal with each race at a time. little ones found they could 1993 in , Canary Is- so much the heavy wind that What’s so important to this If I win the race, OK, but focus master the big guys’ boat with lands. From there, he went on when the light day came I start downwind technique? on the next. If I do badly, I try the little guys’ rig, the 4.7 took a virtual tear,winning seven thinking that I couldn’t do It’s about balancing the boat to forget it. off. Acceptance was rapid in more world titles in 10 years, well. That was my biggest and moving your body You’re now several years Europe during the ’90s and three Olympic medals (two challenge, being confident in around smoothly. It requires into an Olympic cam- the idea caught on quickly in gold, one silver), and count- my light-air sailing. Before fine-tuning of the boat with paign and dealing with a much Asia as well. There was a pause less events in between. In the Athens I did a lot of work on the position of the center- more technical boat; what in the more conservative history of Laser sailing, he’s this and it worked. That has board, the outhaul, and the does the Laser bring to this? Americas, but now the 4.7 is legendary in every sense of the been my biggest victory be- vang, and being able to do all The Star is definitely more fast becoming a familiar sight word and his status as such, cause I could show that in an these things naturally without complicated and there’s a lot in the Western Hemisphere. says Glenn Bourke, of Aus- 11-day light-air regatta I could thinking about it. I’d go out to of tuning.What I really like So after all the sweating tralia, who with three consec- do well and win. practice and sail downwind about the Laser is when some- about choosing exactly the utive world titles is the only Was there a moment in for long periods so I could one is sailing faster you can’t right crew weight in 1969, it other to rival Scheidt, will your youth that you realized focus on the boat so I could complain about mast being was all for not. We now have a never be usurped. fitness was paramount? concentrate for a long time. wrong or start thinking you product that accommodates How do you explain your One ofmy biggest rivals in Sometimes a guy could go have the wrong sail, the wrong the widest range possible of reign over the class? the Laser was Peter Tanscheidt very fast for 400 to 500 meters, gear,or the wrong technique. weights and physiques. No, I I have been in the class for a [also from Brazil, the 1991 but on a 1.5-mile leg he loses SEA & SEE/DPPI That guy is just sailing the don’t think there will be more very long time. My father has world champ]. He was seven boat better than you. The versions of the boat, as three owned a Laser since 1976, so years older than me and in Vaulting himself into the Laser teaches you that sailing annals of the Laser, Robert ORLENGHI/ iterations seems to be about when I was young I was some- Brazil he was unbeatable for a Scheidt takes a dip after the boat well counts so much. O B right. But you never know. times going out with him on long time. He was very fit and winning his second gold medal Whoever sails well wins. ARL

—BRUCE KIRBY the water and sailing the boat worked out a lot, so I grew up at the Athens . C Has your success spread

Reprinted from S AILING W ORLD A p r i l 2 007 of Bahrain in 2004, 86.4 nm in 27h:1m:22s >> Best Laser event long overdue for a repeat: 1974 Heavy-Air Laser Slalom in San Francisco, won by John Bertrand >> Required

the word of sailing to other parts of Brazil? Laser event. It got them wax- , Brazil, and Aus- begin to populate the water- It has helped. After my ing nostalgic about an event tralia to 100 entries or so, but front. “It wasn’t like it is today Olympic success, the sailing The they’d both long forgotten. Kingston offered several logis- where you have the top guys schools in Brazil had more “We got talking about what tic benefits that enabled orga- coming early and training for people going sailing,and more an amazing scene it was,” says nizers to open it up to a much several weeks in the venue,” people interested in the Laser. Kingston Neilson, thinking back to larger contingent of Laser says Jeff Martin, the current Sailing is not very big in Brazil, the 1980 Laser Worlds in sailors—including one dou- International Laser Class As- but it’s getting bigger. The Kingston, Ontario, a 350-com- blehanded women’s team sociation Executive Secretary, base is not so broad as it used Swarm petitor spectacle that spanned from . The boat’s and the regatta’s principle race to be, but the top is high qual- the better part of two weeks. builder, Performance Sail- officer. “Everyone just started ity now. The sailing is getting B Y DAVE Before Kingston, no one-de- craft, headed by the Laser’s co- showing up.” much more professional, REED sign class had ever attempted a founder Ian Bruce, was nearby On a single racetrack on which means not as many world championship of this in Montreal, simplifying the July 25, the opening day of the guys who start sailing can af- size (nor has anyone since). delivery of more than 130 regatta began the long labori- ford to take as seriously. PHOTOS BY But try they did and the result new boats. Most importantly ous process ofelimination, How did you manage over was a regatta ofepic propor- they had at their disposal which eventually earned the so many years to remain FRANÇOIS tions, a watershed event that the sprawling facility of regatta its title as “The Leisure motivated, keep it fun, and RICHARD cemented the Laser’s reputa- Portsmouth Olympic Harbor, Worlds.”Using rabbit starts not burn out? tion as the best big-fleet game host to the 1976 Olympic re- the sailors went through a I always tried to divide the in sailing. gatta, and ample beds in the drawn-out series ofround season well. After the worlds I ate last year, Terry “It seemed like it [the Laser] dorms of the local Queen’s robins to weed the field down took some time off and sailed Neilson, a 48-year- was suddenly a big deal,” says University. With pre-registra- to a 94-boat Championship other boats, played tennis and old software pro- , who at the time was tion required, organizers had Fleet (and a separate 20-boat other sports—staying fit, but fessional from 22. “An event this size proba- at least some scale of the women’s fleet). In an incredi- not sailing the laser. I’d come , Ontario, bly hadn’t been done because event’s attendance, but what ble choreography of race back two months later and I’d Lwas sharing a sauna with his there were few classes that they couldn’t predict was the management and boat rota- come back hungrier, ready to buddy Rob Muru, a teammate could provide boats at that additional onslaught of wives, tions, the racers were divided start things over again. This of his from ’s America’s kind ofvolume.” girlfriends, families, taga- into seven subgroups of 50 allowed me to hit my peaks at Cup challenge in 1983. On a A qualification system had longs, and spectators. boats, with each group sailing the right times. I wasn’t push- nearby shelf sat a trophy Muru kept previous world champi- Only days before the regatta each other group four times. ing too hard all year long,just had picked up at a district onships in (’74), did vans, cars, and bodies Six qualifying races and four when I needed to. Do you ever just go out and blast around the boat for the pure joy of it? It’s hard to go out and just have fun—whenever I’m in the Laser I just want to push. If I stop for one month and go back I get angry with my- self if I’m not sailing the boat as well as I can. I always need to compete against some- body. So if a friend wants to go out and do some tuning then, OK. I do go out with my girlfriend or nephews in the boat sometimes and have fun, but if I am alone I have to push hard. Everyone I’ve spoken with says there’s no way your world title record will be ever broken; what do you think? You never know, records are to be broken. It will take a tal- With more than 100 boats to ented, motivated, and keen rotate between 350 competitors in guy to do it. It’s not impossi- the round-robin eliminations at the ble, but it will be a hard thing 1980 Laser Worlds, the long waits to do. ! of launching and retrieving simply became part of the daily grind. reading: Sail Fit: Sailing Fitness &Training by Michael Blackburn >> Required viewing: The Boat Whisperer DVD by Steven Cockerill >> Best source for all things Laser: www.laserinternational.org

final races were eventually There was also a nearby go- Favini, , Lynne Jew- ly went on to be an America’s completed over the span of cart track, the scene of com- ell, and , to Cup sailor and bronze two weeks, many ofwhich plete four-wheel anarchy. “It name but only a few. medalist (’84). “This was a carried on into the waning was wild,” says Roy. “I recall “That’s what was really sig- time when there were a bunch hours of twilight. watching Dave Perry, who had nificant about this event—it of good sailors beating each “During those qualifying got out of his cart to try to was really about who was other up, and we were lucky to races some people had two, or push it back on the track, leap- there,” says Neilson, who was be beaten up because it made sometimes three, lay days,”says ing in the air to avoid Boner’s 21 at the time and subsequent- us sail a lot harder, and that Neilson. “When you had 100 [Terry Neilson] cart spinning went on to make a difference people sailing you had another out of control on a hairpin in other classes later.” 250 people hanging around turn that someone, I think Case in point: During one waiting,so it was quite a scene.” Boner, had intentionally of the regatta’s lay days, recalls There was little to no boat spilled oil on for a little added Roy, about 20 guys and girls work to be done before, after, excitement. Amazingly, no piled on board a 40-footer or between races, as there is ambulances were needed.” owned by Neilson’s father for nowadays, which only added One incident at the track, a cruise. “It was a perfect to idleness. “In previous however, did put Cam Lewis, Kingston summer day, with worlds you were given your one of the best young Ameri- an 18-knot thermal rolling in boat and you were free to can Laser sailors of the time, on schedule. The beers were tweak it—everyone would be briefly out of commission. “I flowing and the party was in sanding their blades and that got a cart that apparently full swing when someone kind of stuff,” says Baird. “In hadn’t been governored, and spotted a lone Laser sailor in Kingston, it was draw your boat and race. But the boats were so much simpler at that point; you only had to come up with a clever way to bring your compass along.” With so much free time, many of the competitors nat- Ayounger Ed Baird, top left, the kind with fanning puffs Far up the left-hand side of One of the great challenges of urally found themselves either won the spoils of the drawn- that drop from the sky at ran- the course he could see the this event was that you had a venturing into town in search out, 10-race series, when Terry dom, with gaping,windless signs of a developing sea different sail number every of mischiefor killing time di- Neilson, left, the regatta’s holes and unpredictable shifts. breeze so he and many others day so you couldn’t quickly leader found himself hung out rectly across the street from to dry in the last beat of the Baird woke that morning, tacked to starboard soon after figure out who was who.” the Olympic Harbor in final race. (Bottom left) In the looked outside, and liked rounding.“The top 12 or fif- Baird headed to the Harbor, Kingston’s notorious Lake- early days of Laser produc- what he saw. “I remember teen are heading out there [to figuring he’d missed Neilson’s view Manor. “You’d walk in tion, some boats were drier getting really excited because the left] and we’re just getting finish and assuming he was and there was this bar that than others. Multiple races I wanted it to be shifty and in to the breeze,” says Neilson. second overall. Only later, did served a good lunch,” says ended up at full throttle, spin- were sailed each day—lucky weird,” he says. “I just like the “And then it just shuts off.” he learn that Neilson had fin- competitors got in their race Neilson. “It had the video ning around and getting hit before the sun—and breeze— complicated nature of these Baird, meanwhile, had dug ished 58th, plummeting to games, there was usually a head-on. I wracked my balls disappeared. types of conditions.” into the right side where the ninth overall. band, and then ofcourse and couldn’t move my elbow. On paper, Neilson held a new breeze filled off the shore. “All the races counted,” says there’s a strip bar in the Having also met a “really nice full-hike mode well out past 16.5-point lead, but he was “It was the scariest race of the Neilson, who redeemed him- back—I think there was mud nurse at the hospital,” Lewis, Snake Island—maybe 4 to 5 shouldering heaps of pressure week because you could be in self by winning the 254-boat wrestling on Wednesdays— his arm in a sling, missed his miles from shore. We sailed as he slipped his boat into the the top-10 on your part of the Laser Worlds the following and that’s where most of us first race of the round-robin over to see who this nut might water. As the local star of the racecourse and then suddenly year in , , and would hang out after the race.” qualifiers and instantly accu- be, who would use a lay day to day, and this being big local be in the 50 to 60 range 2 min- today easily rationalizes how “The onshore activities and mulated 108 points. (He did, go out alone to beat himself news, as many as four Canadi- utes later,” says Baird. he let the big one get away. stories became even more leg- however, win his second race up.It was Russell.” an television news teams in- On the deck, just to the right “My undoing wasn’t really endary than the racing,” says but finished 67th overall). Coutts, only 18 at the time, terviewed him that morning. of his centerboard, he’d that race, it was earlier in the Andy Roy, now 49, of Toronto, It may have been one big was one of 94 that advanced The first legs of the race penned a complicated grid series when I had my 35th, Canada. “This included a lazy regatta for some competi- to the four-race Gold-fleet fi- were challenging for Neilson; showing the finish positions of which didn’t leave me with a Kingston pub crawl, where a tors, but most were naturally nals, but after three heats, one he bounced around the mid- those who were around him in good drop.” few guys got acquainted with out for the big title. There of which he won, he was rele- dle of the fleet, in and out of the standings. “I had figured Still, he adds,“it was a drag,” the local constabulary, and a were dozens of great sailors of gated as a spectator to the re- the lead, until he turned onto out how many places I needed because events like this only “pass the boot” beer drinking the era that ultimately never gatta’s extraordinary final the final leg in 14th place or to finish ahead of and behind come but once in a lifetime. game at the old Manor. What went pro, there were many of race, which could not have so—a position that all but as- certain guys, and when I fin- was especially scary about that today’s top sailors making been better scripted. sured him the win, so long as ished fourth I could see that Editor’s note: To see a copy of game was that a few contestants their career starts; here were The night before, a stormy he held his own.“All the good none of the guys that had to the full results, including the had previously overindulged the likes ofBaird, Andrew cold front swept through guys were up there, just ahead beat me did, so I knew I was women’s finals, won by Marit in the bar’s 25-cent hot dog Menkhart, , John Kingston, and in its trail fol- of me,” he says. “I just didn’t OK. It was just a matter of how Soderstrom, visit www.sailing special.” Cutler, , Flavio lowed a blustery north breeze, have to do anything stupid.” far behind me the others were. world.com

Reprinted from S AILING W ORLD A p r i l 2 007 >> First world champion: (Bermuda, ’74) >> Stars of the next generation: Royce Weber, of New Jersey, Kyle Rogachenko, of Pennsylvania, and Charlie Buckingham, of

The Anti-Aging Antidote

B Y DICK TILLMAN, facet of the Laser sailing expe- veyors of the anti-aging atti- Master from Vero Beach, Fla. knew in Miami—with apolo- At the Midwinters that year, Masters sailors convene every rience. Why now? The answer tude. Longevity comes not “Nick James and Alan gies to ‘Old Man’ Gonzalo James announced a special February at the Jack Swenson PHOTOS BY CHRIS ODOM is simple. The class’s earlier from pills or medications, but Broadribb came to my house Diaz—was a fellow in his late award for the first Master to Memorial Regatta in Palm Beach, generations are starting to re- from a certain 14-foot high- for dinner after the Miami 40s named Ben Verloop. We finish, with the criteria being Fla. From l to r, Newt Wattis, David Frazier, Peter Seidenberg, fyou ask a master Laser they take the oversized hiking cover their free time and re- performance dinghy. Boat Show in 1980,”says Hart- discussed the need for a mas- the winner had to be 35 or and Joe Van Rossem. sailor at what age stick from my cold, dead turning to the boat that most The relatively short path man. “The Midwinter Cham- ter’s award, and possibly a older. The award, a pair of they’ll stop racing, hands.”This seems true now likely addicted them to sailing to the beginnings oforga- pionship was the following master’s category, patterned briefbikini underwear, was ter categories are included in you’ll likely get the uni- more than ever as masters in the first place. But beyond nized Laser masters racing weekend in Apollo Beach, Fla., after similar groups in other presented to Jack Couch. nearly all events. There are versal—and perfectly racing, for those age 35 and the obvious attraction to the leads straight to David Hart- and we talked about ‘old guys’ ‘big dinghies’ like the Thistle, Today, masters-level racing masters-only events at the re- Iacceptable—response, “When up, becomes a vital, growing boat, master sailors are pur- man, 65, the Great Grand sailing Lasers. The oldest guy I Star, Lightning, and Snipe. is firmly entrenched and mas- gional, national, continental,

Reprinted from S AILING W ORLD A p r i l 2 007 Reprinted from S AILING W ORLD A p r i l 2 007 California >> Optimum road-trip, sleep-able fuel-efficient Laser rig: Van or pickup truck with cap, racks, & window curtains >> Ideal Laser sailing venue: Columbia River Gorge, Oregon

and world levels, with four di- maintaining a high level of visions: Apprentice, age 35 to training, practice, and physi- BEST OF THE MASTERS EVENTS 44; Master, age 44 to 54; Grand cal fitness. In this regard, espe- Master, age 55 to 64; Great cially among U.S.Laser sailors, CALIFORNIA MASTERS CHAMPIONSHIP Grand Master, age 65 and up. Peter Seidenberg, 69, and the Mission Bay YC, April 14-15 There are a dozen masters- current Great Grand Master LASER MASTERS U.S. CHAMPIONSHIP only events around the coun- world champion, is in a class Wrightsville Beach, NC, May 18-20 try that regularly draw 30 to by himself. LASER MASTERS NAS 100 competitors or more (see “I believe in the saying that Austin, Texas, June 1-3 events box) and many of the ‘nothing beats time in the NC LASER MASTERS sailors attend the same events boat’ and, since my retirement Oriental, N.C., June 23-24 year after year. three years ago [as founder CANADIAN MASTERS NATIONALS “Many of the master sailors and President of Seitech Dol- Vancouver, B.C., September 1-3 have owned and raced dinghies lies], I sail as much as possi- CHESAPEAKE BAY MASTERS and keelboats ofvarious ble,” says Seidenberg, of Fishing Bay, Va, Sept. 8-9 sizes,” says Hartman. “But Portsmouth, R.I. “I train on NEW ENGLAND MASTERS here’s the appeal of the the water with three or four Newport, R.I., Sept. 8-9 Laser—it’s simple. No crew, friends one afternoon during MASTERS ATLANTIC COAST CHAMPIONSHIP easy logistics, and low expense the week (from spring to fall) Rock Hall, Md. Sept. 29-30 make it a great way to escape and race in as many weekend 2007 MASTERS WORLD CHAMPIONSHIP the everyday world. For most regattas as I reasonably can. Roses, Catalonia, , Sept. 29 – Oct. 6 of us, competing is winning.” Even though the Laser is a For more dates and venue specifics, www.laser.org James Liebl, 38, a scrap comparatively simple boat, salesman and apprentice mas- there is always something new each other on nearly a daily philosophical types, better ter, says he has multiple rea- to learn on how to sail it more basis in the months before the able to make sense ofwhat sons for racing the ubiquitous successfully, which is what fas- worlds, and placed first and makes the experience of Laser cinates me and keeps me in- second, respectively, in the sailing so unique. Dave Olson, Great grand master David ing to the wind conditions sticky issue of kinetics. terested in the sport.” Masters division. winner of the first World Mas- Hartman and master Eric and the ability of the sailors to “Some guys tend to com- The Laser is a very physical Since then, for my part, my ters Games in 1985 and a pro- Robbins (above), and enjoyably handle them. plain about the younger guys boat and rewards fitness and sailing has been at a more ca- lific Laser sailor of the late apprentice masters James “Masters tend to be heavier, because of their better kinet- agility, and this also appeals to sual level, racing in an occa- ’80s, was one these, and wrote Liebl, and Michelle Davis (below) are regulars on the so the average competitive ics, especially at open regat- Seidenberg.His physical con- sional regatta and doing my about masters racing in The popular Florida midwinter weight is higher,” says Ed tas,” says Adams, “It’s a young ditioning includes two yoga best; however, I haven’t com- Complete Book ofLaser Sailing Laser masters circuit. Adams, of Middletown, R.I., a man’s boat and when you race classes per week, as well as pletely forsaken practice. In [Ed’s note: the author wrote the past masters world champi- against them they’re supposed yoga stretches every morning preparing for this years’ Jack book, which was published by on.“In a regular full-rig Laser, to beat you—it’s not supposed to stay flexible. He lifts weights Swenson Florida Laser Mas- International Marine in 2005.] the competitive weight is to be fair.” in his basement gym on three ters Regatta in Palm Beach, “It’s not just the scoring about 180 to 185, and in mas- “These regattas do have a mornings per week and bicy- Fla., a fixture on the East Coast that’s different from other ters racing you really want to different atmosphere to them cles three mornings, either winter masters circuit, Hart- Laser regattas,” he writes. “A weigh about 10 pounds more than Open regattas,” says outdoors on his mountain man, Liebl, and I launched our different atmosphere and phi- because you’re not able to Michelle Davis, 38, a wildlife bike or inside on a stationary Lasers (using Radial rigs) at losophy is present at Masters hike as hard as the young biologist who sailed Lasers as bike. Reading racing-related Port Canaveral, sailed out into regattas. The words congenial- guys. Lighter guys like me can a teenager and bought her literature, he says, especially in the open ocean, beat to wind- ity and fraternity come to get pummeled on the really first boat in 2002 when she the winter months, keeps him ward for an hour, then surfed mind. When you go to a Mas- windy days.” moved to Miami. “It’s nice to mentally focused. downwind in huge waves. ters regatta you sense an al- While the elders may be go to Masters events and feel There are, however, many “I’m probably preaching to most subliminal understand- given preferential treatment like I am among my peers, masters, at all levels, who ap- the choir, but racing dinghies ing that everyone has been on the scoreboard at the end since we all have work or fam- proach it more casually. Now may be the perfect sport— busy fulfilling countless re- 14-footer, and every single sailors to show up and com- of the day, that’s typically not ilies cutting into our sailing 70 years old and five years in you get to play on a boat, you sponsibilities, and now they one of them has a common pete with some hope ofsuc- the case on the water, where time. I’m always intrigued by to my Grand Master status, I get a mental challenge, you are coming together to have denominator—fun. “Sailing cess. To compensate for age the racing is mostly blind to the different backgrounds and fall into this group.The last can socialize, you can com- some good clean fun in order Lasers is a blast,” he says. “The differences, and determine the age brackets and the competi- careers people have. It’s also time I had a distinct goal of pete, and you create no green- to rejuvenate the body and bottom line is that Laser sail- overall winner of a regatta, 3 tion at the front of the fleet is nice to see other women out winning an event—the 2002 house gasses,” says Liebl. spirit . . . Conviviality develops ing is a good time, and Mas- points per race are added to often populated by Olympic there, although we are too few Laser Master Worlds—I “Want to be a better sailor? so that all participants have a ters sailing is just another ex- the Apprentices’ scores, 2 the playing field and encour- and America’s Cup veterans. and far between. The men I trained for nearly a year and Then come race, because good time and, despite the ad- cuse to go sail the Laser.” points per race are added to aging sailors of all ages, sex, Yet, as if driven by an unwrit- meet at regattas have always went to major regattas, in- every time you race, you’re verse circumstances and con- Another strong attraction, the Masters’ scores, and 1 and weights to compete is al- ten ethos, racecourse conduct treated me as an equal and cluding the Rolex Miami going to learn something.” ditions that can occasionally says Liebl, is the age-based point is added to the Grand lowing competitors to switch at any Masters event is always with respect.” OCR, for practice. That year, Master sailors, often at a develop at any regatta, they handicap scoring system, Masters’ scores. The Great between the Standard (76 sq. mature and good-natured. Many of the regulars, espe- and Mark Bear,a point in their lives where they leave with a warm, comfort- which has been in use for Grand Masters receive no ad- ft. of sail area), Radial (62 sq. Verbal jabs, however, are par cially those who compete at 49-year-old Professor of Neu- can look back on the richness able feeling of fatigue of the many years in North America. ditional points. ft.), and 4.7 (50 sq. ft.) sails for the course, as are the occa- the national and world levels, roscience at M.I.T., had a sim- and challenges of their life ex- body and a quiet renewal of The system encourages older Another method of leveling throughout a regatta accord- sional grumblings over the take the sailing quite serious, ilar goal, and trained with periences, tend to be mature the soul.” !

Reprinted from S AILING W ORLD A p r i l 2 007 Reprinted from S AILING W ORLD A p r i l 2 007