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NZL's Mark Orams moves closer to World Title
NZL's Dean Stanley from Worser Bay rounds the gate amongst his fleet in Green and another Gold Fleet photo C&C images
Quote below from International Laser Class Association (ILCA) email dated 13 September 2007 to all entrants at the 2008 World Laser Masters Championships:
“2008 World Laser Masters
Championship
After
reviewing the entry list the
organisers
are aware that some entrants are taking part in their first major Laser event
and have asked ILCA to
emphasise
to sailors that the racing area is in open water and subject to strong winds and
big waves.
The
organisers
have asked ILCA to remind sailors of clause 23 in the Notice of Race
particularly the statement:
"By entering in the championship and deciding to race a competitor
warrants that he or she is in good health and a competent sailor capable of
racing a Laser in open water in 25 knot winds."
If you have any doubts about your ability to race offshore in
strong winds and large waves you might like to re-consider your
entry.”
Quote below from
“Yeah Right”
Quote below from the
Macquarie Australian Dictionary Terrigal edition:
“Wind –
Noun
- air
in natural motion, as that moving horizontally at any velocity along the
earth's surface
- Light
wind : 0-1 knot
- Medium
wind 1- 3 knots
- Strong
wind 3-5 knots
Unfortunately for the
367 sailors from around the world, no-one at the International Laser Class
Association had the Macquarie Australian Dictionary Terrigal edition on hand
when event organisers informed them about the Strong winds!
In what has been the biggest con-job since the millennium bug most competitors are wondering why they brought their hiking straps & hiking pants, and why the organisers ever thought that they would be able to sail 14 races a day on the same course. There have been times when races could have been sailed, but with only one course, half the fleet is ashore while winds are acceptable. When the 2nd half of the fleet gets a turn all that is left is steep slop and no wind. Thankfully today the standard rigs had a turn in the breeze, while radial fleet felt like they where slopping around with a handkerchief as a sail and when all 367 boats are on the water at the same time with the Standard fleets finishing their last races and the Radial fleets sailing their first and the fleets overlap it is nightmare.
Judge boat watches Taupo's Steve Fox as he heads up the 2nd beat photo C&C images
Kiwi sailors have done well though with lightwind specialist Edmund Tam having is best day so far with a 5 & 2 moving him up to 3rd overall in the Radial Apprentice Master fleet. Mark Orams had another hard day at the office where he had to come from behind in the first race and managed to pass 6 boats on the 2nd beat with superior tactics to take 2 wins and move into first place, 5 points clear of the "Boat Whisperer" from GBR, Steve Cockerill. Richard Inson also had a great day in the Radial Grand Master Fleet, with a 5 & a win, moving up to 5th overall. Tom Speed had his first win of the Regatta and led his Radial Great Grand Master fleet by a comfortable margin around the course. Tom lies 3rd overall 13 points behind the leader Peter Seidenberg from USA.
In the Standard Fleets, Rohan Lord had another good day with two 2nds but is slowly losing ground on defending champion from AUS Brett Beyer who won both races and leads Rohan by 4 points. Andrew Dellabarca had a better day and moves up to 9th overall. Murray Thom in the Masters fleet is also slowly slipping from the leaders with 15th & 7th. Murray like the rest of the sailors here would really like some more wind. Bob Blakey had a better day in the Grand Masters with 13 & 14 moving him up to 15th, two points behind Peter Griffiths. Terrigal is a lovely seaside resort, just needs some more wind to be any good for sailing.
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