Two NZ World Champions at 2008 World Laser Master Championships
2008 World Champion Mark Orams reaching to victory today
2008 World Champion Gill Waiting sailing on Day 5
New Zealand has two new World Champions at the completion of the 2008 World Laser Master Championship today. Mark Orams who has previously won the Laser Radial Open and Apprentice Masters World Championships, lost half of his slender lead after the first race today, but rallied to win the last race and win the 2008 World Radial Master Championships by 5 points. Gill Waiting from Napier sailed well all Regatta and as well as wining the 2008 Women's World Radial Grand Master Championship she also finished 23rd overall in the Men's Radial Grand Master Fleet.
The event organisers hosted an outstanding closing ceremony with free drinks and a wonderful dinner at the Crowne Plaza. The hallowed Laser Cubes were awarded to winners of their respective divisions and all the competitors, their families and friends were invited to Nova Scotia, Canada to enjoy the big waves and wind (Yeah Right) expected at the 2009 World Laser Championships. Other Cube winners from NZ were Tom Speed 3rd Radial Great Grand Master, Jim Quinn 4th Radial Great Grand Master and Rohan Lord 2nd Standard Apprentice Master. All the Kiwis sailors enjoyed the Terrigal hospitality extended to them by the many people involved in hosting the World Championships and are now starting their training and buying drysuits for 2009.
Radial World Champions & place getters. From left NZL' Tom Speed, Jim Quinn, Middle Mark Orams with his children holding the trophies. Gill Waiting is standing in the Front Row extreme right
From left, Glen Sowry 6th Radial Master, Gill Waiting Womans World Laser Radial Grand Master Champion, Steve Cockerill (GBR) 2nd Radial Master and pushed Mark Orams hard until final race.
Two 2008 World Masters Champions
2008 Women's Laser Radial Championship
2008 Men's Laser Radial World Championship
2008 Youth Laser Radial World Championship
Build Up to the Olympic Games by Jo Aleh