2015 Kingston Laser Masters’ World Championships - Preview

by Marianne Davis on 12 Jul 2015 Tonight Kingston welcomes 260 master sailors representing 26 Nations for the 2015 Laser Masters’ World Championships. Some of the competitors are returning to Kingston for the second time, as they competed in the 1980 Kingston Laser World Championships. The opening ceremonies will be held tonight at 1900 at the Kingston Yacht Club. All Master Sailors will be welcomed by Kingston’s Honorable Mayor Brian Paterson.

There are nine different aged categories in this event. 2014 Laser Standard Master Champion, Bret Beyers representing Australia will compete against 52 other competitors in the Laser Master Class, including United States’ Scott Ferguson who placed third in 2014. The Laser Standard Apprentice class will consist of 17 competitors, and the 2014 World Champion Adonis Bougiouris, Greece. Grand Master Canadian, Any Roy, is a high contender to podium at this event, he placed second in the 2014 worlds, only one point behind the winner. With 59 other competitors in the category it will be the largest fleet at the regatta. The Laser Standard Great Grand Master category consists of 15 sailors, including the 2014 silver and bronze Laser 4.7 GGM medalists, Mark Bethwaite, Australia, and Robert Blakey New Zealand.

In the Radial Apprentice category, 13 sailors will compete, including 2014 silver medalist Scott Leith, New Zealand. Radial Masters have 15 sailors from six different nations competing. Australia’s Jeff Loose more and Great Britain’s Terry Scutcher will be contenders to podium in the Radial Grand Master World Champion, as the two finished second and third overall in 2014. Radial Great Grand Masters category consists of 33 competitors, including 2014 World Champion Keith Wilkings representing Great Britain. 11 competitors will compete in the 75+ Radial age category.

Today was a beautify day for the Laser Master Practice Race, with sunny skies and 14 knots of breeze. Tomorrow marks the first day of Laser Master World Championship Racing in Kingston. Racing will run daily from July 12- 18, with the first signal of each day scheduled for 1200.