Queensland Laser Titles entice long range competitors
by Michael Wilson on 2 Mar 2015
Queensland State Laser Championships Julie Hartwig
http://www.juliehartwigphotography.ifp3.com/
The Queensland Laser State Championship is being held this weekend seventh and 8th March at the Royal Queensland Yacht Club (RQYS) in Brisbane and in a display of strength from regional clubs the regatta is attracting entrants from all over the State.
The longest travel will be by Lake Tinaroo sailor Marcus Bulstrode. Lake Tinaroo Sailing Club in Far North Queensland on the Atherton Tableland is some 1,700 kilometre by road from Brisbane. This must be an Australian record for the longest intrastate travel to a regatta! But Marcus is certainly not the only competitor who will clock up the miles with long distance sailors from other northern clubs Townsville (1,400km),and the recently cyclone affected centres of Mackay, and Keppel Bay.
Other clubs represented from outside Brisbane are Tin Can Bay, Humpybong, Paradise Point and Southport while NSW clubs Clarence River and Belmont will also be represented. It’s a major effort for competitors to travel this far and they must be commended for their effort and enthusiasm.
Queensland Laser Association Chairperson Lyndall Patterson expects almost 70 entrants for the regatta which is forecast to enjoy moderate breezes for the Saturday and Sunday races. In the Standard rig fleet defending champion William Bates in Elevate will be pushed hard again by last year’s runner up the very experienced Brad Taylor in Mystic. In the Radials Mark Kennedy will carry the favourites tag. The 4.7 fleet also has sailors like Emma Barsi from Townsville and John Hatfield from Mackay who will be looking to upset the Brisbane sailors.
The regatta will hold two races on Saturday 7th March and three races on Sunday 8th March at RQYS on the shores of Waterloo Bay.
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