Kiwis going well at half way mark of Laser Master Worlds
by Kristine Lederis on 14 Mar 2012
Kristine Lederis
After three days of racing in Sunny Queensland, several kiwis are proving their form at the Laser World Masters. Championships. New Zealanders are in the top six of every Laser Standard or Laser Radial division.
NZ is not represented in the smaller Laser 4.7 fleet, but spread amongst the other divisions is 22 Kiwi sailors from all around the country.
New Zealand’s two time previous (2010 + 2011) World Laser Radial Apprentice Master Scott Leith is clearly leading the fleet with a six point lead having won five of six races so far. It is only half way through the regatta and Edmund Tam also in the Apprentice division (for sailors aged 35-44) is not far behind Scott, he is currently in fourth place.
Mark Orams also has a long history of successes in these events, having won the 1999 Laser Radial World Championships and Laser World Masters in 2005 and 2008. Mark and Hamish Atkinson currently sit in third and fifth respectively of the Radial Masters division- the biggest fleet at this regatta for sailors aged 45-54.
In the Radial Grand Master division Michael Keeton is in a tight battle with Australian Adam French for first overall. After six races for this division of 55-64 year olds they are just two points apart and Michael currently sits in second. Pete Thomas is only a few points further behind in fifth.
In the Radial Great Grand Master division, Robert Blakey, one of the 65+ year old sailors, sits fifth.
New Zealanders are also doing very well in the Laser Standard divisions. Rob Woodward and Kent Copplestone are nicely positioned in fourth and fifth of the Standard Apprentice division, and Andrew Dellabarca sits fourth in the Standard Master division. Grand Master Nick Page is in sixth.
The 2012 Laser World Masters Championships runs from 9 – 17 March at the Royal Queensland Yacht Squadron in Manly. 233 sailors from 19 countries are taking part in eight divisions.
Wednesday March 14th was a rest day for all divisions, racing will resume on Thursday until the World champions in each division are named on Saturday March 17th.
Follow the New Zealanders results and read more about the event on the event website.
http://www.rqys.com.au/index.php/2012-world-laser-masters-championship
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