2015 US Laser Masters Nationals wrap-up

by St. Francis Yacht Club on 20 Aug 2015 Over the weekend, St. Francis Yacht Club welcomed 25 Laser sailors to compete in the US Laser Master Nationals. From the earliest days of the class when Don Trask introduced the boat to our Bay, StFYC has existed at the heartbeat of the Laser class.

Memories of “The Laser Generation” fill our halls and influence our on-the-water ways. In introducing the 2015 Laser Masters competitors in the Starting Line Room, Vice Commodore Kimball Livingston provided a warm welcome, an historical perspective and then a friendly: “A bunch of old guys in little boats—what could possibly go wrong?”

Save for the heat wave that brought a couple of light-air mornings and minor delays, the weekend’s racing was flawless. PRO Kevin Reeds and his team of Race Committee volunteers ran nine races over three days, “with flawless execution—great start lines, perfect course position and length,” says Committee Chair Tracey Usher. “The Laser Class will try to make him PRO for life!”

Usher describes the Laser Master Nationals regatta: “Racing was on a flood to ebb transition, a bit more flood than ebb by the last day. Friday saw the most sustained wind during the day with the peak by the end of racing in the mid-20s. Saturday and Sunday were affected by the heat wave with late developing sea breezes but still very good conditions plus plenty of sunshine and very warm.

“Peter Vessella started fast out of the blocks on Friday by winning all three races and then continued to sail consistently over the next two days to win the Master Nationals and, in fact, he did not really need to sail the final race. The rest of the fleet had tough battles through the three days with the conditions providing excellent racing.

Vessella won the Grandmaster division and was first overall, followed by me, Tracy Usher, second in the Grandmaster and second overall. Al Sargent was first in the Master division and third overall. Jon Andron won the Great Grandmaster division (beating 11-time Masters World Champion Peter Seidenberg) and was fifth overall. Kurt Wessels placed second in the Masters division.”

Off the water, the fleet enjoyed excellent camaraderie in the club: a sit-down dinner Friday night, a pasta bar on Saturday (including a free show, watching kites and board racing on the Bay) and a taco bar to compliment the trophy ceremony on Sunday. Says Usher, “Laser Masters regattas are not only about racing hard on the water but then getting together afterwards to tell each other how good they are. The St. Francis Yacht Club has a well deserved reputation for putting on great racing and great social events and this event did not disappoint.”