Wild and windy Day 3 of ISAF Sail the World

Competitors assemble for the Ice Breaker Regatta, part of the ISAF Centenary at Manly Sailing Club Event Media

A birthday cake for the ISAF Centenary at Manly Sailing Club © Event Media

These conditions provided a real test for those sailors who were brave enough to experience these early spring conditions. There were 65 sailors across the Laser 4.7, Laser Radial and Laser Standard fleets, which was less than expected, as the wintry conditions kept many sailors at home.

The Laser 4.7 fleet sailed on the inner course with less seaway than the outer course but consequently had big winds shifts from the sheltering cliffs. The Sailors had to use all the skills they had learnt at the previous 2 day training camp just to stay in the boats. The 4.7s managed to get their 5 scheduled races completed with 3 in the morning and 2 after lunch.

Travis Dow from Whangarei Cruising Club showed why he is the 2007 NZ National Champion in the Laser 4.7 with 3 wins in the Morning. He was followed by the pack of Scott Tillet, Daniel Jones, Chris Steele, Sarah Thom and Robert Pasco all sitting on 12 to 14 Points. Straight after lunch Travis had a 5th which gave some hope to the pack, but he won the last race to take the Title easily.

Jo and Chris cut the cake at the ISAF Centenary at Manly Sailing Club © Event Media

Chris Steele 2007 World Optimist Champion showed his sailing talent by improving over the Regatta. Chris had first sailed in a Laser 4.7 the day before and remarked with a big smile on his face when sailing the 4.7 out to race after lunch 'that it was the fastest he had ever gone in a sailboat!' Chris had two 5th places in the first 2 races of the day but finished with three 2nds, to take 2nd place 1 point ahead of 1st Girl and 3rd overall Sarah Thom and 5 points ahead of 4th Robert Pasco.

Daniel Jones and Scott Tillet did not do as well in the afternoon and Nick Croft, another fast improving ex Opti sailor, had a good afternoon with 1st and 4th to move up to 6th overall. The NZ Laser Association is pleased with the growth of the Laser 4.7 class and with 17 sailors taking part over the course of the Training camp & Regatta and will now provide support for a Team of 4.7 Sailors to go the Laser 4.7 Worlds in Croatia in August 2008.

The Association will also be arranging more 4.7 Regatta to help Travis Dow prepare for the 2007 Worlds in South Africa at the end of this year.

Racing at the ISAF Centenary at Manly Sailing Club © Event Media

Laser 4.7 Fleet

The Laser Radials & Standard Rigs battled the full force of the wind and waves over long testing courses which led to a few sailors deciding that they wouldn’t be going out again after lunch and that only 4 races could be completed.  In the Standard Rigs Aaron Hume-Merry from Evans Bay in Wellington sailed well all day in winds that to him were just a Gentle Zephyr, while his softer mates from Auckland went home after lunch.  Aaron won 1^st overall and 1^st Youth.  Murray Thom proved that some sailors from Auckland have some backbone, and did very well in the conditions he loves, to take 2^nd overall and 1^st Master.  Andy Maloney from Kerikeri was 3^rd overall and 2^nd Youth.  Pete Thomas from South Africa also sailed very well to take 4^th overall and 2^nd Master with another Auckland sailor and long time servant of the NZ Laser Association Bob Blakey taking 5^th overall and 1^st Grand Master.

 Standard Rig Fleet

In the Laser Radials, 2006 World Apprentice Master Champion Mark Orams had a good battle with 2007 World Apprentice Master 2^nd place getter Mark Page and New Zealand’s top Female sailors Sara Winther & Jo Aleh. Jo Aleh who has just returned for China where she won Silver in the Olympic Test event, found the conditions the complete opposite to what she has been preparing and training for in China where they struggle to get wind.  That said, Jo did very and beat most of her heavier male opponents finishing 4^th overall and 2^nd Women.  Sara did really well with 2nds beating both Marks at some point in the Regatta, unfortunately she had the only OCS out of 65 boats over 13 races and that put paid to her chances of the overall Title, but she does get the prize of being the OOD for the Manly Boxing Day Regatta and of course 3^rd overall and 1^st women.  Mark Orams won beating Mark Page by 2 points but I thought I heard someone say that Mark Orams sail was lot newer!  Andrew Childs sailed well to win first youth and he was very happy when he won the spot prize of a Rooster Radial Training Sail!  Not a bad return for the $15 entry fee

Radial Fleet

At the Prize giving Manly Sailing Club were pleased to welcome some ISAF guests including Hal Wagstaff former ISAF International Vice-President, David Cook - former Chairman of the ISAF Centreboard Committee and Richard Endean - former Chairman of the ISAF Match Racing Committee.  Hal Wagstaff gave a touching and memorable speech about ISAF and the 100 year Birthday celebrations and presented a Birthday Cake which he got Jo Aleh and Chris Steele to cut.  Sailors and Guests then went home to bed and slept like they had been partying all weekend after being beaten up on the water all day, except of course for Aaron Hume-Merry who could not see what everyone was complaining about!