Day 1 Laser Masters Worlds

by Di Pearson on 17 Feb 2008 The sun came out and so did the wind and Reef Restaurant Day 1 racing was put to bed, the Laser Radial fleet sailed one of the two scheduled races, getting away late as light airs moved around the compass making it impossible for officials to start racing.

Scott Leith (NZL) was the first winner of the day, taking first prize in the Radial Apprentice division from Richard Bott (AUS) and James Liebl (USA) in a truly international top three.

“It was lovely in the end,” said Leith. “We got around 8 knots of south-easterly, there were a few patches; it was hard to get it right all the time. I went 1-2-1-2-1 throughout the race – it was tricky! I just kept plugging away. I got to second on the last tack. It was a very close finish with the winner David Early (AUS),” he said.

Paul Miller’s day did not go as well with a 23rd place. “I got a bad start,” said the Aussie in the same division Leith. “I didn’t do too good, but I enjoyed the breeze when it came.”

Mark Orams (NZL) came home first in the Radial Master from 2006 and reigning world champion Greg Adams and American Chris Raab.

A smiling Raab commented: “It was really good for me out there. There are seven world champions in my group and I managed to sail through two Kiwis and a Brit at the finish – and I have sailed a Laser for a while, so I think that’s cool! The first couple in our fleet got away fast and there was no catching them,” he said.

“I nearly got seasick waiting for racing to start. The Race Committee was very patient; they were very professional, they waited to get good breeze and they didn’t give up too early like some others might – that was good,” Raab added.

Five-time and reigning world champion Lyndall Patterson was first home in the Women’s Masters from Jan Kemp and Vanessa Dudley who tells: “It was good racing, but still very shifty when we started; the wind was up and down a lot. The Race Committee did the right thing in waiting,” she said.

“It was a bit of a tough first day,” 32nd placed Radial Master John Fullerton said. “Waiting around was hard, a few of the guys got sick in the swell, but it didn’t worry me. When we got away the water was disturbed and lumpy,” the British competitor said.

“I was a bit unprepared. I made a few mistakes, but for a first race, I couldn’t complain. They set a great course,” he added.

Poopy Marcon from France sailed off with a win in the Radial Grand Master division, beating Lew Verdon (AUS) and Ian Rawet (GBR) to the finish line.

Ian Collin (AUS), who finished 15th in Grand Master division said the racing was good. “Excellent conditions. Committee were great to wait out the soft conditions, it was very good timing. I’m glad we got a race in, but I’m glad we did just the one, it got a bit tiring after the waiting,” the Belmont sailor said

Defending his 2007 Great Grand Master crown, Peter Seidenberg started the regatta as he means to go on, winning Race 1 from two New Zealanders, Colin Maddren in second and Tom Speed third in what has been a good day all round for the Kiwis.

The Standard fleet was not so lucky. Called onto the water, their various start hooters sounded. Apprentice Tony Baisden (AUS) picks up the story: “It was fairly uneventful really. We had half a race then they (race committee) pulled the pin because we got a big left hand shift which unfairly advantaged some,” he said.

“It was good to hit the water and get a feel for conditions though,” Baisden said.

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For results all information on the Gosford Sailing Club hosted Laser Masters Worlds go to: http://aus08.laserinternational.org/