Laser SB3 Worlds - Opening practice race

by Katie Ashworth on 22 Sep 2008
137 SB3s have gathered in Dun Laoghaire, Ireland for the inaugural Laser SB3 World Championships. Some competitors have travelled from as far as Australia, the United Arab Emirates and America. Dun Laoghaire basked in sunshine as the fleet launched for the Practice race on Sunday.

Dun Laoghaire basked in sunshine as measurement, registration and launching of the 137 boat fleet was undertaken. Now that this is all but complete, there is tangible anticipation as the fleet make final preparations to their boats for the start of racing on Monday. The line up of past Olympians, National, European and World Champions will compete for the title of SB3 World Champion and the honour of lifting the stunning Waterford Crystal World Championship Trophy on Friday 26 September.

The fleet raced in two flights for the practice race - winners were Mike Budd (GBR 3475) and Mark Rushall (GBR 3467) with Robert Howe (IRL 3338) and David Lenz (GBR 3106) taking the runner-up places.

Fourteen races are scheduled for the five day regatta with a maximum of two discards. Qualifying races will be held on two courses over the first three days before the fleet is split into Gold and Silver Fleets for the final two days racing.

Principal Race Officer, Jack Roy has more than 20 years experience as a race officer and will preside over Course 1. The National Yacht Club’s Honorary Sailing Secretary, Con Murphy will take control over Course 2. Over 60 race officials will be afloat to ensure the smooth delivery of this event on the water.

Dockside banter amongst the fleet is rife and the chat in the bar draws one conclusion - that the book remains wide open for this event. There are obvious favourites, Geoff Carveth, Gareth Flannigan, Jerry Hill, Sean Craig, Dave Cheyne, Craig Burlton, Colin Simonds, Mike Budd, Dave Lenz, Dave Hudson but with a list so long anything could happen, but one thing is for sure, this week is going to see top level sailors competing on the level playing field that the SB3 provides.

Laser SB3 Worlds - Leading positions, Practice Race, Sunday (65 entries)

1 GBR 3475 Mike Budd Nick Craig Neil Hughston 1.5
1 GBR 3467 Mark Rushall Liz Rushall James Baxter Charlotte Savage 1.5
3 IRL 3338 Robert Howe Joanne Sheehy Gerret Kinnane 3.5
3 GBR 3106 David Lenz Will Harrison-Cripps Victoria Lenz Clare Molloy 3.5
5 GBR 3509 Nico Honor Paul Bedell Ian Mills Duncan Adams 5.5
5 IRL 3240 Ger Owens John Malone David Quinn 5.5
7 RSA 3451 David Hudson Roger Hudson Alan Hudson Wandisile Xayimpi 7.5
7 GBR 3082 Mark Richards Craig Mitchell Chris Gould 7.5
9 GBR 3152 Guy Jackson Jorgen Stromquist James Moore 9.5
9 GBR 3021 Charlie Whelan Richard McAdam Keith Lyon 9.5
11 IRL 3281 Sean Craig Laura Fitzpatrick Rachel MacManus Eavan Gannon 11.5
11 UAE 3360 Hannes Waimer Max Waimer Hendrik Witzmann 11.5
13 GBR 3070 Greg Booth Roger Lacey James Hiller 13.5
13 GBR 3053 Geoff Carveth Roger Gilbert Sarah Allan Roz Allen 13.5
15 ITA 3188 Vincenzo Graciotti Giovanni Tricarico Nicolo Fasoli 15.5
15 IRL 3322 Robert Cahill Denis O' Sullivan tba 15.5
17 FRA 3024 Luc Videau Coz Francois Michael Morisot Pascal Lacoste 17.5
17 GBR 3081 Jonno Brech Magnus Anderson Robert Bird 17.5
19 IRL 3324 Kieran Dorgan Kieran Dorgan Gareth Dorgan David Horgan 19.5
19 IRL 3306 Theo Lyttle Chris Arrowsmith Adrian Waters 19.5
21 GBR 3149 Mark Gillett Nick Jones Simon Lomas-Clarke 21.5
21 GBR 3527 Richard Stenhouse Jon Whitehead James Whitehead 21.5
23 GBR 3060 Stewart Reed tba tba 23.5
23 IRL 3500 Peter Kennedy Dave Cheyne Stephen Kane 23.5
25 IRL 3260 Adam Winkelmann Trevor Hall Conor Colleary 25.5
25 IRL 3059 David Barry Gareth Nolan Kieran Foley 25.5
27 GBR 3335 Lloyd Hamilton Mike Barham Glyn Deakin 27.5
27 GBR 3056 Paul Foddy Peter Smithin Nick Shuttleworth 27.5
29 ITA 3543 Caresani Roberto Pietro Negri Nicola Maggi 29.5
29 GBR 3485 Matthew Sheahan Jonty Sherwill Mark Fitzgibbon 29.5