Laser Masters World Championships – Day one preview

by Laser Worlds Press Office on 13 Sep 2010 Laser Masters World Championships start this afternoon off Hayling Island with a general expectation of a brisk opening day which is expected to be the prelude to a couple of days of windy racing.

Hayling Island Sailing Club is positively buzzing and has been since early this morning. Even before the men’s singlehanded Olympic class, the Laser Standard, had finished their world championships on these same waters eight days ago, there was a steady stream of overseas competitors arriving to start their full week of preparations.

And the last few days have been frenetic, culminating in final measurement and registration yesterday and a glorious afternoon practice race in 8-11 knots of breeze.

More than 350 sailors from 30 different countries aged from 35 to 83 years old will compete across a series of twelve scheduled races.

There are four fleets apiece in the Radial and Standard classes.

The biggest fleet, the Standard Masters has attracted 96 competitors and is split into Red and Yellow divisions. For the Grand Masters, for sailors of 55-64 years there is the choice of sailing either in the Radial or Standard fleet, whilst Great Grand Masters must race in the Radial fleet. Racing runs through to Sunday 19th September

Age groups are Apprentice 35-44 years, Masters 45-54 years Grand Masters Standard is 55 to 64 years and Great Grand Masters are 65 or older.

Today’s forecast promises 10-12 knots of WSW’ly breeze increasing through the afternoon as the expected frontal systems arrive. By Tuesday afternoon strong winds are expected which could blow through Wednesday.

Many of last year’s champions are back to defend their titles. In the Standard Masters fleet American Scott Ferguson of Rhode Island will be out to retain the title he won last year in Nova Scotia. He may find tough opposition from Finn 1984 Olympic silver medallist John Bertrand (USA), the first sailor to win back to back Laser world titles. In the Great Grand Masters is one of Bertrand’s Finn friends and rivals, Germany’s Wolfgang Gerz, who won the Finn Gold Cup in 1981 in Gromitz, Germany. He is the defending champion in the Standard Grand Masters division.

In the Radial Masters fleet Brasil’s Eduardo Carlos Wanderley is back seeking to retain his title, whilst in the Great Grand Masters fleet America’s Peter Seidenburg, is at his 27th consecutive Laser Masters World Championships and bidding to win his ninth title, his fifth in a row. He locks back into long time rivalry – and friendship – with Ireland’s Denis O’Sullivan, also 73, who shares the same record of racing at 27 consecutive Laser Masters World Championships.

For more information, please go to: www.laserworlds2010.co.uk/masters