Laser Standard Masters World Championship in Mexico

Laser Standard Masters World Championship in Mexico - Overall

by Eric Faust 28 May 2016 23:00 PDT 20-28 May 2016

Laser Standard Masters Worlds at Mexico final day © John Pounder / www.jldigitalmedia.zenfolio.com

The wind gods smiled once again for the last day of the Laser Standard Masters World Championship, capping off the regatta with epic sailing conditions for the final two races of the event. The sailors enjoyed winds of 12-16 knots off the coast of Riviera Nayarit, Mexico to wrap up this year's event in spectacular style. Most sailors favored the right side of the course again today, but the left side seemed to pay just enough to keep the sailors on their toes.

Defending champion, Mark Bethwaite from Australia, closed out a near flawless performance to once again claim victory in the Great Grand Masters Division. Mathematically, Bethwaite did not even need to rig his boat today in order to win his division, but as a true sportsman, he took to the water and enjoyed one of the best racing days yet. American, Doug Peckover, and New Zealander James Temple rounded out the top-three overall.

In perhaps the most tightly contested fleet, Australian Gavin Dagley sealed his win with a first and fourth place today to top the Grand Masters Division in front of Cristian Herman of Chile and Canadian Allan Clark.

In the Masters Division, defending champion Brett Beyer dominated the fleet today by going hard right on the upwind legs to take two horizon-job wins. Beyer's speed advantage was clear as he keeps a second place finish as his worst score for the event. Also showing similar consistency, American Ernesto Rodriguez cruised to a comfortable second place overall finish followed by Andrew Dellabarca from New Zealand in third.

After another stellar event, the sailors will enjoy the closing ceremony and banquet tonight where they will likely start making plans for next year's rematch at the Laser Masters World Championship in Split, Croatia.

Bethwaite, Beyer, Dagley - Aussie domination (update from John Roberson)

The three Aussies, Mark Bethwaite, Brett Beyer and Gavin Dagley completed the almost total domination of the Laser Standard Masters' World Championships in Nuevo Vallarta, Mexico, with just the five strong Apprentice Masters' fleet won my Mexico's Pablo Rabago.

Bethwaite's day didn't start well, with a disqualification for a premature start in the day's first race, though this was of no consequence as he had already won the series, but he went on the win the second race of the day in the Great Grand Masters' fleet.

American Doug Peckover held on to second place in the Great Grand Masters' ahead of another Aussie, Jim Temple from Melbourne.

In the Grand Masters' division Melbourne based Gavin Dagley held onto his first place over Cristian Herman of Chile, with Canadian Allan Clark third.

Chalking up two firsts on the final day confirmed Brett Beyer's position at the top of the Masters' fleet, ahead of Ernesto Rodriguez of America, with Kiwi Andrew Dellarca third.

Mexico's Pablo Rabago became a local hero by winning the Apprentice Masters' ahead of Guilherme Roth of Brazil.

Laser Standard Masters Worlds at Mexico final day - photo © John Pounder / www.jldigitalmedia.zenfolio.com

For both Bethwaite and Beyer it was a successful defence of titles already held, but for Gavin Dagley it was a remarkable first world title after only three years in the class. Pablo Rabago was also a first time winner.

The idyllic conditions that had prevailed all week held for the final day, with the seabreeze building early to a comfortable 12 to 15 knots, which held through both races.

The next world championships will be in Split, Croatia, in September 2017.