Please select your home edition
Edition
Exposure Marine

DLR Laser Masters World Championships in Dublin Bay - Day 6

by David G. Kelly 14 Sep 2018 13:33 PDT 8-14 September 2018
Ireland's Mark Lyttle on day 6 of the DLR Laser Masters World Championships in Dublin Bay © David Branigan / www.oceansport.ie

With just two races remaining in a testing Laser Masters World Championships sponsored by DLR, light breeze relief after six days of fresh winds could yet up-end many of the overall leads in the various classes competing on Dublin Bay.

Today's racing (Friday 14th September 2018) saw generally light to moderate winds averaging about 12 knots but with plenty of stronger gusts.

At face value, at least half of the 14 divisions have undisputed leaders that appear certain to win world titles after Saturday's 12th race. But following a week of fresher winds, there may yet be an upset to the standings and much hinges on the two final races.

However, there is little to doubt the mastery of seven overall leaders, most of whom are counting consecutive race wins and podium placings.

Saturday's final race will also count as the "Bart's Bash" attempt to be the largest sailing event in 24 hours at multiple locations in aid of the Andrew Simpson Sailing Foundation.

Host nation hopes of a major result continue to rest on Atlanta '96 Olympian Mark Lyttle competing in the Standard Grand Master event that has the largest turnout of over 60 boats. The National Yacht Club sailor repeated his previous day's performance with a fourth and a third place that keeps him in first overall with a six-point advantage.

Sweden's Tomas Nordqvist delivered a strong challenge to Lyttle's prospects with two wins for the day and in the process, overtook Spain's Carlos Martinez who dropped back to third overall. Fourth placed Arnoud Hummel of The Netherland's is also in the frame for a podium finish just three points off second place.

Amongst the Standerd rig Apprentice Masters, the week-long duel between Spain's Leandro Rosado and Canada's Gord Welsh is also down to the wire with both boats tied on 18-points apiece. The Irish battle for third place saw Howth Yacht Club's David Quinn take over the place with three points separating him from Roger O'Gorman and Pete Smyth.

A drop in form for Bill Symes of the United States with a tenth and 20th in the 37-boat Radial Great Grand Master class might otherwise have done more damage to his prospects but for his main rival, Sweden's Lasse Wastesson who didn't fare much better and the American has a 20-point cushion going into the final day.

Of the divisions almost assured of no change to the leaderboard, the machine-like delivery of race wins even after a week of demanding conditions afloat continues to impress fellow-competitors and race followers alike.

Standard Master class - Brett Beyer of Australia, two more wins means an emphatic 20-point lead. Similarly, Standard Great Grand Master - Germany's Wolfgang Gerz with two more wins for a 15-point lead. A third place then a win for New Zealand's Scott Leith in the Radial Master class leaves him on the cusp of an eleventh world championship title. Two second places for Britain's Stephen Cockerill still won him the day amongst the 58-strong Radial Grand Master class with a 20-point lead.

Britain's Ben Elvin surely has the six-boat Radial Apprentice class won after two more wins today while Peter Seidenberg of the United States repeated his Thursday form with a third place and a race win to maintain his grip on the Radial Legends class.

See full results at 2018masters.laser-worlds.com

Related Articles

Bronze breakthrough for Liddell and Brown
Nacra 17 duo claim their first international podium at Kieler Woche Brin Liddell and Rhiannan Brown have claimed their first international podium in the Nacra 17 class, securing bronze at Kieler Woche, the third Sailing Grand Slam event of the season. Posted today at 1:34 am
2025 International Classes Regatta preview
The ICR has earned a stellar reputation as an outstanding lead-up regatta for competitors The Royal Freshwater Bay Yacht Club (RFBYC) is proud to announce that the 2025 International Classes Regatta (ICR)—the Club's premier annual dinghy event—will take place on Saturday 29 and Sunday 30 November 2025. Posted on 27 Jun
Sail Canada introduces Canadian Sailing Team
21 athletes were selected based on the Canadian Sailing Team Sport Canada Carding Criteria Sail Canada is pleased to announce the list of sailors who will be part of the 2025-2026 Canadian Sailing Team. Posted on 26 Jun
Aussies Break into Top 10 at Kieler Woche
Put to the test from light air to heavy breeze The first half of Kieler Woche has wrapped up in Germany, with Australian sailors putting themselves to the test in five Olympic classes. Kiel delivered a complete spectrum of conditions for athletes to sharpen their racing skills. Posted on 26 Jun
Kieler Woche Day 6
Double gold for France in Olympic classes Perfect sailing conditions marked the final of Kieler Woche in the Olympic skiff, dinghy, and surf classes: On Wednesday, June 25, the waters off Schilksee offered fresh to strong, challenging winds with flat waves. Posted on 25 Jun
Kieler Woche Day 5
Tuesday served as a warm-up for the hot finale of Kieler Woche Sophie Steinlein and Catherine Bartelheimer from Bavaria in the skiff, as well as Kiel native Fabian Wolf on the foiling windsurf board, will enter Wednesday's (June 25) medal races as leaders. Posted on 24 Jun
Kieler Woche Day 3
A Tough Test for Athletes and Equipment Fresh to strong south-westerly winds with stormy squalls pushed participants to their limits on Monday at Kieler Woche. Posted on 23 Jun
Kieler Woche Day 2
The Olympic skiffs sorted themselves into gold and silver fleets after four daily races Subtropical sailing conditions with a light but sufficient breeze delighted the athletes on Sunday (June 22) on the second regatta day of Kieler Woche. Posted on 22 Jun
Kieler Woche Day 1
German frontrunners in the 49er and 49er FX classes Fantastic summer weather with light but quite variable winds meant a reduced sailing program for more than 2000 participants at the start of Kieler Woche on Saturday (21 June). Posted on 22 Jun
Australian Sailors ready to tackle Kiel Week
The third event within the five event Sailing Grand Slam Australia's Olympic class sailors are set to tackle Kiel Week, the third event within the five event Sailing Grand Slam, held in the north of Germany. Posted on 21 Jun
Cyclops Marine 2023 November - FOOTERSea Sure 2025Allen Dynamic 40 Footer