Issue date
There is a strong and still growing entry list for the 2016 New Zealand Laser Nationals at Muritai Yacht Club on Wellington Harbour. Racing is scheduled from Friday 22nd till Monday 25th January 2016, with 2 or 3 races scheduled for each of the 4 days.
The New Zealand sailors are joined by overseas entries from China, Germany, France, Switzerland, Samoa, Australia, the Netherlands, and the Cook Islands.
George Gautrey (pictured above © Will Calver) returns to his home waters after an extremely impressive 2nd overall in the recent ISAF Youth Worlds. He will step up to the Standard rig and take on some of the more experienced New Zealand sailors including likely favourite Andrew McKenzie, as well as sailors from the Chinese team. We will see a new New Zealand Open Laser champion crowned this year as the current holder, Andy Maloney, is overseas for the Miami OCR regatta with the other NZL Sailing Team Laser team members ahead of their final Laser Olympic spot selection.
In the Radial fleet top women’s sailor Susannah Pyatt will be vying with a great field of male and female Youth and Open sailors. In the women’s division Ali Nightingale, has returned from the ISAF Youth worlds to provide strong competition along with several promising Women’s Youth sailors. The men’s Open and Youth fleets have several strong prospects. One of the youngest is emerging star Josh Armit, who has already shown the Radial fleet a clean pair of heels at several regattas this season.
A strong Radial Masters turnout is led by current multiple Apprentice Master World Champion Scott Leith, the overwhelming favourite. But a strong group is keen to keep him honest led by Ed Tam, who is getting old and has moved up into the Masters category. No doubt Scott will also be watching Steve Phillips, a local club character and the oldest entry so far. In his late 70’s Steve will still be pushing hard.
The largest fleet is Standard Masters, where local Andrew Dellabarca will hope to assert his local knowledge to prevail over his nemesis and last years champion Kris Decke. Former world champion Murray Thom and returning former top Master Cris Brodie will ensure it is a tough contest. As will several sailors from the strong WBBC including Rob Woodward, as he looks for the renowned Wellington breezes to blow away memories of last years light air challenges at Takapuna!
With entries nearing 100 and still a week to go, this year will continue the history of large competitive fleets in all divisions, providing close one design racing at its best.
All details and results are at www.nzlaser.org/2016-nz-national-laser-champs
