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New Zealand has had two Laser world champions in the class' 50-year history and it's hoped both will line up against each other at this weekend's Tauranga Regatta.
Nik Burfoot won the 1994 world title and returned to New Zealand last year after 20 years abroad. He's taken on the role of organising the Tauranga Regatta but is also keen on competing if his troublesome back allows.
The potential 'showdown' with current world champion Tom Saunders won't be in an ILCA 7, as the Laser is known now, rather in a Zephyr. It came about after Burfoot had lunch with Saunders following last year's success and enticed Saunders, who grew up in Tauranga, to compete this weekend in a Zephyr.
"I don't know that he's ever sailed a Zephyr and a club member here is going to lend his boat to him," Burfoot said. "I'm guessing I will have the faster boat but he will stomp all over us. I hope he does.
"He's a top guy and I would love to see him continue that momentum he's achieved through to the next Olympics. He seems to have the right mindset but the challenge is to keep improving and refreshing himself."
Saunders is fresh from winning the ILCA 7 at last weekend's Oceanbridge NZL Sailing Regatta and is in a heavy training block leading up to the upcoming European season and May's world championships in Mexico.
Nearly 150 boats have entered the Tauranga Regatta across 14 different classes, from ILCAs and Optis to Hansa 303s and 12-foot skiffs.
The event also doubles as a leg of the Starling Traveller Series, and the 40 entries in that class will make that the biggest fleet, and the Farr 3.7s will also be contesting their North Island championships.
The increased interest in the event - 72 competed last year - has prompted the club to designate three zones at the venue to meet regulations under the red setting of the Covid Protection Framework.
"I'm totally shocked by the interest in the regatta," Burfoot said. "People clearly want to travel and sail somewhere different. It would be pretty easy for them to go for another sail at Murrays Bay or Kohi but people are making an effort, which is great."
