A great 2018 Auckland Laser Masters regatta at Tamaki YC on Saturday 7th of April.

Results

• Laser Standard
• Laser Radial

It was a big ask for Race Officer Garth and the team to fit in 5 Laser races in combination with Mistrals Champs and Auckland Finn champs.

The sometimes shifty 12 to 19 knot South West conditions were a test of tactics in the morning. But after a 12:30 pm high tide the left side started to play in the afternoon - most of the time.

The course was a Tamaki T2 (Triangle-WIndward Leeward). But with a finish at the top of the course, each race effectively had 3 full beats. So stamina started to pay by the end of the day.

No one had it all their own way in the Standards. The top 4 had at least one win. But overall winner David Ridley had 2 wins and a net 6 after dropping a 4th. He was followed by Kent Copplestone and Ian Barker. Andrew Dellabarca just pipped Cris Brodie on count-back after finishing on equal points.

Phil Wild won the Radials after a battle with Richard Blakey. They finished 1 point apart with Phl having 3 wins and Richard 2. Pete Thomas came 3rd after a tussle with John Pittman.

Great to have some top sailors making a long trip to Auckland to try and take our stuff. Kent Copplestone from Rotorua, Andrew Delabarca from Wellington and John Pittman from New Plymouth. We hope that's the start of a trend.

The after-match was quite special as Commodore Bob Blakey had twisted Grant Dalton's arm - and we had the Americas Cup in the bar and an entertaining talk from Richard Meech from Team New Zealand. It was a bit surreal with a full Commodores Lounge and The Cup just sitting there. Thanks for the loan TNZ - the sailors really appreciated the significant gesture (thanks for winning it too).

Americas Cup and Tamaki Commodore Bob Blakey (with sons Scott and Richard explaining he had to give it back now).