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All the news that's fit to print for New Zealand ILCA racers.

Chairman's May 2020 Update

Tue 26 May 2020 7:24pm
Hi Everyone,
 
Well we've all learn a new language and made it to what we all now know as level 2, so we can try and ignore the disasters that is the rest of the world and go sailing. So here are a few updates and thoughts….
 
As I said in my last website post SUPPORT CLUB SAILING. We may not have the opportunity to travel much for a while but all the more strength to club sailing. For those in the north winter racing at Tamaki and Pupuke is getting underway over the next fortnight and I am sure that there are many other clubs where there will be some racing starting over the next few weeks so make the effort, get out there and join in. If anyone is interested in the class sponsored coaching at your club later in the year please contact us and we will try and set it up for you.
 
Next seasons programme is being finalised. As well as supporting club sailing look forward to a full programme of inter club regattas and YNZ training programmes. Anyone is welcome to let us know of any event you would like considered for the program but certainly it will feature the usual popular events including the NI's in Napier and SI's in November, Nationals at Worser Bay in January and Auckland Champs and Masters at Tamaki at the end of the season.
 
On the world scene ILCA has 6 new builders appointed and working through the pre production approval process and we expect to see them starting to sell boats and equipment very soon. This will be a fundamental change for the class and is bound to take a while to settle down but expect to see marketing from new builders starting to appear over the next few months. With the new builders now coming on stream ILCA is able to extend its focus and commence the second part of the World Sailing required FRAND changes, introduction of new supplier. This process will allow new sailmakers, spar suppliers and foil suppliers to produce ILCA equipment and should further improve the competitiveness of the class parts market in the future. All of this will be strictly controlled by ILCA's technical team to ensure that the strict one design principles on which the class is based are maintained.
 
Also on the world scene, some of you who were planning trips to World Championships will be well aware that all the remaining planned 2020 Laser World Championships have had to be cancelled due to the virus. ILCA has in place a full schedule of championships planned for 2021, so we can only hope that a vaccine is developed and international travel restarted for those of us who fancy a world trip before then.
 
If anyone wants more info on any Laser issues please feel free to get in touch but in the meantime stay safe, enjoy time on the water and I look forward to seeing all of you at regattas next season.
 
Nick Page
NZLA Chairman

Chairmans Report - 2019 NZ Laser Association AGM

Tue 22 Oct 2019 1:31am
Yes, 2019 has again been a good year for Laser in NZ with good turnouts nationally at regattas, particularly in the Youth fleet, and success on the international stage for our Olympic sailors. 
 
The core of the success of the class however remains attracting and retaining new sailors at all levels. It has been pleasing to see strong club fleets in many regions but it remains a challenge for the class to retain numbers as longstanding members of the masters fleet become less active and youth sailors move on to new challenges if they are not looking at Olympic campaigns.
 
After a very challenging couple of years for the class, the Laser and the Laser Radial have been confirmed by World Sailing as the single handed classes for men and women for the 2024 Olympics. I believe this is great news for the class and its future. Part of World Sailing’s requirements for Olympic selection was that the class adopt a policy to allow new manufacturers to enter the Laser market. The class has agreed to this and is just commencing the appointment process. In NZ we do not expect any rapid change to the market for boats and equipment but in the medium term we hope that the scope of the class will expand and that this will lead to more competitive pricing for boats and equipment in the future.
 
Congratulations to George Gautrey and Sam Meech, whos results on the world stage this year have continued to demonstrate the strength of our Men’s Laser squad and the talent of our sailors. Of particularly note are George’s podium finish in the worlds in Japan and Sam’s consistency and No1 World Ranking. Our women sailors have also competed internationally and have been successful in qualifying NZ for an Olympic spot in 2024 if they are able to meet the NZ Olympic committee selection criteria.
 
Congratulations also to Dave Ridley and Scott Leith for their recent victories in the World Masters in Holland. There were also many other solid performances from our top Youth, Open and Masters sailors at international regattas.
 
The Nationals at Manly was again a success, with good numbers in the Masters and Youths. It was extremely well run by Manly and the fleet again enjoyed a great variety of conditions. We trust that this years nationals in New Plymouth will be well supported and we look forward to some awesome sailing at this iconic venue.
 
Our grants and coaching initiatives have continued and NZLA will continue to encourage and sponsor coaching this season for any club or group of Laser sailors.  I think this is a great opportunity for clubs and would encourage any club to get in touch to see how we can assist.
 
Financially we again had a satisfactory year and the Association remains in good financial health. We again had a small loss but this was within the committees comfort zone, given the cash resources of the Association. We are however continuing to look at options for a fundraising initiative to bolster the Associations coffers and ensure its ongoing financial health.
 
Internationally ILCA continues to try and work with the manufacturers on the ongoing equipment issues. We understand that approval of the carbon alternative for the Radial bottom section imminent. Unfortunately the issues with the European Laser manufacturers have continued, but with the introduction of the WS FRAND policy this year we are hopeful that these too are nearing resolution. 
 
Thanks again to Karen who has continued to do a great job as our secretary and to all our committee for their input this year. 
 
If anyone would like to join the committee or propose or discuss any Laser issue you are always welcome to contact me or any member of the committee via the NZLA website e mail contacts
 
Thanks 
Nick Page 
Chairman NZLA
 

2 NZ Champions - Laser Masters Worlds 2019

Sun 15 Sep 2019 7:46am

Great effort by NZ sailors at the 2019 Laser Master Worlds at Port Zelande, Netherlands.

With Dave Ridley winning the Standard Apprentice Masters only securing the win on the last day after and epic battle with Eduardo Van Vianan (NED) and Jared West (ESP).

And Scott Leith won yet again in the Radial Masters, holding the lead from the 2nd day of the regatta to beat Anders Mattsson (SWE) and Ledet Jean-Christophe (FRA).

Rounding put the NZ tean were Andrew Dellabarca, Cris Brodie and Luuk Van Basten Battenburg now living and sailing for the Netherlands.

It was a tricky regatta with big wind shifts in some races, catching out even some of the big names.


George Cautrey's Bronze at the 2019 Laser World Champs

Tue 16 Jul 2019 7:48am


Photo: Junichi Hirai / Bulkhead Magazine

Read more at YNZ about George Cautrey's fabulous podium finish at the 2019 Laser World Champs. Including a knee dislocation!

https://www.yachtingnz.org.nz/news/gautrey-snares-bronze-laser-world-champs

The event was at Miho Bay, Sakaiminato, Japan and George in 3rd was followed by Sam Meech in 4th and a 10th for Thomas Saunders.
Aussies Tom Burton & Matt Wern were 1st an 2nd.

All results at
https://2019worlds.laserjapan.org/standard/results/
 

Josh Armit wins Gold at the 2018 Youth Worlds

Sat 21 Jul 2018 10:15pm


Photo: Sailing Energy

Huge congratulations to Josh Armit who won the boys Laser Radial at the 2018 Youth Worlds in Corpus Christi, Texas.

Josh sealed the deal in the 58 boat fleet with a day to spare, then went on to get a second in the final race. He started the regatta with a 6th, his eventual drop race, then was a model of consistency, including 3 firsts, 2 seconds, a third, fourth and fifth.

Samantha Stock finished 20th from 46 in the girls Radial.

Josh and Samantha were part of a successful NZL team which include
- 2nd girls RSX Windsurfer (nice to see)
- 2nd in boys 29er
- 3rd mixed Nacra 15
- 5th Boys 420

All 2018 youth world results

More at YNZ

Silver for Sam Meech at the Princess Sofia regatta

Mon 9 Apr 2018 7:49pm


© Jesus Renedo / Sailing Energy / Trofeo Princesa Sofia IBEROSTAR

Sam Meech collected silver at the 49th Princess Sofia regatta in Palma, finishing off by winning the medal race.

Also in the Men's Laser - 8th Tom Saunders, 20th George Gautrey, 24th Andre McKenzie, 165th (silver fleet) Matt Kempkers

And in the Momen's Laser - 20th Suzanna Pyatt and 44th Olivia Christie.

Other podiums from the team NZL where silver for Alex Maloney and Milloy Meech in the 49erFX and bronze for Andy Maloney as he gets momentum in his Finn campaign.

More on Sail World

2018 NZ Laser Open & Youth Rankings

Mon 26 Feb 2018 7:45am
2018 Open Rankings

Name Nationals Oceanbridge Total Ranking
Open Mens        
Tom Saunders Dispensation 1 1 1
Sam Meech Dispensation 2 2 2
Andrew McKenzie 1 3 4 3
George Gautrey 2 4 6 4
Alastair Gifford 3 5 8 5
Matthew Kempkers 4 6 10 6
         
Open Women        
Susannah Pyatt
 1 1 2 1
Annabelle Rennie-Younger
 2 3 5 2
Olivia Christie
 3 2 5 3
Samantha Stock 5 4 9 4
Zelda Ladefoged
 6 6 12 5
Isabella Boyd 8 7 15 6

2018 Youth Rankings

Only sailors who competed in both the ranking regattas have been ranked at this stage.
Any queries please contact Nick Page.

Youth Boys   Nationals Oceanbridge Total Ranking
Josh
 Armit 1 1 2 1
Albert
 Stanley 2 2 4 2
Luke
 Cashmore 3 3 6 3
Harrison
 Baker 4 4 8 4
Jack
 Tripe 5 6 11 5
Jayden
 Abbott 7 7 14 6
Lachy
 Stewart 6 9 15 7
Ryan
 Harden 10 5 15 8
James
 Sheldon 8 8 16 9
Harry
 Corston 11 10 21 10
Jack
 Lee Rush 13 11 24 11
Charlie
 Loughran 14 12 26 12
Henry
 Goodall 15 14 29 13
           
 
Youth Girls
          
Samantha
 Stock 2 1 3 1
Isabella
 Boyd 4 2 6 2
 
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