NSW Central coast sailor Tom Slingsby will lead a strong line up for the 2008 Laser Standard Worlds to be held at Terrigal after winning the ISAF Worlds in that class in Cascais Portugal yesterday.

 The 22 year old, who is a member of the Australian Sailing Team, not only won the event, but qualified Australia for the 2008 Beijing Olympics, and defeated the defending champion and fellow Australian Sailing Team member Michael Blackburn, who has also won a multitude of ISAF Grade 1 Laser events over the past 12 months.

Going into the Medal Race, Slingsby showed maturity and calm, recovering from a poor start to finish sixth, enough to give him the Championship in front of Kiwi Olympic prospective Andrew Murdoch and his biggest rival on the day, Mate Arapov.  Meanwhile, Blackburn had a lacklustre Worlds, finishing 21st, a result that may be attributed to his loss of weight as he prepares for light air regattas.

His first Laser World Championship win and currently ranked No. 2 on the World Rankings, Slingsby also overcame World Ranked No. 1 Paul Goodison from Great Britain, who like Blackburn, finished out of a podium place. 

 "Conditions were very difficult today. I have a good record in Medal Races, but this was hard going," Slingsby said after his win.

"I knew after the first mark that either I needed to make up ground or Mate (Arapov) had to slip back. In the end, a combination of both won it for me. I am delighted with my performance.”

However, the young sailor now has his eye on the main prize, the lone Olympic berth to the Beijing Olympic Games Sailing Competition, to be held in Qingdao, China, in 2008. 

 With the Australian Sailing Team to be announced in October this year, by the time Slingsby and Blackburn face-off at the 2008 Laser Worlds, their fates will be sealed.

“Tom’s win is a just reward as he has been dominant in international Laser sailing over the last few years.  The win by a local boy is an added lure to attract the World’s best Laser sailors to Terrigal in February 2008,” commented Rob Lowndes, Chairman of the event’s Organising Committee

Slingsby should perform well at the 2008 Laser Worlds, as the event is to be sailed on his home turf, and will be hosted by his home club, Gosford Sailing Club.  

However, he will face some stiff competition, from the likes of Blackburn, Goodison, World Ranked No. 3, Michael Leigh from Canada, Gustavo Lima from Portugal and Croatia’s Mate Arapov, all likely to come downunder as the Beijing Games will be sailed only seven months later.

The 2008 Worlds consists of two events, the Laser Senior Worlds, will be run from 4-13 February 2008, with racing due to get underway from Thursday 7 February and the Laser Masters Worlds, due to start on February 15.  Race Officials are aiming to hold two races per day.

Event venue, Terrigal, is a beautiful holiday destination approximately one and a half hour’s drive from Sydney.  It features a great summer climate, good breezes on open sailing water, beaches and good onshore facilities, which will draw competitors and spectators alike to the event.

 The 2008 Laser World Championships have been made possible by the New South Wales Government through the NSW Major Events Board, NSW Sport and Recreation, Maritime NSW and by Gosford City Council.

 For all information on the Laser Worlds go to: http://aus08.laserinternational.org/

Further information:
Di Pearson,
2008 Laser Worlds media manager,
Phone: 0410 792 131