The Bureau of Meteorology’s predicted south/south-easterly 13 to18 knot winds were almost right and smiling competitors came ashore after breezes finally reached as much as 14 knots at the Laser Masters Worlds being sailed off Terrigal today in what has been very much a light weather affair so far.

Yellowtail Wines, which many have sampled and taken pleasure from this week, sponsored today’s racing in which two Australian defending world champions, Brett Beyer (Standard Apprentice) and Mark Bethwaite (Standard Grand Master) bounced back from their ‘disaster’ days on Tuesday, both winning two races from two today to reclaim their respective leads.

However, not all in the Standard fleet had a glamour day.  Two sailors were Black Flagged and three were OCS; Lachlan Welch (AUS) in the Apprentice, Simo Mykkanen (FIN), Bill Haughton (AUS) and Frank Walsh (AUS) in the Grand Master.  “I was a naughty boy,” Walsh said after his OCS.  “I just wanted an early mark really,” he laughed.

And some had difficulty before the race started, as waves and swell came right into the Haven where the Lasers were being slipped into the water.  Doug Peckover (USA) had left the beach, but got dumped and holed his boat.  Olympic Laser campaigner Brendan Casey was there and ready with a new hull and helped the hapless Peckover re-rig quickly so he could make the start on time.

The Standard fleet was away first and on time today.  All breathed a sigh of relief to find a nice 10-13 knot south-easterly breeze blowing under fairly sunny skies, with a few dark clouds reminding them that rain could fall.

Waves and swell were quite big, helping some and hindering others.  A much happier Brett Beyer said he and Rohan Lord (NZL) had enjoyed the competition between themselves.  “Rohan and me were close most the way in both races, but I pulled away towards the end of both.  Breezes were mostly in the 8-9 knot range,” Sydneysider Beyer said.

“It was light, there was quite a bit of swell, but it was nice racing.” Lord, who scored two second places said.  “The breeze was up and down, but stable.  We did have a breeze shift, but the committee was quick to change the course,” he said.   

Martin Lodge (HKG) had a different take on things:  “I was too slow upwind and too slow off the starts!  But I had a good day anyway.”

With a race drop now in place following Races 4 and 5, Brett Beyer is the clear leader on four points, with Lord second on eight points and Jyrki Taiminen (FIN) is third on 11 points and Orlando Gledhill fourth on 18 points.

In the Masters Division, Brad Taylor (AUS) has continued his lead of the series with a further two wins today for a fairly solid lead on five points after a race drop.  Second placed is Jan Scholten (AUS) who won Race 4, but dropped to eighth in Race 5, which is used as his race drop.  He is six points in arrears of Taylor on 11 points. 

Three points away from Scholten is Andy Roy from Canada, whose ninth and second places today guaranteed him third overall on 14 points, but right behind him on 15 points is Peter Conde (AUS) in this close series.

“I sailed consistently and had good speed throughout the day.  I didn’t lead to the first mark, but I took it shortly after.  There were big waves and I constantly looked for gusts and pressure.  I put my game together well,” a pleased Brad Taylor commented.

“In the second race I got the lead at the second mark and stayed in front.  I liked that there was more breeze – it got to around 14 knots and was in the 10-14 knot range while we were out there.  Getting a new boat and equipment helps; it feels good to sail with new gear,” he said.

“The second race was better than the first – I went the wrong way in that one,” said Martin Feeney (AUS).

Colin Dibb had a fairly fruitful day garnering fourth and fifth places in the Master fleet.  “It was a very close first race.  I was leading for a while, but it went a bit light, but there was enough breeze – and a big swell,” he said.  “It was a lot better than the last few days – 13-14 knots – nice,” he said.

Steve Brajkovich (AUS) agreed.  “It was beautiful again today – it was like the first day, but more breeze.  We had really good racing and I’m looking forward to tomorrow when we split into Gold and Silver fleets,” he commented. 

“I had a better day today,” said Johan Hedberg (AUS).  It was good to get into a bit of full-hiking, which we did a couple of times today.  I’m pretty big, so I like the heavier conditions,” he said, adding:  “It was a really good start line.  They do a very good job out there.

Mark Bethwaite (AUS) was first ashore in the Grand Master group, a telling sign. “I clocked up two wins, but the racing was close.  I had the two German’s Wolfgang (Gerz) and Michael (Nissen) go around the course with me.  Rob Lowndes (AUS) sailed very well too.       

Lowndes responded:  “I’m happy enough with my day.  I caught Wolfgang up on the last leg and overtook him.  It was quite tricky; big swells that went across the wind.  On one tack you had to sail under-sheeted or over-sheeted, which doesn’t feel right.”

Defending champion Bethwaite claims top spot on the scoreboard again.  On eight points, he is only two clear in front of Gerz, who notched up second and third places.  Lowndes and Nissen are on equal 15 points after scoring 6-3 and 3-2 results respectively. Jack Schlachter is a further three points away.

Photo courtesy C&C Images

The Radial fleet was away next and conditions lightened as the afternoon wore on. 

Friendly American James Liebl, the overall leader in the Radial Apprentice, was one of the first ashore.  “I got two wins,” he said.  “The first beat of the second race, the wind was up a bit; it was beautiful sailing; absolutely gorgeous.  The waves were getting bigger and breaking on the headland; the colour was just beautiful,” he said.

“I got clean starts and I didn’t over-sheet the boat, because it was quite sloppy, so I moved through the water faster.  I got a lift and kind of separated off and gained distance,” he said, describing his races.  

Richard Bott (AUS):  “I lead the second race from the start.  I was right on the line when the hooter went and I picked up early pressure out of the left.  I tacked back to cover the right.  It paid off and I had a reasonably good win,” he said.

Michelle Davis (USA) has struggled in the light air with mid 20’s finishing places and just when things looked on the improve……   “At least it was better than my first three days,” she laughed. 

“I was going alright in the second race and the wind was up.  I gybed at the gybe mark, hit the mark so had to take a penalty turn.  Then my sheet hooked on the boom – I don’t know how it happened, but it did!  The wind died, I finished back, but I had a better day – although I ended up in my usual 20^th or so position again,” Davis lamented.

Currently, Liebl is on seven points and seven points clear of nearest rival John Jagger in the Radial Apprentice.  Edmund Tan (NZL) is third placed, but 12 points adrift of Liebl.  Alison Casey (AUS) remains a strong contender and lead Woman in a remarkable fourth place overall, dropping her 15^th finish in Race 6 today.

In the Radial Master, two bullets today has lifted Mark Orams (NZL) over the top of Stephen Cockerill (GBR) and into first place in what is shaping up to be a four man race to the finish.  The Brit is now second, following good second and third placings – but not good enough.

Greg Adams is third placed and he too came up with the goods with 2^nd and fourth places, whilst Chris Raab (USA) holds down fourth place after eighth and fifth places and dropping his eighth.

Christine Bridge (AUS) is the new Women’s leader in the Masters following a great fourth place today.  The reigning Radial Apprentice world champ (a birthday has moved her into the Masters) has leapt into 14^th place overall, in front of reigning world champ Lyndall Patterson (AUS) who is one place behind following 19^th and 22^nd places today.  Vanessa Dudley is third and in 19^th place.

A man on a mission with a win yesterday to joint-lead the Radial Master, Steve Cockerill, commented on his day out: “Not bad.  I went to the gate, myself and the Canadian (Al Clark) were second and third, but with the shift, we went to ninth and 10^th.  I pulled back on the run to finish third.

“In the second one I was ninth and worked my way back to second.  I had a good day passing boats – I think I passed more boats than anyone else today!”

Well known Kiwi sailor Glen Sowry told: “The wind was up and down a bit, but not too bad; it could have been a lot worse.  The seaway got quite big, the swell was very noticeable and caused boats to corkscrew upwind a bit.”

For Annie Taylor (AUS) things did not go right: “I thought I’d slit my wrists in the first race, but I didn’t have time!  I hit the mark, then capsized whilst doing my turn, but I forgave myself in the second race.  I duked it out with Sally (Gordon) we were motherless last,” she laughed.

Radial Master John Fullerton (GBR): “I had a reasonable first race, but the second was a disaster!  As soon as the wind stopped, I stopped as well.  I dropped right out to around 5 knots.”

In a trio of Aussies, Peter Heywood continues his lead of the Grand Master by four points over Brian Watson with Lew Verdon third but 18 points behind the leader. 

It was a slightly frustrated Peter Heywood (AUS) who came ashore after a pair of second places in the Radial Grand Master fleet.  “It was a really close finish in both races.  In the second race the wind went all the way around the compass, there were holes everywhere in the course – it was terrible,” he said.

Mike ‘Zappa’ Bell told:  “Today was good – I found all the marks!”

Defending champion Peter Seidenberg (USA) continues his solid lead in the Great Grand Master division, completely happy in the light airs of this World’s. However, the gap is closing and his old rival and 2006 world champ Kerry Waraker scored a second and third today and is now six points behind.

Tom Speed (NZL) had a great day out, winning Race 6 to stay in third place overall, now 13 points behind the American leader.  Greg Marshall (AUS) comes next, a further six points adrift.

Peter Seidenberg won the first race of the day, but he did not have it all his own way today.  “I got a good start in clear air at the boat end.  I punched out hard, got a good lead and kept going,” he told. 

“In the second race, I started at the pin and had difficulty getting back to the middle of the course.  Mid race I went to tack in the swell and found myself in irons and nearly capsized and fell quite a way back.  I worked my way back to fifth place – it was a good race recovery,” he said.

Kerry Waraker (AUS) finished second in the first race of the day and third in the second.  “I went alright I s’pose,” he said.  “Breeze died in the second race; it got choppy and was very difficult to steer to keep your boat on the right track,” he said.

New Zealander Tom Speed had a good day, winning the second race.  “I noticed in the first race it was better to stay to the right of the course.  I started at the boat end, tacked onto a nice lift and sailed to glory,” he said.

Dennis Lapham has come all the way from Zimbabwe to race in the Great Grand Master division.  “The day ended well; good conditions and I really enjoyed the race.  This is the best Masters World’s I have ever been to.  Really super racing,” he said.

Here from Cork in Ireland, Denis O’Sullivan is around mid fleet on the scoreboard.  “The weather is not what I expected – it’s rained more here than it does in Cork! 

“Our second race was quite shifty today – and I met a lot of sailors I haven’t seen before!  This is a beautiful place and I have a lot of old friends here, like Peter Seidenberg.  We met years ago and have been friends ever since.

“He and I have done 25 Masters World’s – we’ve only missed one.  We did our first in Bandol in France,” O’Sullivan said. 

Both Standard and Radial fleets came ashore in swell and on breaking waves – the sight was spectacular and it was rewarding to see a number of sailors, waiting to hose their boats down, go back to the beach to help other tired bodies wheel their boats up the ramp.  Sailing has always been that kind of sport.  It forms strong bonds and makes for enduring friendships.

Results are provisional pending protests and ratification by officials and will be posted to the official website below in due course.

Tomorrow, Friday, racing will start at the scheduled 12 noon but the final day's racing on Saturday has been brought forward to start at 10:00am.

For all information on the Gosford Sailing Club hosted Laser Masters Worlds go to:  http://aus08.laserinternational.org/ 

Di Pearson
Laser Worlds media manager

Further information:
Di Pearson,
2008 Laser Worlds media manager