2018 NZ Laser Nationals start Thursday in Lyttleton
by Nick Page NZLA 15 Jan 2018 11:22 GMT
16 January 2018
Josh Armit competing at the Yachting NZ Youth Trials at Manly in 2017 © Yachting NZ
The 2018 Laser Nationals will be held later this week at Naval Point Club in Lyttelton, with racing from Thursday 18th to Sunday 21st.
There will be quality fleets in all divisions, with a good selection of sailors from throughout the North Island joining a strong South Island contingent on their home turf.
In the Open Standards defending champion Andrew McKenzie from Akarana, who had a strong season on the World Laser circuit including a breakthrough podium finish in the European Laser Championships, will face several strong challengers for his title including recent top youth sailors George Gautrey from Muritai and Alistair Gifford from Queen Charlotte as well as his regular training partner Matt Kempkers from Wakatere.
In the Open Radial fleet it will be an interesting contest between youth and experience. The Murrays Bay contingent is extremely strong, led by last years champion Josh Armit, this years World U17 Laser Radial champion. He clearly again ranks as overall favourite, fresh from a second at last weeks Australian Laser Radial Championship. However many in the fleet will have other ideas including other Murrays Bay sailors such as Womens Olympic aspirant Susannah Pyatt, last years Womens Youth champion Annabel Rennie-Younger and multiple World Masters champion Scott Leith, who has elected to sail in the Open Radial fleet instead of the Radial Masters to keep his club mates honest! The fleet also includes a large and strong group of emerging Youth sailors who will no doubt be looking to knock Josh off the top spot. They include Wakatere's Luke Cashmore, who has had a very strong season to date, and other newcomers including a strong team from Torbay. In the Youth Womens Radial Samantha Stock from Murrays Bay and Elly Warren from Tauranga will be among those looking to get their head in front for this years World Youth Champs spot, as the Nationals is the first selection regatta for this season.
In the Standard Masters perennial favourite Master Andrew Dellabarca, from the strong Worser Bay masters contingent, faces a challenge from a trio of Apprentice Masters; Kent Copplestone now from Rotorua, recent Laser Masters recruit Ian Baker from Torbay and Ken Atchison from Hamilton, as well as a number regulars Masters foes including club mate Rob Woodward and Tony Nicholson from Pupuke. There is a great turnout in the Masters Radial division with the favourite likely to be Master Ed Tam from Worser Bay, who has been consistently strong at both Nationals and Worlds for several years. Mike Knowsley and past Womens Olympic rep Jenny Armstrong are other Masters who should keep him honest while the big group of Grand Masters, led by local favourite Hamish Atkinson are also certain to feature.
Its still not too late to enter and with 10 races scheduled over the 4 days and the weather forecast predicting an interesting variety of conditions we are all looking forward to the first race getting underway on Thursday afternoon.