Spectacular ILCA / Laser Dinghy racing at Woody Point next weekend
by Humpybong Yacht Club 31 Oct 2021 22:48 PDT
6-7 November 2021
Humpybong Yacht Club WinterBash Regatta © Mark Dawson
Fleets of International class ILCA / Laser dinghies will be racing around Bramble Bay next weekend.
Humpybong Yacht Club is hosting the 2021 ILCA / Laser Metropolitan Regatta over the 6th and 7th November and Laser sailors from throughout South East Queensland are expected to attend.
Humpybong Yacht Club President David Begley said the Laser fleets of senior and junior competitors will be a spectacular sight for onlookers from the many vantage points around the bay from Woody Point, Brighton to Sandgate.
"We expect around fifty or more Lasers to compete over the weekend with three races being held each day.
Lasers are a solo sailed one design craft sailed competitively throughout the world. Over 220,000 have been built and bought.
Sailors at all skill levels can handle them as they can be rigged with three interchangeable sail and mast combinations, appropriate to wind strength and crew weight." Mr Begley said
The sails are listed as standard rig, radial and 4.7 and cater for differing individual weights. The standard rig is suitable for sailors weighing from 70 to 94 kg, the radial from 50 to 78 kg and the 4.7 from 40 to 60 kg.
Mr Begley said even small, light sailors can handle the laser in good wind and sea conditions.
He said Laser's give sparkling speedy performance and handling for their four metre size. They are a tough boat, simple to rig and easy to sail in competitive racing due to tight class association controls which eliminate differences in hull, sails, and equipment.
The Laser was designed as a one design in 1970 with an emphasis on simplicity and performance. It is an international class with sailors in 120 countries, and has been an Olympic class since 1996.
Mr Begley said as with all major events at Humpybong, overnight camping and use of club facilities will be available to competitors and their families. Canteen facilities with hot and cold food will be open for the duration of the event.